Planning a winter wedding? There are extra details to consider. Use this guide to prepare for your big day and execute the winter wedding of your dreams.

Winter is an incredibly romantic time to get married. The cold air combined with falling snow is enough to make any winter wedding dreamy and beautiful.

However, tying the knot during this season isn’t as easy as the movies make it seem.

Brides and grooms must prepare themselves to tackle a unique set of challenges if they want to pull off a winter wedding.

From the initial concept to the final execution, there are certain factors you need to consider. Use this guide to plan and host the winter wedding of your dreams.

Details to Consider for Hosting Winter Weddings

Most couples tend to have their weddings during the typical wedding season months, which are any time between May and October. This is because these months usually have the best weather for hosting events, especially if you want an outdoor wedding.

However, a winter wedding can be just as warm and memorable when done well. Take note of these essential details:

Winter Wedding Etiquette and Necessities

With the holidays in full swing, winter often ends up being the busiest season of the year. Understand this from the outset and give allowances for your important guests who may not be available. Plan your wedding for a time when you and most of your loved ones are free. If possible, avoid dates that are close to or fall on major holidays.

Of course, the exception to this guideline is the theme of your wedding. For instance, if you’re hosting a holiday-themed wedding, you can likely get away with having your wedding closer to the actual holiday. However, be sure to consider your guests who have different religions and cultures, as they may not celebrate the same holiday traditions as you do. Get creative and find ways to make everyone feel included.

Here are some other winter-related considerations to remember:

Decoration and Theme

While you can have any kind of theme or decorations you want, some themes are more suitable for a winter wedding. One tip to keep in mind: work with a florist who knows what flowers and foliage bloom during winter months, so you won’t need to worry about floral arrangements that can’t handle the cold.

Your chosen color palette should also complement the winter setting. You’d fare well with luxurious and elegant colors such as wine red, black, white, navy blue, and emerald green. Combining some of these colors will make your décor pop—especially if you’re banking on snow.

Lighting

The days grow shorter during the winter months, which means you’ll have less natural light than you would during the other months of the year. Because of this, you may need to make arrangements for lighting at your venue to ensure you and your guests have ample light for the festivities.

Some lighting types are also better during winter. For instance, fairy lights and candles work well for winter weddings because they elevate the romance factor and add a twinkling effect to your decorations.

Temperature

It’s going to be cold outside, so you need to find a way to keep your guests warm. If done correctly, you can create a cozy atmosphere that’ll make your wedding even more intimate and romantic. One idea we love is to give your guests shawls or blankets to use during the festivities and take home as wedding giveaways.

Consider serving your guests warm drinks as well. Hot cider, tea, chocolate, and coffee are just some of the beverage options guests would appreciate during a winter wedding.

Have a Backup Plan

While the weather is out of your control, you must have contingency plans in place. Even if an outdoor winter wedding seems dreamy, you’d fare much better by having your ceremony and reception indoors. This way, you can protect yourself and your guests from any untoward incidents caused by the weather.

Weather disturbances like snowstorms and blizzards could derail or even postpone your nuptials. So, try to come up with a date that’s less likely to have inclement weather, and come up with an alternative in case the worst happens. You’ll save yourself a lot of stress with the wedding planning.

Afarose Insider Tip: Try to scout destination wedding locations. Also, check the average weather conditions and temperature for your planned wedding date during the winter season.

Planning the Perfect Wedding in Winter

It’s easy enough to get overwhelmed with all the things you need to prepare for your nuptials. But, as mentioned, a winter wedding can pose an extra challenge. During the wedding planning process, it’s important to keep an open mind and be flexible. A winter wedding can test you, but celebrating your nuptials during the winter months can be incredibly rewarding.

Regardless of the season you’re planning to have your wedding in, sending out invites at least six months in advance is a must. Your guests need ample time to plan and make arrangements, especially if they have children.

You’ll also want a lot of time to plan your celebration because you need to make sure all the wedding details and vendors are set. Here are some tips to make the preparation phase easier.

Have a Timeline

There are two kinds of timelines to put together: your wedding planning timeline and your on-the-day wedding timeline.

Wedding Planning Timeline

Weddings take a lot of time and effort to plan. For instance, you don’t want to wait too close to the date to start researching and looking for suppliers—your first picks will likely have an event already booked. Create a planning timeline that puts all your wedding elements in place without leaving you overwhelmed.

Some wedding experts recommend planning your wedding a full year before your chosen date. In general, you should already have your budget, supplier list, guest list, and wedding party ready with nine months to go. All schedules and communications with your wedding party should be locked in by six months, and all personal and legal errands must be accomplished a month before the wedding date.

This, of course, is a rough plan of your timeline. Working with a wedding planner can help you iron out all the details and ensure you stay on top of everything.

On-the-Day Wedding Timeline

Because a winter wedding means less daylight, you should plan your ceremony around the sun. For example, you need to plot enough time for photographs, as these would look best with natural light. Schedule your photography sessions earlier in the day to have the best lighting.

Book Wedding Suppliers in Advance

The right suppliers can bring your dream wedding to life. A winter wedding can be particularly challenging to find vendors for because of the holidays—many suppliers are more in demand because of other holiday events. As a result, you’ll need to make a list of suppliers you think will be able to help you execute your wedding vision. Some of the details you should ask about are:

• Availability
• Rates
• Packages
• Inclusions
• Extra charges during holiday
• Terms of service

Don’t make any final decisions until you have all the details in place. As a tip, you should start looking for your suppliers as early as 12 months in advance to have ample preparation time. Starting earlier than that would be even better.

Give Your Guests Information

Your guests make your wedding day extra special. After all, it’s not every day you get to have everyone you love in one space. As such, you need to make sure they have all the information they need for your wedding. Additionally, since you’re planning a winter wedding, your guests would need more time to prepare.

When sending out invites, be sure to provide details about transportation, accommodations, potential weather, and activities. These are particularly important for guests coming from out of town. If you want to make things more streamlined, consider putting up a wedding website where guests can find all the details they need. This website can also be a meaningful souvenir you and your spouse can look back to in the future.

Plan the Perfect Winter Wedding With Afarose on Your Side

Your winter wedding can be extra magical if you prepare for any challenges the winter months may pose. As with all things, preparation is key. Additionally, you can make your wedding day even more wonderful by dressing to the nines and looking your best.

This is where Afarose comes in.

Afarose is the quintessential online bridal store for #allthingswedding. Find your dream wedding gown and accessories—including winter wraps and furs—among our made-to-order designer wedding dresses. You can even find outfits for your bridal party. Trust Afarose to help bring your dream winter wedding to life.

Reach out to Afarose today.