Winter wedding
Winter weddings -- they're the stuff dreams are made of. When planning your
winter wedding, think frosty fairy princess! You can fulfill all your girlhood fantasies for a magnificent and sparkling wedding ceremony and reception with the help of a little creativity and imagination. There are so many ways to make a winter wedding spectacular, from the food to the favors.
Wedding favors are a great way to express your thanks to your guests and give them something to help them remember the wedding. These days, there are so many fun ideas for great winter wedding favors. Read on for some ideas to get your creativity flowing!
The first thing you'll need to do before selecting wedding favors is decide on a color scheme. Popular color schemes for winter weddings include red and green Christmas colors as well as shades of midnight blue accented with sparkling silver and white.
Disposable cameras wrapped in colorful, decorative fabric like sheer tulle make ideal wedding favors. With a disposable camera, your guests can capture their own memories of your special day. Candy is also a popular choice. Chocolate silver bells (like Hershey's kisses) wrapped in tulle and secured with satin ribbon are perfect.
Or, try a winter themed collectible like a miniature snowglobe. This gives your guests something to take home that they can use and enjoy throughout the winter season. Scented votive candles in fragrances like pine or spicy cinnamon are also popular winter wedding favors.
The old tradition of throwing rice at the bride and groom has gone out of favor since it was discovered that rice is harmful for birds. Instead, choose birdseed to give the birds that are still around a little something to eat! Or, try miniature bottles of blowing bubbles in a color that matches your color scheme.
Another nice idea is wrapping packets of hot cocoa mix, apple cider or gourmet coffee in pretty fabric. Guests will love the thoughtfulness of the hot, satisfying beverage on a frosty winter day! Christmas ornaments also make good wedding favors.
Like many aspects of your wedding and reception, the wedding favors you choose to give your guests should reflect the theme and color scheme of your wedding and your own individual preferences. No matter what you end up choosing, your guests are sure to be delighted with the favors they receive!
While many associate weddings with the warm months of the year, winter can also be a romantic time to hold your wedding. When we chose to have a Christmas wedding, some people had reservations. We remained firm, and throughout the planning process we learned the pros and cons of having a wedding at this time of year. If you�re considering having a winter wedding, these are some of the issues to consider:
Snow:
If you�re in an area that commonly has snow in winter, snow can be both your best friend and your worst enemy. On one hand, a nice dusting of snow a week before your wedding can create a festive atmosphere, and may put you and your guests into a holiday mood. The obvious catch is that it�s impossible to control the weather, and your guests will know this. While you may like a few snowflakes after the ceremony for a romantic getaway on a horse and sleigh, guests coming from any distance may decide to forgo your wedding for fear of a storm.
If there is a storm on the day of the wedding, you may have a difficult question to answer: Will you go ahead with the wedding even if some or most of the guests can�t be there? Think about this before the wedding day, so that you can prepare yourself for this situation. If you decide that only the bride, the groom, and the wedding officiant absolutely need to be at the ceremony, then don�t worry about the weather. If you can�t say that, you can take a few precautions. Begin by checking with your vendors to see if they are willing to have a snow date for the wedding and reception. If not, ask important people, such as parents and wedding party members, if they can come a day early, particularly if they have to travel. That way you can continue with the ceremony, and maybe even hold a reception at a later time.
Photography:
For the photography, you may be restricted to indoor shots. In this case, make sure you have a suitable area for indoor photography. If you want to try some outdoor photographs, talk to your photographer. If he or she is willing to take them, think about wearing something like a cape, particularly if you�re wearing a sleeveless or a strapless stress. Since days are shorter in winter, it may be better to take the pictures before the ceremony, unless you�re sure you�ll have enough time to take all you need before dark.
Holidays:
If you choose to get married during the winter holidays, you have the added advantage that you and your future spouse may not have to take as much time off work for the wedding and the honeymoon. If you�re in school, you may have a block of time that you can set aside without guilt. In the future, it may also be easier for you to find the time to go on a second honeymoon or other anniversary vacations.
The problem with choosing the holidays is that some of your guests may have prior family commitments. Friends may go home for the holidays; family members may have gatherings with the other side of the family. People may also have the added financial burden of holiday gift-giving, so they may be unable to afford to come to the wedding. To avoid these problems, give your guests ample warning of your intended wedding date. If you send your wedding invitations earlier than you normally would, you will also avoid the holiday card rush.
Vendors:
Because winter is a less popular time of year for weddings, it is often easier to book vendors. Many vendors need to be booked a year or more in advance. Although I did much of my planning in the few months leading up to my wedding, not one vendor I contacted had another booking for my wedding day. For last-minute planners and for those who want short engagements, winter can therefore be an ideal time.
