Are winter weddings a good idea?
With the winter months typically being the least popular for weddings, but it needn’t be. With the current COVID-19 situation meaning couples have had to postpone their nuptials either to a different year or perhaps a different season, winter weddings are on the rise.
There are many reasons why a winter wedding is a good idea for your big day from a beautiful winter wonderland backdrop if you’re marrying somewhere snowy to incorporating winter elements such as mulled wine and mince pies there are endless possibilities. Let’s explore a few more reasons why a winter wedding is a good idea.
First and foremost, there is likely to be more venues available and with more favourable rates during this time of year.
As it is a less popular time to get married, many venues actively encourage winter weddings with favourable prices so it means that you may be able to get that venue that is out of your budget range in the summer months, in the winter months. There are also many more options available in the winter except for key dates such as New Year’s Eve which is becoming a more popular date to get married on. Expect to pay more for this date as the venue has to pay staff extra wages but also they may be taking on your wedding in replacement of a New Year’s Eve party.
Coupled with more availability and cheaper prices, this will also have a knock-on effect for your guests as there will be cheaper travel and accommodation prices. If you are having a winter wedding abroad then more people may be able to make it due to the cheaper accommodation prices but also it will be a nice break for them after the bust summer period.
With venues having better rates there is also the opportunity to have bonus decorations meaning you may not have to spend as much on decorating your venue.
During the winter months from Halloween to Christmas, many venues will decorate the main areas such as entranceways and staircases with seasonal decorations so make the most of them! They may not 100% work with your theme but that doesn’t matter as they can serve as a lovely and different backdrop for your wedding photos. Taking a couple’s photo walking down a beautiful staircase that’s decorated with beautiful winter foliage and flowers would make a stunning addition to your wedding photography portfolio. Why not get your guests to take photos (similar to a photo booth) in front of a Christmas tree if there is a lovely decorated one in the entrance to your venue, this makes it something unique and different and means that you don’t have to supply the backdrop as it’s already there for you!
Your wedding will be a seasonal highlight if you decide to choose to tie the knot in the colder months.
After the busy summer wedding and party season where I have known people to attend many weddings throughout the summer months, it is a welcome addition to the autumn/winter season when there aren’t as many weddings and parties taking place. It also gives people an excuse to dress up and enjoy themselves when the weather outside is not so friendly!
If you’re looking for a sophisticated and elegant dress code for your ceremony and reception then the black tie is a great choice for a winter wedding and not one that is favoured in the hotter months.
From tuxedos to beautiful sequined gowns there are plenty of options for you and your guests to embrace the winter weather. One of my friends for her winter wedding requested that guests donned their best black-tie outfits for their evening reception and it worked really well with the winter setting and glammed up the evening’s photos with some extra sparkle!
Let’s talk food.
From comfort food to mugs of steaming hot chocolate, winter brings all sorts of options to the fore when you’re planning your wedding breakfast. If you’re marrying in the autumn months a pumpkin spiced hot toddy is lovely for your guests to welcome drinks rather than a cold glass of champagne (that can come later!) or why not have some mulled wine ready for your guests on their arrival if your big day is closer to Christmas.
Guests will always appreciate a warm drink upon arrival during a winter wedding as often they have got quite cold getting between the ceremony and reception especially if the ceremony has taken place in church with limited heating!
One wedding I attended had a separate venue for the ceremony and reception and upon arriving at the reception venue, tents with outside heaters had been set up with steaming cups of mulled wine and it was definitely very welcome as it was freezing outside!
Comfort food means different things to different people, but if you’re staying in the UK for your wedding, why not include hearty game meat as your main course or even a carving station at each table with delicious seasonal meat and vegetables.
I know this option is usually pretty popular and a great way for guests to interact with each other! Later in the evening, you could serve a hog roast to guests to really keep them going for the evening’s party or why not provide some sweet treats such as Smores or a warm chocolate fountain with seasonal fruit.
Just because you’re not marrying in the Summer months, doesn’t mean that you have to limit yourself on your flower choices. Yes, beautiful pink peonies will not be in season but why not make your wedding stand out more by using in-season winter flowers such as roses, lilies, amaryllis and chrysanthemum. Roses are at their full peak in the winter months so there are great choices and of course, roses are a really popular choice for weddings due to their romantic vibe and varied colour choice. Coupled with flower choices there are also lots of pretty foliage options including berries that can brighten up a darker room. Fragrant pine can add a beautiful smell to a room and is pretty cost-effective when compared to buying scented candles and mixed in with berries it can really add a splash of colour and smell to your reception!
