Hints & Tips for Winter Weddings

If you’re getting Married from October - March it’s good to start thinking about your timeline and Wedding day in general, with less light and the generally the colder months, sometimes it needs more planning.

Autumn and Winter Weddings can be gorgeous, with the pretty light through the leaves and cheaper prices for venues, if these are your favourite months, it could be a great time to get Married. I’ve got some hints and tips for your Winter Wedding to help it go smoothly, and what to remember to make sure it’s the day you'll love and want.

Timing is everything
The timeline of your day will simply make or break your day, how it runs, how it feels and making sure you get everything in the day that you’d like.

I suggest a ceremony no later than 1pm, but if you’re having a longer ceremony or somewhere in a darker venue (such as a Church) then a Midday Wedding would work really well. With this, adjusting the rest of the day accordingly is really important. If you’re getting Married this early then bringing forward your First Dance and partying needs to start earlier too, otherwise the day will become a very slow [and sleepy!] It’s a great idea to add some more entertainment between eating and partying too, maybe heading out for sparklers with your close friends or a music duo to add some fun.

The reason for the earlier ceremony is simply for light! For most photographers light is everything. We need enough light to get group photos done and at the portrait photos of the couple too, even more important when these shoots may have to be inside, because of the weather.

Use all spaces
If there is outdoor space at the venue, think about how to use this best. People will always go outside if they can, and it’s better to get those candid shots and natural photos that everyone loves. Can you weather proof these areas, add heaters, fire pits and even cosy blankets, adding fairy lights can really work well too. Making an outside space welcoming, cosy, and atmospheric.

Indoor photos
I’ll never do the group shots inside if I don’t have to, however there are times where the weather just is allowing this. When you’re looking for your venue, it’s great to figure out a backup area for group shots, this needs to be both big enough and cleared quickly [if used for something else].

Add candles & lights
….and always more than you think. When thinking about decor adding extra light is never going to be bad. Gorgeous candles and fairy lights or festoon lights will help with insides areas, especially at the speeches. It can stop a room looking dark and dull, really adding something pretty, and looks gorgeous for photographs too.

Hot welcome drinks
I adore seeing mulled wine or mulled cider at Weddings as well as hot chocolate stations, really making the most of the time of year you’re getting married.

What to wear
Not only is it great for you to dress for any weather, it’s also a good idea to just gently remind your guests too. Umbrellas on hand and that are photo friendly are great, as well as extra layers or even matching jackets, footwear is also important to remember as grass may be harder to walk over and it could be wet even if it’s not raining.

Remember the time of year
Thinking about this in regards to colour or themes, interior styling and even florals, some things will just look odd when you have a winter wedding. Remember to embrace the time of year and work on how to make it look great, rather than taking a Summer wedding and placing it in winter.

In short, Winter weddings can be gorgeous! They add an extra touch of cosy and comfy that Summer Weddings just can’t do as easily, but they certainly may not be the cheaper alternative when adding the extras and time to make the day as gorgeous as it can be.