Have you been dreaming of having a winter wedding? I don’t blame you - those chilly wedding days offer much in the way of cozy, festive, and intimate themes (and maybe some more affordable rates on a venue). Whether you’re looking to lean into the snow and ice, a special holiday, or a bustling New Year’s celebration, these “less popular” winter season dates can still pack a hefty good time!

That said, planning a wedding during the colder months also comes with its own set of unique challenges. How do you pull off your own unforgettable day in a less traditional time of year? After photographing dozens of winter weddings, I’ve rustled up some tips to help make your winter wedding a success.

Choose the Right Venue

Choosing the right venue is key. Not only will you want a venue team experienced with pulling off winter weddings, but make sure you book a spot with ample space indoors to take photos and to have a backup plan for the ceremony or reception. If you can’t go off-location to an indoor photo spot, you’ll want to stick around at the venue. You don’t want to be in a situation where all your photos have to be taken outside, so pick a venue that has indoor space (away from the footpath of arriving or mingling guests) where you and your photographer can get some amazing shots!

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Embrace the Season

Winter weddings offer the opportunity to incorporate seasonal elements into your decorations, attire, and even the menu. Think white and silver accents, soft lighting, warm cocktails, and hearty comfort food. String lights, candles, and well-placed lamps can add to the cozy atmosphere without pulling attention away from the couple.

Plan For Inclement Weather

It's always a good idea to have a backup plan in case of bad weather on your wedding day. This is especially true in the winter when snow and ice can cause travel delays and make remote venues treacherous. Make sure the venue is prepped to clear the way for guest parking or that capable transport is provided from the venue to where they’re staying. Give guests the option to arrive earlier than needed so that they can have flexibility in their trip to the venue!

Set an Earlier Ceremony Time

If you’re wanting naturally-lit, daylight photos, you’ll want to make sure you set an earlier ceremony time to account for this. Even if you’re doing a first look before the ceremony, building in a few extra minutes between the end of the ceremony and the predicted sunset time will give you and your partner time to take family photos AND go out for sunset photos. If you want extra photo time, ask your photographer to take you around for some night photos during the reception. These can be SUPER magical with all warm lights you may have around the venue.

Provide Heaters

Ask your venue if they have heaters! Propane patio-style heaters are a great way to add an extra layer of warmth for your guests, especially if the ceremony is outside or the venue doesn’t have great heating (like a barn). If you’re going to have to purchase them yourselves, just buy a couple to place near grandparents or other temperature-sensitive guests. After the ceremony, you can have your venue team move them outside of the reception space in case some guests want to steal away for some fresh, chilly air. Of course, fires are a really aesthetic option for providing heat, but they come with more management and more danger.

Consider Your Attire

Your attire is going to be crucial for your enjoyment of the wedding day. If you’re wearing a suit, consider styling a scarf into your attire. If you’re wearing a dress, shawls, stoles, and wraps can really compliment the dress without overpowering your look. If you don’t want a covering in every photo, you can absolutely take the wrap off for a majority of your images. Still, having the option to cover up for warmth is never a bad thing, especially when moving from one location to the next.

Don’t Assume You’ll Get Moderate Weather

Here in the Midwest and much of the U.S., it’s not uncommon for winter to provide a string of moderately comfortable outdoor temperatures. Early November or March weddings can be especially sneaky in their temperature swings. Never assume that your wedding day will be warm!

Plan for everything to take at least 10 minutes longer - ceremony, family photos, wedding party photos, travel between locations, and even your creative session with the photographer. Taking a 5-minute break between any outdoor photos to warm back up could seriously benefit your enjoyment of the day (and your safety).

Need help planning out the perfect timeline? Our FREE timeline guide can get you on the right track.

Delegate, Delegate, Delegate

The logistics of a winter wedding are amplified by the chilly temperatures, so DELEGATE everything. If you have a solid vendor team, and you know all decorations are going to be handled to your standards, that is totally worth the investment. However, if circumstances didn’t allow for that level of comprehensive coverage, the couple arriving at the venue after getting ready and having a list of tasks to complete once there will eat away at the timeline, no matter how early you were.

Close family is often more than willing to help with details on the day of (transporting stuff, setting up the guest book table, gift table, etc.). If you don’t have adequate help with the decor from your vendors, reach out to some family! The wedding day is, by default, busy for the couple - don’t give yourself more work that can be delegated!

Keep Your Guests Comfortable

When it comes to the comfort of your guests, this is a top priority if any portion of the day will be outside. Older guests should be especially mindful of their attire and how much time they spend outdoors. In your pre-wedding communication (invites, emails, etc…) be sure to encourage them to overprepare on their outerwear!

Consider providing blankets or hot chocolate for your guests to keep warm. My secret little wedding hack? Get a huge box of Hot Hands hand warmers for your guests (and wedding party) to use. They last the entire evening and get really warm!

With a little extra planning, a winter wedding can be just as beautiful and memorable as a wedding in any other season. Embrace the season and its unique charm, and your wedding is sure to be a massive success.

Want to make sure your winter wedding is captured creatively and authentically? >>