Not 100% wedding related but definitely important; the honeymoon.
Having worked in travel for a long time, the number of couples that would come to me looking to book their honeymoon to the tropics following their summer wedding was quite high. Unfortunately, the Summer months in the northern hemisphere are not a good time to visit the tropics such as the Maldives, whereas if you are having a winter wedding then these are the better times to visit popular honeymoon destinations such as the Maldives, Mauritius and South Africa, meaning that you don’t have to wait too long to go on your honeymoon.
When marrying over the summer months you may need to wait a little bit to go on your honeymoon to ensure you get the best weather with the exception of a European based honeymoon where the weather will be nice and hot and sunny!
As we have all been dealing and coping with the ongoing COVID-19 situation, Winter weddings are becoming more popular as people have decided to postpone their original dates and are now marrying in months and seasons that they didn’t expect to be. This can have a significant impact on your wedding theme as the brighter colours tend to be used in the summer months but this doesn’t mean that you can’t bring colour and light to your winter wedding if you’ve made the decision to change it. Using fairy lights, candles and rich coloured flowers you can create a similar vision with a slight change to your colour scheme.
If you’re planning on a winter wedding already or have had to change your date due to the ongoing changes then drop me a line to see how I can help you create the winter wedding day of your dreams!
Pros & Cons Of A Destination Wedding During The Winter Holidays
Many couples choose to say YES at a winter holiday destination wedding. Let’s be honest here it is the best occasion to combine a few of our favorite things: traveling, partying, and holidays!
Needless to say, the month of December is the most magical and festive time of the year! And it comes as no surprise that this celebratory month will tempt even the least romantic of us to get married.
The destination wedding during the winter holidays trend has seen consistent growth in the last few years with more and more couples opting for end-of-year weddings. Come to think of it, what would be a better new year resolution than deciding to be with your soulmate for the rest of your life!
But is it a good idea to get married during Christmas or New Years’? What are the advantages and disadvantages for you and your guests? Let’s review together, shall we!?
Let’s start with the Pros of a Winter Holiday Destination Wedding
Photo courtesy of Brian Topriano Photography
Think twinkling warm lights everywhere, cozy fireplace moods, cheerful music, and holiday spirit all around.
From red Christmas-themed mood boards to cozy white setups, or full-on glitter and confetti, you will be lost in holiday wedding theme wonderland!
2- Days off and Long weekends:
Your family is already planning to gather to celebrate the holidays. So why not bring them all together and give them an even better reason and motivation to celebrate? And with most people being on vacation during the holiday you will be surrounded by your family and closest friends!
3- Awesome Holiday Cards :
You will have exceptional wedding photos in a beautiful new setting. For example, if you plan to get married on Christmas in Italy, what could be better than having the snowy majestic Dolomites as a wedding photo backdrop?
4- A unique and new experience for everyone:
You and your guests will not only get to experience new wedding traditions such as those of your hosting country (click here for an idea about Italian wedding traditions), but you also will enjoy discovering a new way to celebrate the holidays!
5- Even the best providers might have a spot for you:
Despite being quite magical, winter destination weddings are off-season. This means more availability, time, and flexibility for you…They will be able to realize every idea you might have, no matter how original it is!
6- The festive atmosphere everywhere:
Whether it is your parents, relatives, or friends, everyone is in party mode. All your loved ones (even providers!) will be feeling festive and ready to celebrate the night (or weekend) away!
Unfortunately, and even though the pros are many, there are still a few things you need to consider before deciding on a Winter Holiday Destination Wedding.
Photo by Erica Manu Wedding via Lalla Crippa Events and Weddings
1- Higher travel and accommodation costs:
This is a reality that will affect both your budget and your guests’. As you get closer to the holidays, and with the travel rush and traffic, hotels will be booked early and plane ticket prices might skyrocket, thus limiting your accommodation options and making it difficult to plan and respect your budget .
2- Holiday financial strains:
The holiday season is the gifting, celebrating, and also constant spending season. So adding a destination wedding to the mix might make even your closest relative have second thoughts about attending.
It is wise to remain mindful of this important factor while planning your winter holiday destination wedding if you want your guests to be comfortable.
3- Smaller guest list:
A lot of people have their own holiday traditions and might prefer them over traveling during the holidays.
4- Some services might cost more:
While enjoying the flexibility of some of your providers, you will also face another reality: others will be in high demand and fully booked. For example, great wedding bands might be already booked for the New Year’s weekend or might charge you a premium price!
