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Picture this: you’re covered head-to-toe in white, matching the freshly-fallen snow. The air retains a crisp clearness, and all your guests glow with excitement for your nuptials and the upcoming Christmas season. While winter may not be the most popular time to tie the knot, it certainly has its fair share of charm and romantic moments that lend themselves well to winter wedding ideas. After all, people cherish spending time with their loved ones, so what better way to ring in the holidays than to merge two families into one?
But winter weddings don’t have to look the same. In fact, winter provides you the perfect opportunities to have a memorable and even unconventional wedding! Here are some of our favorite ideas for the perfect winter ceremony.
Unique Winter Wedding Ideas
Outdoor Photos
Dresses Ideas
When you get married in the winter, you probably envision spending a lot of time indoors. But if you expect fresh snow and have a lovely outdoor area at your disposal, take the opportunity to take some stunning wedding photos! The colors in your bridesmaids’ dresses and groomsmen’s tuxes will pop against the stark white, and the bare trees and gorgeous winter sky will stand out.
And if you live in a super cold area, keep some coats on hand for everyone for while they wait for their turn to pose. You can even get coats or fur stoles that go well with your wedding attire so you can wear them in the photos!
So many bridesmaids’ dresses feature lighter colors, especially in the summer months. In the winter, lighter hues still look good, but darker shades tend to be more in style. Particularly, people start filling their wardrobes with jewel tones, such as ruby reds, sapphire blues, emeralds, and amethyst purples.
These shades really stand out in photos and look good on a variety of complexions and skin shades. Either select one shade of jewel tones for your bridesmaids’ dresses or mix and match them! You can even match them to the flowers in your bouquet. If you want to ensure everyone loves their outfit, allow your bridesmaids to select their own dress style or tuxedo.
Christmas Karaoke
Do your friends love to bust out some good Christmas carols? If so, swap the wedding DJ for a Christmas karaoke session! All you need is a karaoke machine and some willing participants.
And if you’re not a great singer, don’t worry. Some of the best memories come from letting go and just enjoying whatever comes out of your mouth!
Cozy Spots
A winter wedding provides you with the perfect opportunity to incorporate your love of all things cozy! If you love curling up with lots of blankets and pillows, create some comfortable spots for your guests to relax before and after the ceremony. Look for a venue that has a lot of couches and inviting corners and bring some of your own soft throws and pillows.
Or, consider making the reception cozy! Instead of tables, invite your guests to sit around elegant sofas and eat at coffee tables. If your venue has a fireplace, ask the staff to light a fire for the ceremony.
Warm Drinks
Want to offer some unique drinks at your reception? Allow your guests to sip on some warm, comforting beverages! From hot cocoa to eggnog and lattes and beyond, your celebration will be more memorable if they have drinks they’ve never had before at a wedding!
Plus, you can even turn these drinks into a fun activity by allowing them to personalize them with candy canes, cinnamon sticks, sprinkles, and more!
And if you want to serve alcohol at your wedding, why not bring some Bailey’s Irish Cream to spike your favorite holiday drinks?
Comfort Food
Everyone loves diving into a nice, warm dish of mac n’ cheese or lasagna during the winter time. So, if you want your guests to experience the ultimate winter bliss during your wedding, you’ll want to serve some comfort food!
Think about your favorite dishes to eat during the cold months and add them to the list of foods you’ll be serving.
Holiday Food
On the other hand, you can celebrate your union and the holidays all at once with some traditional Christmas or Thanksgiving food!
To do this, make your main dish a ham, turkey, or steak. Then, bring your favorite dishes, like mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce (or cranberry jell-o layered with cream cheese and walnuts), and more! And instead of a wedding cake, have a decadent apple, pumpkin, or pecan pie.
Make It Evergreen
Is there anything more wintery than evergreen trees against pristine, white snow? For the ultimate winter wedding, consider adding some evergreen garlands into your decor!
For example, fasten it to the backs of chairs or weave it around archways. You can also line windowsills with it and light some candles to make it even more atmospheric! For a safer option, choose realistic-looking fake candles.
Add Some Pinecones
What’s an evergreen tree without their most famous feature: pinecones! While their main purpose is to spread seeds, they also double as great decorative options. Use pinecones as centerpieces for your reception tables or add them wherever you’re putting your evergreen decor.
Or, add them to your bouquet for an extra wintery touch!
Host the Wedding Outdoors
Outdoor weddings might not be the most obvious option for winter weddings, but they can work if you live in a warmer climate. If the day of the ceremony is going to be 45 degrees Fahrenheit or above, you probably could comfortably host a gorgeous outdoor wedding, with a few adjustments.
All you’ll need to do is advise your guests to dress warmly and/or provide them with some plush and cozy blankets.
However, you might want to select a venue that also has an indoor option in case inclement or unbearably cold weather develops.
Fairy Lights
Want to make your special day merry and bright? String some fairy lights around the reception room or ceremonial space! You can either spread them out around the space or include them all together in a gorgeous, waterfall-like cascade. To keep the atmosphere cozy and cute, dim the overhead lights and let the gentle glow stand out!
Games or Puzzles
Winter is full of opportunities to gather around a table with your loved ones and enjoy games. So, if your loved ones adore bonding over a little friendly competition, bust out your favorite board games during the reception and let everyone choose what they want to play! These games also serve as a great ice breaker for people who don’t know each other.
Alternatively, place some bingo cards on the reception tables and play some rounds. Have a prize prepared for the winner (maybe it could even be the bouquet!).
You could also get out some puzzles for people to complete.
Winter Wonderland
If you’ve always wanted a wedding straight out of a fairytale, transform your wedding venue into a winter wonderland!
Start off by buying fake snow and placing it strategically around the room. Then, hang some sparkling snowflakes from the ceiling. Add in some fake trees, play some gentle music, and enjoy the immaculate wintery vibes!
Hire Horse-Drawn Carriages
There’s nothing more romantic than going for a horse-drawn carriage ride in the snow. So, instead of hiring a limo to take you to and from the venue, pull up in an elegant carriage instead!
You can also have the wedding party arrive in carriages if you want, too.
Add Your Own Religious Traditions
We’ve been talking a lot about incorporating Christmas-related activities in your wedding activity, but Christmas isn’t the only winter holiday! If you celebrate another religious occasion, such as Hanukah or Kwanzaa, add some of your own holiday activities to the occasion.
For example, if you’re getting married during Hanukah, play some rounds of dreidel and have some chocolate coins on hand. You can also add some Hanukah candles to the venue’s windows.
Ring in the New Year
If you’re getting married on December 31st, consider hosting a New Year’s-themed party! Give everyone fun glasses (or drink stirrers) that celebrate the new year, have guests compete for the goofiest resolution, and don’t forget to kiss your new husband or wife when the clock strikes midnight!
Enjoy Your Special Day!
No matter which unique winter wedding ideas you choose to incorporate into your special day, it’s important to focus on what you and your future spouse want. After all, you only get to have this day once, so you might as well make it as perfect as you can imagine!
If you’re going to a winter wedding, you’ll need some warmer formal wear. Take a look at some of these suggestions!