The Honeymoon:
What�s better than going from a wintery wedding to a tropical honeymoon?
Winter can be a fabulous season for a wedding. If you prefer snow skiing to water sports, think about using a winter wedding theme.
Colors
There are many colors available for winter themes. Choose one of the following or a combination of colors: Silver, white, light blue, light green, lavender, plum, cranberry, ivy, gold, ruby, emerald, pewter, cobalt, navy, hunter green, or black.
Flowers
White poinsettias would be beautiful for a winter wedding along with other white flowers such as roses, calla lilies, carnations, gardenias, magnolias, alstromeria and snowball mums. Instead of the traditional fillers, consider having your florist incorporate evergreen sprigs into your floral arrangements. For a different look, have your bridesmaids carry evergreen wreathes or hurricane lamps instead of flower bouquets.
Decorations
The bride doing a winter theme is lucky for she can hit the after Christmas sales and save on almost all of her decorations. Icicle lights in either white or blue would be a great way to start off decorating your reception. Gold or silver garland would be another great touch. Snowflake ornaments would add a definite winter feel to your decorating scheme and could double as favors. Evergreen boughs could add a touch of green to your decorating scheme. For example, swags of greenery with white lights would add a charming feel to the reception. White and blue tulle will also help create a winter feel.
Centerpieces
There are many unique ideas available for a winter wedding theme. For example, you could have bride and groom snowmen, miniature ice sculptures, large snowglobes, or white poinsettias with snowflakes on them. While candles are used by many brides with many different themes, they can add a special warm glow to a winter wedding. Add fake snow around any centerpiece for an additional winter touch.
Music
To help set the mood of a winter day or evening, chose some songs with the word snow or winter in them. Some examples are: Snowbird, Walking in a Winter Wonderland, or The First Snowfall. Try doing a search on the word "snow" or "winter" at any music site for additional ideas.
Food
Hot chocolate, mulled wine, mulled cider and wassail are all good drinks to help set the mood of a winter reception theme. Cheese fondue would make a warm and fun appetizer to start off your winter wedding feast. Follow with a soup course instead of a salad if you are having a sit-down dinner or provide soup on the buffet. Warm bread is especially satisfying on a cold winter day. Ham, turkey, fish, or beef all would be suitable meats for your meal.
Cake
There are many beautiful wedding cake designs incorporating snowflakes available. For your cake topper, consider using a snowglobe or looking for snowmen. For an additional snow effect, cover the cake table with a pile of white fabric, fake snow, or white tulle.
Favors
If you choose to have favors at your reception, here are a few that go well with a winter theme: Miniature glass snowstorm globes with a winter scene and the bride and groom's names and wedding date added, an icicle or snowflake ornament, chocolate mint suckers in snowflake or snowmen shapes, or snowflake or snowmen shaped cookies. If you are using a lot of greenery for your decorations, miniature evergreen trees would be a good favor.
The old tradition of throwing rice at the bride and groom has gone out of favor since it was discovered that rice is harmful for birds. Instead, choose birdseed to give the birds that are still around a little something to eat! Or, try miniature bottles of blowing bubbles in a color that matches your color scheme.
Another nice idea is wrapping packets of hot cocoa mix, apple cider or gourmet coffee in pretty fabric. Guests will love the thoughtfulness of the hot, satisfying beverage on a frosty winter day! Christmas ornaments also make good wedding favors.
Like many aspects of your wedding and reception, the wedding favors you choose to give your guests should reflect the theme and color scheme of your wedding and your own individual preferences. No matter what you end up choosing, your guests are sure to be delighted with the favors they receive!
While many associate weddings with the warm months of the year, winter can also be a romantic time to hold your wedding. When we chose to have a Christmas wedding, some people had reservations. We remained firm, and throughout the planning process we learned the pros and cons of having a wedding at this time of year. If you�re considering having a winter wedding, these are some of the issues to consider:
Snow:
If you�re in an area that commonly has snow in winter, snow can be both your best friend and your worst enemy. On one hand, a nice dusting of snow a week before your wedding can create a festive atmosphere, and may put you and your guests into a holiday mood. The obvious catch is that it�s impossible to control the weather, and your guests will know this. While you may like a few snowflakes after the ceremony for a romantic getaway on a horse and sleigh, guests coming from any distance may decide to forgo your wedding for fear of a storm.
