Winter Wedding Checklist

Winter is nearly upon us and in the lead up to the festive period now is a fantastic time for a wedding. This time of year venues and suppliers tend to be cheaper, guests feel more festive and with the first frost there’s a hint of magic in the air. But inevitably there are one or two things that can also cause a few problems with a winter wedding, so here’s a little heads up of some of the extra details you may need to consider…

• Consider a venue with accommodation available either nearby or on site to allow people to travel the day before in case of icy conditions
• Think about how warm your venue is likely to be and whether you may need additional heaters, particularly in older venues or barns etc. You may need to consider outside as well – is there somewhere reasonably warm and undercover for any smokers to go?

• Think carefully about your timings – if you’d like to get group shots or portraits outside then you need to bear in mind that it will probably be dark by 3pm

• Look carefully at the venue lighting – it’s likely to be getting dark by the time you’re eating the wedding breakfast and if the lighting is too low or equally if it’s too harsh it can have a negative effect on your guest’s moods and end up feeling a little dingy. If you think it may be quite dark consider asking an events lighting company to brighten up the room for you and create a real ambience.

• Bring alternative footwear in case of ice/snow or muddy conditions. You don’t want to be slipping and sliding everywhere if you need to be outside for pictures etc.

• Of course you want to show off your wedding dress but it may be worth getting a wrap or coat that compliments the dress to make sure you can keep warm whilst still looking glam! Your white dress may be stunning but white dresses and blue faces rarely make a great combo! Oh, and a white umbrella may also be a good idea!

• If you’re travelling in a vintage wedding car make sure you have a backup option in case of problems with snow or breakdowns which can be more frequent in the winter months – if possible have a 4×4 standing by as you can’t afford for the bride to get stuck!

• Alternatively think about staying the night before and getting ready somewhere within walking distance from the ceremony venue so that you know you can get there one way or another!

• In winter it’s often advisable to hold your ceremony and reception at the same location so that if the weather is bad there’s no hold-up between the two as your guests attempt to travel along icy roads.

• It might be a good idea to have some hot drinks available at your drinks reception such as Mulled wine or hot toddy rather than the traditional champagne, particularly if you’re having a church ceremony where guests may well have been standing out in the cold to throw the confetti just before the drinks reception!
• If guests will be bringing children it’s generally much more difficult to keep them entertained indoors than out where they can run around more – perhaps create a play area to keep the kids amused with activities for them to do!

So bear those few points in mind and you can look forward to a spectacular winter wonderland wedding worthy of the occasion. After all, as the old song goes, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!