Event Blog How to Get into Wedding Planning for Winter Weddings- Feature Image

Wedding Planning Tips

Top Tips to Pull Off the Perfect Winter Wedding

Winter weddings make for gorgeous pictures. The crisp, clear landscape, the faint sparkle of snow, and the rosy cheeks of each guest are things you just don’t get during the rest of the year. Winter weddings also require a special touch to pull off just right.

Check out these 10 tips for planning the perfect winter wedding!

1. Choose colors carefully

Colors are especially important for outdoor wedding photos. In the winter, snowy landscapes present a pretty but very neutral backdrop. Keep the following in mind when your bride consults you on color scheme for the bridal party:

2. Layers are lifesavers

Especially if parts of the wedding take place outside, your wedding party will need to stay warm. The trick is to balance warmth with style. Your bride won’t be very happy with the pictures if the outfits she chose are covered with winter parkas. Dress the party in layers that help them stay warm and keep them fashionable. Consider:

If the dresses are long, hide thick tights or long johns underneath for extra warmth!

Event Blog How to Get into Wedding Planning for Winter Weddings- Layers Outfit

3. Footwear is important

The guests, the wedding party, and even you will need footwear that is stylish and functional! Six inch heels won’t work well for the bridesmaids down an icy path from the car to the venue. Help your bride choose footwear that is fashionable but also warm and easy to walk in. Matching leather boots can look amazing in pictures.

4. The season is the theme

Winter weddings are a total package. Of course, your clients can choose any theme they want, but incorporating the season into the décor makes for a unique experience. It also lets you organize guest activities and snack ideas they won’t see during the rest of the year. Consider:

Think of creative ways to bring the outdoors inside so guests can enjoy what they love about winter without freezing!

Event Blog How to Get into Wedding Planning for Winter Weddings- Sleigh

5. Flowers and bouquets

Harsh winter weather means less flowers in season. Your choices might be limited or, if your bride wants something particular, you might have to pay increased prices. Instead of stretching the budget or settling for flowers the bride isn’t keen on, consider these bouquet and décor alternatives:

Event Blog How to Get into Wedding Planning for Winter Weddings- Bouquets

6. Hot water bottles

Hot water bottles aren’t your average wedding staple, but they can be functional and decorative! Get DIY and knit adorable covers or put them in silk slips to complement the décor. Use them:

7. Lighting is essential

The sun goes down early in the winter and you’ll have trouble if you’re not prepared with lighting. Winter darkness is a great time for creative lighting options. Incorporate them into the theme with:

Event Blog How to Get into Wedding Planning for Winter Weddings- Lanterns

8. Minimize travel

Winter is cold and wet. Formally dressed guests won’t enjoy walking in the wind and slush. Plan the ceremony and reception in the same venue or ones very close together. Make the trip between venues part of the experience by covering guests in blankets and whisking them away on horse drawn hay rides or sleighs.

9. Wedding insurance and backup plans

Smart wedding planners always prepare for the worst case scenario. Perhaps the biggest “what if” when it comes to winter weddings is the risk of a blizzard. Protect yourself and your clients in case of snow storms by:

10. Take care of yourselves!

People get sick in the winter. Harsh weather dries out the hands, chaps the lips, and makes the hair full of static. Encourage the wedding party to take good care of themselves leading up to the wedding. Remind them to:

You can take care of guests at the wedding by giving customized lip balms as party favors, placing nice smelling lotion in cute pumps in the bathrooms, and making sure tissues are available for anyone with the sniffles.

The Bottom Line

Planning a winter wedding is a unique opportunity to get creative! You might have to reevaluate how you’d normally do things to account for weather, but remember to uphold the style, atmosphere, and quality of the event.

Take advantage of the opportunities winter weddings give you to build a fun experience that guests couldn’t have any other time of the year!

Event Blog How to Get into Wedding Planning for Winter Weddings

Winter is fast approaching, and so is QC Event School’s Winter Wonderland Contest! Be sure to follow us on Facebook so you don’t miss out on your chance to win some great prizes!

3 responses to “Top Tips to Pull Off the Perfect Winter Wedding”

  1. Brenda Lambert says:

    I am very interested in taking the combined courses. What is the timeframe to complete?

    1. Ana Scholtes says:

      Hi Brenda, thanks for your comment!

      You’ll have 3 full years to complete your courses. However, the actual duration will depend on you as you’ll be working at your own unique pace. To give you an idea, the average student takes about 3 to 6 months to complete a course.

      I hope this helps! If you have any additional questions, please email us at [email protected] 🙂

  2. Interesting information!
    As for me – choosing wedding palette is rather difficult, make sure you won’t get monotone photos.

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