Planning The Perfect Winter Wedding

Many couples long for that perfect sunny Saturday in June for their dream wedding, but an ever-increasing number of people are now opting to stage their big day in a winter wonderland surrounded by family and friends instead.

Winter weddings are really growing in popularity, as more couples choose to avoid the notorious unpredictable British summer and do something a bit different for their happy occasion.  Those planning a winter wedding are in luck – between November and January you can expect any venue you choose to already be fully-kitted out for Christmas and to be bursting with a stunning, ready-made festive atmosphere that your guests will love.

Winter Wedding Snow Scenes
Winter Wedding Snow Scenes

If you do fancy being more of a snow queen than a blushing bride, there’s no end of ideas to make sure your event has a real ‘wow factor’ and goes without a hitch.  The hard part will be finding the place that really suits your style.

Do you want crisp and modern or cosy and traditional?

Most venues will go for traditional festival feel with trees, garlands and the usual colour scheme of reds, greens and golds, and if you do opt for this theme, a cup of hot chocolate or mulled wine is the perfect way to help heat up guests as they arrive.

More contemporary venues may choose Christmas decorations with a modern twist, opting for simple, clean white colour schemes or metallics, complimented by tasteful lighting. Think crystals, snow flakes, glitter, champagne and ice sculptures!

Candles of all shapes and sizes will also look great, and can even come with a festive scent. Silvers and green are the festive colours for 2011. Coffee browns and creams are also a popular choice.

There’s also likely to be a Christmas tree already in place at your venue of choice and this will provide a great backdrop for some stunning indoor photographs.

And outside the venue, why not make the most of the night drawing in to show the venue at its best with some magical outdoor lighting. Lighting up bushes, trees, and the contours of the roof can make your reception location look amazing and will help your guests get into the party mood.   There are also many lovely seasonal flowers to choose from for a winter wedding bouquet and table decorations. Think white roses or orchids, or go for a full-on bunch of dramatic red blooms.

Winter Wedding Venue Dressing
Winter Wedding Venue Dressing

Why not make the most of mistletoe, holly and ivy as well?

Festive decorations such as silver bells, mini Christmas trees and pine cones and party favours such as candy canes will also help to set an evocative scene, whatever your taste.   Aside from looking stunning, there are many other benefits to holding a winter wedding. You can make significant savings holding your wedding out of season, and could have more chance of bagging a popular venue off-peak. But do plan ahead as Christmas party season will be in full flow and diaries can fill up fast. Make sure your guests have plenty of time to save the date!

For a winter wedding, you’re unlikely to need to start from scratch where decoration is concerned, but for a touch of extra help getting things perfect, it’s always worth consulting the experts. The Christmas Decorators is a specialist company with offices throughout the UK and Ireland. Their expertise sees them in demand each year to decorate the homes of the rich and famous as well as top hotels, restaurants and shopping malls.

Winter Wedding Venue Dressing

“Whatever a winter bride desires, we can make happen,” says company director Nick Bolton. “We get asked to create all sorts of different festive looks for venues and function rooms, and work with our clients to make sure we deliver exactly what they want. Over the years we have decorated venues with all sorts of different themes and specifications, from Christmas in New York to a Narnia-style winter wonderland.

He adds, “Although we decorate for all kinds of venues and functions, getting involved with winter weddings are some of our most favourite jobs. It’s fantastic to be able to lend our skills to helping make someone’s big day totally perfect.”

For more details visit The Christmas Decorators