Christmas is said to be the most wonderful time of the year, it’s also the most popular time for proposals. The Marriage Proposal Survey states that most proposal happen between 24th December and 1st January. The festive seasons brings with it a flurry of marriage proposals, but winter weddings aren’t so popular. Only 5% of weddings take place during this time of year, however there are many benefits to having a winter wedding. Read on to find out the numerous advantages of holding your event during the colder months.
Dare to be different.
A winter wedding means you will stand out from the crowd. Most couples choose to tie the knot during spring, summer and autumn. A study carried out by the knot.com in 2021 saw that 80% all weddings took place between May to October. Getting married ‘out of season’ means your event will be the highlight of winter as your guests won’t have attended many weddings. They won’t be suffering from wedding fatigue and your big day will help brighten up their winter.
Tis the season to be married.
If you choose to have your wedding in December you can incorporate a festive feel to your day. You take inspiration from your favourite Christmas songs or films within your ceremony. Why not take inspiration from the film ‘Love Actually’ and include a surprise choir as part of your ceremony. You could consider including quotes or readings from your favourite Christmas songs and films within your ceremon
“My dearest friend, if you don’t mind, I’d like to join you by your side.
Where we could gaze into the stars, and sit together, now and forever.
For it is plain as anyone can see, we’re simply meant to be.”
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Why not exit your wedding ceremony to the tune of a jolly, holly, happy Christmas song. This could be, ‘A Marshmallow world’ by Darlene Love, or Mariah’s, ‘All I want for Christmas is you’. These are sure to get you and your guests in the mood to celebrate.
Holding your wedding during the run up to Christmas and new year means you may also save on decoration costs. During this time venues will be decorated for Christmas which means you could just to go with what’s already there.
Winter Solstice
The month of December also brings with it the winter solstice. Take inspiration from the solstice for your wedding through using seasonal evergreens to decorate your ceremony space. Holly and Ivy are said to ward off negative energy, whilst mistletoe is believed to bring fertility and abundance.
You could take further inspiration from the winter solstice tradition of feasting too. Gather your guests together on long tables and feed them a menu of local, seasonal food. This reflects the solstice tradition of people coming together and celebrating life in the darkness i.e. winter.
What about a seasonal flavoured wedding cake? You could have spiced apple, ginger or fruit cake. Alternatively you could have a festive gingerbread house instead of a cake.
Suppliers with benefits
The venue you love may be out of your price range during spring and summer. But if you consider having your wedding during the winter there may be a reduction in costs. During the quieter winter months many suppliers may have more availability which can give couples more choice. They may be dealing with less couples at this time of year too which means they could have a little extra time to dedicate to your wedding. However do bear in mind that if you are looking at having your wedding in and around Christmas and New Year reductions in costs and the availability of some suppliers may not be so readily available.
Light in the dark
With winter comes long dark nights but this means that you can add warm, cosy vibe to your wedding. Think of flickering candles casting a warm romantic glow or twinkling fairy lights adding a sprinkling of magic, if you want something bolder you could go for a fire pit. Imagine the glorious yellow and orange flames illuminating the faces of your loved ones as you gather round the fire to sing, feast and make merry.
Add some sparkle
Yes, you can have sparkle throughout the year but there is something more magical when it’s added to a winter wedding. Maybe it’s because it is reminiscent of glistening frost on the bare branches of the trees during this time of year or it reminds us of bright bold moons shimmering out through clear night skies providing some light on dark winter nights. So why not add some sequins to your wedding attire or your wedding parties outfits. Alternatively you could add some sparkle with sequin covered tablecloths, candle holders or what about an edible glitter wedding cake.
Get intimate
Winter is the perfect time to have a smaller, more intimate wedding, because the cosy vibes will provide the perfect atmosphere. Why not have a casual lounge area with comfy sofa, cosy armchairs, floor cushions and warm blankets. You could set this up round a roaring open fire for an extra cosy and romantic feel. One of the benefits of having a smaller, more intimate wedding means that you have more options open to you when choosing your venue. If you choose to have a celebrant you could get really creative with your venue choice. Maybe you both have a favourite restaurant that holds a special meaning for you as a couple. What about hiring a house and making a weekend of it? You could even have the wedding at your own home which would give your day a truly intimate and personal touch.
Let it snow!
Having a winter wedding means that you are more prepared for the weather. The cold days, grey skies and rain aren’t unusual for this time of year, so these weather conditions pose no threat. Unlike the spring and summer months that can see couples fretting over the weather forecast. With a winter wedding there’s even the chance of a sprinkling of snow that can add an extra touch of magic to your day.
So have I convinced you to have a winter wedding? Get in touch and lets turn those winter wedding ideas in to reality. I would love to hear from you.
