Make Your Winter Wedding Magical And Fun

Planning a wedding in the colder months? You're in the right place. From winter wedding decorations and colour schemes to food and drink ideas, we've got you covered.

Whether you're planning a winter wonderland wedding or just looking to add a few festive touches, there are plenty of ways to make your day stand out. Think dreamy snow-filled photoshoots, holiday-themed details, and bold decor.

- Lean into the season with a wintery colour palette—think emerald greens, burgundies, and navies.

- Create a cosy atmosphere with blankets, candlelight, and rich textures.

- Take advantage of the shorter days and plan a romantic candlelit ceremony.

- Serve up seasonal treats like hot chocolate, mulled wine, and heartwarming meals.

- Add a festive touch to your bouquet or boutonniere with pinecones, berries, or evergreen wreaths.

- Keep guests warm with heaters, hand warmers, and complimentary shawls.

- Get creative with your exit—rent a snow machine, hop on a ski lift, or make a memorable escape in a horse-drawn carriage.

- Embrace the magic of the season with twinkling fairy lights and sparkling disco balls.

- Offer cosy favours like mittens, hot chocolate kits, or ceramic mugs.

With a bit of creativity, your winter wedding is sure to be a fun and memorable celebration for you and your guests.

Embrace the season with cosy decor, seasonal food and drinks, and winter-themed entertainment

Winter weddings are a magical affair, with roaring fires, snow-blanketed landscapes, and chic, cosy fashion. Here are some ideas to make the most of the season with decor, food and drinks, and entertainment:

Decor

• Candles, candles, candles! Candles add instant warmth and a wintery feel to your wedding. Opt for tall candelabras or tea lights, or both, and consider wintery scents like cinnamon, mulled wine, and pine.
• Fairy lights are another way to create a cosy, festive atmosphere. Hang them from the ceiling, incorporate them into tablescapes, or string them into a majestic canopy over the dance floor.
• If you're going for a rustic theme, consider decorating with twigs and branches. You can arch them over the ceiling or line them along the aisle for a winter woodland feel.
• For a more glamorous look, add some disco balls to your centrepieces or a neon sign to your backdrop.
• Bring the outdoors in with pine cones, holly, mistletoe, and wood accents.
• For a statement entrance, work with your florist and venue to create a floral winter wedding arch.
• If you're getting married in a barn or semi-open space, add faux fur chair warmers for your guests.
• For a simple, budget-friendly option, add some rugs to your venue to warm up the room and create a cosy, homely atmosphere.
• For a celestial-themed wedding, incorporate moons and stars into your decor.
• For a glamorous, Old Hollywood look, set up a luxe red velvet backdrop.

Seasonal Food and Drinks

• Offer hot welcome drinks like cider, toddies, or hot chocolate.
• Serve up a winter carvery with your favourite cut of meat, or a vegetarian or vegan option.
• For a fun, casual option, set up a DIY hot chocolate station with homemade marshmallows, peppermint sticks, and whipped cream.
• For canapes, serve mini Yorkshire puddings with roast beef—a fun twist on a classic roast dinner.
• For the main course, think comfort food: roasted root vegetables, bowls of soup, and mashed potatoes.
• For dessert, offer a hot cocoa bar with customised mugs as wedding favours, or miniature donuts for dipping.
• For a unique wedding cake, try a naked cake topped with berries and powdered sugar, or a red watercolour cake with white drip icing.

Winter-Themed Entertainment

• Set up a DIY s'mores station with a fire pit for guests to roast marshmallows.
• For a fun photo op, have a snow machine exit or a snowball fight!
• For a glamorous touch, add a champagne tower.
• For a unique send-off, exit in a sleigh or a horse-drawn carriage.
• For a fun ice-breaker, add a sprig of mistletoe to your place settings.
• For a cosy chill-out zone, create a nest bar with fur blankets and festive lighting.

Lean into the magic of a winter wonderland with snow-filled photoshoots, fairy lights, and creative props

There's no denying that winter weddings are magical. If you're looking to lean into the enchantment of the season, here are some ideas to create a whimsical winter wonderland, complete with snow-filled photoshoots, fairy lights, and creative props.

Photoshoot Ideas

If you're lucky enough to have snow on your wedding day, don't shy away from embracing it. Step outside for some breathtaking photos against a snow-filled backdrop. If you're exchanging vows at a ski resort, you can even take a romantic photo while riding the ski lift. For a playful touch, grab your wedding party and engage in a snowball fight that's sure to bring out genuine laughter and create memorable photos.

Fairy Lights and Creative Props

Fairy lights are a must-have for creating a whimsical atmosphere. Their twinkling glow adds a magical touch to any winter wedding, especially when paired with creative props. Hang them from the ceiling, drape them over branches, or incorporate them into your tablescape décor. For an extra wow factor, consider dangling them from the ceiling to create a majestic canopy over your reception tables.

To enhance the winter wonderland theme, incorporate creative props such as:

• Light-up baubles
• Rustic wedding chair decorations, such as flowers, foliage, or faux fur warmers
• A statement winter-themed staircase adorned with crisp, white flowers
• Frosted perspex wedding signs and stationery, evoking the essence of frost and ice

Embrace the Season

Embrace the season by incorporating warm and cozy elements. Offer blankets and hand warmers to your guests, and set up fire pits to keep everyone toasty. Serve hot welcome drinks like hot cider, hot toddies, or hot chocolate to greet your guests and warm them up.

Add a touch of sparkle to your wedding invitations with metallic foil accents, or opt for gold and emerald green stationery for a simple nod to the winter season.

Bonus Tip:

Don't forget to plan for shorter days and earlier sunsets. Consider an earlier ceremony time if you want to capture the daylight in your photos or plan for a special “first look" moment before the ceremony.