So before you set a date, consider these advantages and disadvantages of a winter holiday destination wedding. And most importantly make sure you plan your wedding very early on. Set your expectations, budget, and send your invitations months before to ensure guests turn out, avoid additional costs, and tie the knot in your dream destination!
Stay tuned, more tips, and information to help you plan your winter holiday destination wedding will be coming your way!
4 Reasons Why It’s A Good Idea To Have A Winter Wedding
As we head into late fall, we have winter weddings on our minds! But when you are getting married in New York, are winter weddings a good idea?
We certainly don’t get as many inquiries for winter weddings for obvious reasons, such as the risk of having bad weather. On the contrary, there are some great reasons to consider having a winter wedding!
First, for those who may be new to our blog, allow us to introduce ourselves! We are the Preston Barn, located in Dover Plains, New York on the property of the historic Old Drovers Inn. Our barn can host up 250 guests, and is fully equipped with heat and AC and indoor bathrooms for comfortable celebrating any time of year! Our inn and other housing options can accommodate over 50 guests, and we can also host all of your pre and post-wedding events for a full weekend celebration you’ll never forget.
Now, let’s talk about our 4 reasons why it’s a good idea to have a winter wedding (and share some inspiration and tips too)!
1. They can be SO UNIQUELY BEAUTIFUL.
Just like that first snowfall, winter weddings can be so gorgeous and less ordinary. No, you won’t likely have an outdoor ceremony or cocktail hour. If that is not on your list of priorities, why not take advantage of the snowy grounds, and the unique color, apparel, and floral options.
There’s just something so warm about stepping into a venue with ambient lighting, perhaps with glowing candlelight, contrasting light and dark colors in apparel and florals, photos in the snow, delicious comfort food, and the list goes on…
Tip: For florals (and your florist will likely tell you this too), use flowers that are winter blooms. They are so beautiful and in-season florals will always be a better rate. Some winter flowers we love are Amaryllis, Anemones, and Camellias. We also love seeing fillers like feathers, pinecones, and berries in winter wedding bouquets and centerpieces! Photos: VILLETTO PHOTOGRAPHY
2. More Budget Friendly
If you are looking to save a few bucks on your wedding day, many venues and vendors will offer discounts for off-season dates. Our site fee is lowered (quite a bit!) for dates from November to April! Your traveling guests could also be saving money from lower rates on flights and hotels in the winter months.
You may even be able to take advantage of FREE decorations! Some venues (definitely here at the barn) will have their space decorated for winter and holiday events. For weddings after the holidays, you can take advantage of major discounts at retail shops for all the leftover winter decorations and stylish accessories like scarves, boots, etc.
Marissa and Jake said Yes…. to free decorations and stunning winter apparel!
3. Less Stress
This may be less true if your wedding is close to the major holidays, but in other winter months, wedding planning could be much less stressful. Here are a few reasons why:
More dates to choose from and no battling others for the date, best vendors, etc. You can take a little more time to decide on the best venue, vendors, etc. for your day.
You won’t likely have to worry about having your wedding too close to another family member or close friend’s big day, which would have put more stress on you, them, and your mutual guests.
Busy season fatigue is real! Think about all the events, vacations, and busy work schedules that come with warmer seasons. Chances are you (and your guests) have a lot less going on in the winter months and therefore, much less fatigue and crunching time!
The weather can be a benefit here too! Keeping everything indoors actually eliminates the stress of planning for outdoor portions of the day. You won’t have to worry about rain at your ceremony or renting a tent. If you really think about it, on-season weddings have weather that is risky too! But if you plan everything to be inside in the first place, you’re golden! (Don’t worry about storms and power outages if you’re with the Preston Barn, because we have generators!)
4. Beat the Heat
Yet another reason the weather can actually be beneficial…
Let’s face it, if you are in New York, you know that the weather is predictably unpredictable! You know that we can have a 90-degree day in May or a freak snow storm in October, if Mother Nature feels like it!
If you or your partner are not big fans of the heat, then you definitely won’t like it in a suit or a gown! In winter, you won’t have to worry about being a sweaty mess (and some guests may be thankful for that as well). Dance the night away without worries!
Source https://junoweddings.co.uk/are-winter-weddings-good-idea/
Source https://www.wedboard.com/wedtips/pros-cons-of-a-destination-wedding-during-the-winter-holidays/
Source https://www.theprestonbarn.com/blog/4-reasons-why-its-a-good-idea-to-have-a-winter-wedding