If there is a storm on the day of the wedding, you may have a difficult question to answer: Will you go ahead with the wedding even if some or most of the guests can�t be there? Think about this before the wedding day, so that you can prepare yourself for this situation. If you decide that only the bride, the groom, and the wedding officiant absolutely need to be at the ceremony, then don�t worry about the weather. If you can�t say that, you can take a few precautions. Begin by checking with your vendors to see if they are willing to have a snow date for the wedding and reception. If not, ask important people, such as parents and wedding party members, if they can come a day early, particularly if they have to travel. That way you can continue with the ceremony, and maybe even hold a reception at a later time.
Photography:
For the photography, you may be restricted to indoor shots. In this case, make sure you have a suitable area for indoor photography. If you want to try some outdoor photographs, talk to your photographer. If he or she is willing to take them, think about wearing something like a cape, particularly if you�re wearing a sleeveless or a strapless stress. Since days are shorter in winter, it may be better to take the pictures before the ceremony, unless you�re sure you�ll have enough time to take all you need before dark.
Holidays:
If you choose to get married during the winter holidays, you have the added advantage that you and your future spouse may not have to take as much time off work for the wedding and the honeymoon. If you�re in school, you may have a block of time that you can set aside without guilt. In the future, it may also be easier for you to find the time to go on a second honeymoon or other anniversary vacations.
The problem with choosing the holidays is that some of your guests may have prior family commitments. Friends may go home for the holidays; family members may have gatherings with the other side of the family. People may also have the added financial burden of holiday gift-giving, so they may be unable to afford to come to the wedding. To avoid these problems, give your guests ample warning of your intended wedding date. If you send your wedding invitations earlier than you normally would, you will also avoid the holiday card rush.
Vendors:
Because winter is a less popular time of year for weddings, it is often easier to book vendors. Many vendors need to be booked a year or more in advance. Although I did much of my planning in the few months leading up to my wedding, not one vendor I contacted had another booking for my wedding day. For last-minute planners and for those who want short engagements, winter can therefore be an ideal time.
The Honeymoon:
What�s better than going from a wintery wedding to a tropical honeymoon?
Winter can be a fabulous season for a wedding. If you prefer snow skiing to water sports, think about using a winter wedding theme.
Colors
There are many colors available for winter themes. Choose one of the following or a combination of colors: Silver, white, light blue, light green, lavender, plum, cranberry, ivy, gold, ruby, emerald, pewter, cobalt, navy, hunter green, or black.
Flowers
White poinsettias would be beautiful for a winter wedding along with other white flowers such as roses, calla lilies, carnations, gardenias, magnolias, alstromeria and snowball mums. Instead of the traditional fillers, consider having your florist incorporate evergreen sprigs into your floral arrangements. For a different look, have your bridesmaids carry evergreen wreathes or hurricane lamps instead of flower bouquets.
Decorations
The bride doing a winter theme is lucky for she can hit the after Christmas sales and save on almost all of her decorations. Icicle lights in either white or blue would be a great way to start off decorating your reception. Gold or silver garland would be another great touch. Snowflake ornaments would add a definite winter feel to your decorating scheme and could double as favors. Evergreen boughs could add a touch of green to your decorating scheme. For example, swags of greenery with white lights would add a charming feel to the reception. White and blue tulle will also help create a winter feel.
Centerpieces
There are many unique ideas available for a winter wedding theme. For example, you could have bride and groom snowmen, miniature ice sculptures, large snowglobes, or white poinsettias with snowflakes on them. While candles are used by many brides with many different themes, they can add a special warm glow to a winter wedding. Add fake snow around any centerpiece for an additional winter touch.
Music
To help set the mood of a winter day or evening, chose some songs with the word snow or winter in them. Some examples are: Snowbird, Walking in a Winter Wonderland, or The First Snowfall. Try doing a search on the word "snow" or "winter" at any music site for additional ideas.
Food
Hot chocolate, mulled wine, mulled cider and wassail are all good drinks to help set the mood of a winter reception theme. Cheese fondue would make a warm and fun appetizer to start off your winter wedding feast. Follow with a soup course instead of a salad if you are having a sit-down dinner or provide soup on the buffet. Warm bread is especially satisfying on a cold winter day. Ham, turkey, fish, or beef all would be suitable meats for your meal.
Cake
There are many beautiful wedding cake designs incorporating snowflakes available. For your cake topper, consider using a snowglobe or looking for snowmen. For an additional snow effect, cover the cake table with a pile of white fabric, fake snow, or white tulle.
Favors
If you choose to have favors at your reception, here are a few that go well with a winter theme: Miniature glass snowstorm globes with a winter scene and the bride and groom's names and wedding date added, an icicle or snowflake ornament, chocolate mint suckers in snowflake or snowmen shapes, or snowflake or snowmen shaped cookies. If you are using a lot of greenery for your decorations, miniature evergreen trees would be a good favor.
