5 Reasons to Consider a Winter Wedding
You’re engaged and now it’s time to dive into planning your wedding! Deciding when to get married is an important conversation that every couple has after the initial engagement. Depending on when you got engaged and how long you want your engagement to be can also impact when you get married. While the majority of couples opt to have their wedding in the summer months, there are so many reasons to consider a winter wedding as an option. The prime wedding season takes place from June to September, however; this short season can often mean that vendor and venue availability is more limited. Having a winter wedding allows you an opportunity to create a unique experience for your guests, avoid the summer heat, save money and have more options when it comes to choosing your vendors.
Here are 5 things to keep in mind if you’re planning for a winter wedding:
Cost
Having a winter wedding usually allows you to save money. Typically the popular time to get married is between June to September where there is a higher demand for everything. Winter weddings can sometimes see reduced costs by wedding professionals who want to fill their slow season with work. With the money you save on vendors, you could use this money on such things such as your honeymoon or enhance other aspects of your day. Your venue in particular could offer different rates depending on time of year, season or day of the week.
Vendor Availability
The prime wedding season is the busiest time of year for those of us in the wedding industry. Combined with a backup from COVID-19, weekends in the summer months book up incredibly fast. Getting married in the winter means that you’ll have a higher chance of getting all of the vendors that you want. You won’t have to compete with other couples who could potentially be getting married on the same weekend as you. Because the winter months aren’t as busy as the summer months, your vendors will be able to focus more time on you without having to juggle multiple weddings at the same time. Another bonus? You’re more likely to get your wedding photographs back earlier because your photographer's schedule won't be as busy as it would be in the middle of the summer.
Venue Options
There’s no denying that getting married in the winter time will allow you more flexibility with choosing your venue. There will be more available dates for you to choose from! It’s so important to choose a venue that fits your theme and provides the warm, intimate and romantic atmosphere that a winter wedding can offer. There are some really gorgeous local venues that could be transformed into a gorgeous space in the winter time! Bonus points if your venue offers a beautiful space to take photos so that you’re able to escape the cold for a bit. Depending on what vibe you’re going for, consider these local venues for your winter wedding:
Uniqueness
Getting married outside of the peak wedding season means that your wedding is likely going to look vastly different from those getting married in June to September. Things such as florals, colors and decor are usually all somewhat similar within the same season. Having a winter wedding means that you have the opportunity to stand out from what everyone else is doing and have all of your details feel incredibly unique. You could also embrace things that might not otherwise work in the summer time such as a dress with sleeves, bold colors, a candlelit ceremony and more. Work with your florist to create unique florals that combine seasonal colors, greenery and foliage. Lastly, just picture the backdrop that your photos could have with a gorgeous drop of snow! Take advantage of this and bring in the elements of the season to inspire your theme.
Weather
While this may seem opposite for some, many couples choose to get married in the winter to avoid the major heat in the summer. As well, lighting is typically softer in the winter time. The sun sets earlier in the day meaning that all of your formal portraits would have to take place in the afternoon. This could mean a dreamy, candle lit reception that really sets the tone for the rest of the evening. Another benefit for a winter wedding is that you can avoid that harsh light that takes place in the afternoon. The magical sunset hour typically takes place around 4:30pm so you won’t have to leave your reception for your golden hour portraits. Colder, shorter days doesn’t have to mean an earlier night. It just means spending more time indoors and heating up on the dance floor! You won’t have to worry about sweating all of your makeup off or stains on your shirt or your hair falling flat in the summer heat.
Winter is truly a magical time to get married and although it creates a different vibe, it can be just as beautiful as a summer wedding. There are often additional planning requirements to consider with a winter wedding. Depending on where you live, you may have to consider things such as road conditions, a change in weather, or additional attire to stay warm. If you can embrace the colder temperature and a potential sprinkle of snow, then a winter wedding could be perfect for you!
One of my couples who were married in the winter shared their thoughts:
“Tyler and his family are most busy throughout the summer with work so getting married in the winter made more sense for us. He also made a lot of the decorations for the wedding so it was really nice that he had time off to do that. We loved the idea of a NYE wedding but also didn’t want to be too close to Christmas so we settled on the first weekend of December. We both loved the idea of having snow on the ground for our photographs too! It was most important for us to have all of our family and friends there to celebrate with us and we knew that the winter is typically a slower pace for most. We also thought that it gave our guests something to look forward to with drinks, good food and music! Our decor was Gatsby themed and went really well with the season we were getting married in and I loved how unique it was. We know that summer is the typical wedding season but there is something so magical about a winter wedding. If we could do it all over again, we wouldn’t change a thing.”
Brooke & Tyler
If you’re not sure where to get started, start by searching Pinterest for Winter Wedding Inspiration to help you get inspired. I’m currently booking 2022/23, I’d love to chat about all things wedding with you. Reach out to me here!