Offer warm comforts to guests with blankets, hot drinks, and candles

Offering warm comforts to your guests is a great way to make them feel welcome and create a cosy atmosphere at your winter wedding. Here are some tips to achieve that warm and inviting ambiance:

Blankets

Provide blankets for your guests to snuggle up in during the ceremony and reception. Not only will this keep them warm and comfortable, but it also adds a stylish and cosy touch to your wedding décor. Consider offering fleece blankets, faux fur throws, or soft woven rugs to wrap around their shoulders. This is especially important if your wedding is outdoors or in a venue that tends to be drafty. Blankets can be draped over the backs of chairs or neatly folded and stacked on a table for guests to help themselves. They can even double up as wedding favours, allowing your guests to take them home as a memorable keepsake.

Hot Drinks

Welcome your guests with a selection of hot drinks to warm them up from the inside out. Offerings such as hot chocolate, hot toddies, hot cider, or mulled wine are perfect for a winter wedding. Set up a hot chocolate station with all the toppings, such as marshmallows, whipped cream, and chocolate shavings, or provide a DIY hot cocoa cone as a wedding favour. For the adults, consider spiking the hot chocolate with a dash of liqueur or offering warm cocktails like hot buttered rum. For a fun twist, you could even have a signature winter cocktail created especially for your big day.

Candles

Create a romantic and intimate atmosphere by incorporating candles into your wedding décor. Their soft, flickering light will add a sense of warmth and coziness to the venue. Use a combination of tall candelabras and small tea lights on tables, and consider scented candles with wintery fragrances like cinnamon, mulled wine, or pine to evoke the senses. Candles can also be used to line the wedding aisle or to create a romantic backdrop for your ceremony. Just be mindful of any venue restrictions and take the necessary safety precautions when using open flames.

By incorporating these simple touches, you'll be sure to offer your guests a warm and inviting experience at your winter wedding, ensuring they stay cosy and comfortable throughout the celebrations.

Plan ahead for shorter days and potential travel delays with early start times and backup plans

Planning a wedding in the winter? It's a beautiful choice ,with snow-blanketed landscapes, roaring fires, and chic, cosy fashion. But there are some things to keep in mind to ensure your big day goes off without a hitch. Here are some tips for planning ahead for shorter days and potential travel delays, with early start times and backup plans:

• Consider an earlier ceremony time if you want to capture daylight in your wedding photos. The sun sets the earliest in the winter, so you may want to plan ahead and schedule your ceremony and photos accordingly.
• Have multiple backup plans in place. Winter weddings come with a higher risk of travel delays for guests and potential weather issues. Be prepared for wind, rain, snow, and flight delays, and think about what you will do in these situations.
• If you're set on a date close to a major holiday, send out your save-the-dates well in advance. This will give your guests the best chance of attending, as the winter months can get busy with holiday festivities.
• Be mindful of your guests' comfort. Provide blankets, hand warmers, complimentary shawls, and fire pits to keep everyone warm, especially if any part of your event is outdoors.
• Keep your guests informed of any changes due to weather conditions, and make sure they have secured safe transportation arrangements.
• If your wedding is in a snowy location, offer a boot check upon arrival so your guests can keep their feet warm and dry during the party.
• Be prepared for the possibility of a power outage. Have flashlights or battery-operated candles on hand in case the lights go out.
• If you're serving cocktails, include some warm options like hot toddies or hot chocolate. These drinks will be especially welcome at an outdoor winter wedding.
• If your wedding is taking place over the Christmas period, be mindful that guests may already have plans. You may want to send out invitations or save-the-dates earlier than usual to ensure people can attend.

By planning ahead and being prepared for potential delays, you can ensure that your winter wedding is a magical and memorable event for you and your guests.

Take advantage of the season's unique opportunities, from fashion to flowers, and create a fun, festive atmosphere

Winter weddings offer a unique opportunity to embrace the magic of the season and create a fun, festive atmosphere. From fashion to flowers, here are some ideas to make your winter wedding fun and memorable:

Fashion

• Embrace the cosy: Think faux fur stoles, velvet suits, and sparkly bridesmaid dresses. For the bridesmaids, opt for long sleeves or faux fur wraps to keep them warm during the ceremony. For the groomsmen, experiment with sweater vests, scarves, and heavy wool jackets.
• Add a touch of winter wonderland: Ask your bridesmaids to wear white and denim or match their coats. For something more subtle, opt for winter white and lots of greenery, or deep hues for a rustic, cabin-in-the-Aspen feel.
• Don't forget the accessories: From red tartan shoes to pine needle bouquets and berry hair accessories, small details can make a big impact.

Flowers

• Winter-themed bouquets: Add pinecones, brunia berries, hypericum berries, or even succulents to your bouquet. For the groomsmen, a simple pine cone or hypericum berry boutonnière is a subtle nod to the season.
• Evergreen wreaths: Use them as chargers on reception tables, or hang them on doors, walls, or even your getaway car for a festive touch.
• Hanging florals: Transform your venue by hanging winter-themed greenery from the ceiling. It creates a cosy, festive atmosphere and makes a great backdrop for photos.

Festive touches

• Fairy lights: Twinkling lights instantly create a magical, festive atmosphere. Hang them from the ceiling, incorporate them into tablescapes, or create a majestic canopy over the dance floor.
• Candles: Line your tables with candles of varying heights for a romantic, wintery feel.
• Signature cocktails: Serve festive drinks like hot toddies, hot chocolate, or spiked eggnog to warm up your guests. Don't forget to give them fun, festive names!
• Festive food: Offer comfort food like roasted root vegetables, soup, and mashed potatoes. For dessert, set up a hot chocolate bar with customised mugs and miniature donuts for dipping.

Frequently asked questions