Six Top Tips for a Winter Wedding
So what are the best tips for planning a wonderful winter wedding? One overarching notion is to embrace the season. Don’t think ‘how can we have a fabulous wedding despite the winter’, but ‘how can we have a fabulous wedding because of the winter’. Harness all the exciting opportunities colder weather and darker days can bring. Here are our tips on how you can do just that.
Warm tones and rich colours, or clear lines and ice sculptures – do you want to go for something paired-down and elegant or a cosy romantic vibe? The theme will affect everything from dresses and suits to hair, make up, decor and food. Perhaps a pure-white wedding with architecturally arranged candles and glass will suit. Alternatively - as Hitched suggests - consider table decor that’s all monochrome, or is rich in foliage or incorporates an array of warm, jewel-rich colours. If you both love the season, you could opt for a Christmassy theme.
No, we’re not talking hats and gloves. But you can add layers to your wedding outfit without looking like you’re heading out on a hike. Some experts suggest wearing thick tights under longer dresses, pointing out no one will know. While that won’t suit everyone, you can still invest in winter accessories – for grooms tailored jackets in thick, rich fabrics such as velvet help them cut a dash. For brides and bridesmaids stoles, capes or cropped jackets look supremely stylish, another option is a long-sleeved dress.
Although guests know its winter and there may be photos outside, chances are a fair few won’t have done the layering thing – it’s easy to try on an outfit in a shop and think it’ll be perfect after all. So make sure your venue has a warm, cosy room to retire to after any outdoor moments. You could have sets of blankets, which match your wedding theme, for guests to have – and to keep as a memento of the day. Ensure there are warm canapés and warming drinks guests can wrap their hands around – perhaps something mulled, some winter pimms or a spicy, hot cocktail.
The days being shorter doesn’t just mean you’ll want to schedule outdoor photos carefully and early. It also gives you the opportunity to create a winter wedding wonderland with light. Ranks of glowing candles, strings of twinkling fairy lights, batches of fizzing sparklers, even sequin features on dresses and table decorations – all add shimmer and shine and create a cosy feel. You could even suggest your guests adopt the idea too.
At a winter wedding the food really needs rise to the occasion, being warming and nourishing as well as looking spectacular. At Court Colman Manor, near Bridgend in South Wales, we can delight your guests with anything from a light finger buffet to a hearty banquet or a sumptuous wedding breakfast – each perfectly tailored to your needs. You might opt for our traditional English dishes. Or you might feel Tandoori cuisine is the perfectly-spiced, warming food for chillier days - our Bokhara Brasserie is one of the best Indian restaurants in Britain and our chefs would love to cater for your day.
Of course your venue needs to understand the specific needs of winter weddings and excel at meeting them. Warm rooms, warming drinks, hot canapés, beautiful lighting, a romantic atmosphere, warming, nourishing rood. At Court Colman Manor we have the facilities, the staff and the know-how to turn your winter wedding dreams into reality. We even have some late dates available for late 2021 with everything included. Time to get planning those hot cocktails.
Contact our experienced wedding coordinator on 01656 720 212, or email experience@court-colman-manor.com.