Who says everyone must be a June bride? Winter offers a wealth of opportunities for a bride to plan and enjoy the perfect wedding. Read on for some great ideas.
Winter Wedding Colors
Though the current trend is hunter green, cranberry, and navy for the bridesmaids, in truth the choices are unlimited. Think silver and ice blue for starters. And what could be better for a winter bride than a snow-white wedding gown?
Winter Wedding Panache
Dressing up the elegance factor is easy in winter when the weather is cool to cold and perfect for luxurious fabrics and accessories. Brides can wear heavy satin or velvet, wear long white gloves, carry a muff, or wear a faux fur. Crystal-studded tiaras can encircle even the bridesmaids' heads, and grooms can finally feel comfortable in their tuxedos, also white if they choose to play the winter theme to the hilt.
Elegant bouquets might consist of white roses or gardenias with just a splash of color added by ribbons or greenery. Or perhaps the entire bridal party could carry candles for a real touch of winter romance.
Decor, too, can easily adapt to a winter theme with linens that shimmer and shine like ice or that herald the holiday season with the requisite reds, greens, and plaids. For centerpieces, think about using what is readily available or appropriate for the season: Candles encircled with pinecone and cranberry wreaths, festive poinsettias, and ice sculptures. Poinsettias are particularly lovely as there are many intriguing varieties that can add a touch of style to any space. In winter, just the right indoor lighting will be a must. To create unparalleled ambiance, decorate your reception space with small white lights.
Food and drink should spell 'cozy.' Be sure to offer guests mulled cider, hot chocolate, Irish coffees, and hot buttered rums along with the standard bar choices. And even if you decide against the sit-down dinner, serve buffet and finger foods that are warm and inviting.
Winter Wedding Watch
As wonderful as they can be, winter weddings come with a few warnings. Smart brides will watch out for the following:
Weather Worries
You can't control Mother Nature, and if you are getting married in the dead of winter when snow and ice are a real possibility, you are going to have to think ahead. Are you willing to proceed with a wedding made up of only essential personnel, if and when guests can't navigate the treacherous roads? Are your vendors and guests willing to consider an alternate date in case the weather refuses to cooperate? If neither of these looks like possibilities, it may be time to re-evaluate your plans and consider adjusting them. Examples might be to keep your wedding small from the outset; encourage guests to arrive a day early at least, and make arrangements for their lodging, which may include after the wedding as well, if poor weather conditions persist.
Holiday Hassles
A holiday wedding makes sense, especially if both you and your groom have time off. But there can also be problems. Guests may have vacation plans or family commitments, and you may find yourselves spread thin trying to celebrate two things at once. If you're having a wedding somewhere near the holidays, be very certain to send out the invitations well in advance. Then there is the issue of vendors. The upside is that during the winter, vendors tend to have less wedding business and so can be booked easily. The downside is that this changes completely if your wedding is tied into the holiday season. In that case, you will need to book your vendors well in advance and expect to pay top dollar.
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