11 Winter Wedding Necessities For a Successful Event
Here are 11 Winter Wedding Necessities
for a successful event
if you’re planning to have your special day
during the cold months of the year.
So you’re planning a winter wedding.
Our best to you. Winter themed weddings are beautiful,
and just as much fun to prepare for as a spring or summer wedding.
The basic planning stays the same, so our Simple Wedding Planner or our DIY Wedding Planner will fill the bill for you.
But there are a few ideas we came across that you may want to keep in mind for a winter wedding.
11 Winter Wedding Necessities
1. Winter greenery accents in floral décor.
There are flowers you can order year round from the florist, but if you want to DIY your bouquets, think of winter greenery from pine or spruce trees, juniper or cedar shrubs. Use pinecones and berries such as hypericum. Brunia berries, available from your florist, are small, silver balls that make a great accent to all the greenery.
And of course roses. They’re perfect any time of the year, and the deep colors available can complete your winter florals.
Bare branches and twigs mixed in the greenery, or spray painted and used by themselves? Amazing.
Winter has just as much opportunity for wedding floral beauty as the other seasons.
2. Seasonal Menus.
Winter comfort menus are hot and filling.
So for a meal on the wedding weekend think cheesy chowder with hot, fresh bread. Or chili soup with cinnamon rolls.
You’ll want comfort food for the wedding meal, also. Like fluffy mashed potatoes or steamy vegetable casseroles.
3. Rich, deep colors.
Emerald is always a good choice for winter weddings, as are deep blues, purples, browns and of course, black.
And rich, cozy fabrics such as wool and velvet and flannel. They might be a bit much for the bridal party’s clothing, but used as table accents, they’d invite a warm ambiance to the reception. Like emerald velvet runners swirled down the center of the tables, with the florals and candles glittering above them.
4. Candles and more candles.
Your church or reception hall likely won’t have fireplaces, so use candles to create a sense of warmth. In your smaller, pre-wedding events you could use cedar scented candles.
And lanterns. Everyone loves lanterns, and they can be a safer option than candles.
However, many venues don’t allow old-fashioned candles, so these flameless flickering votives, or these fairy lights could be a great option.
5. Hot Beverages.
Have hot beverages available all the time, whether it’s a make-your-own hot cocoa bar, or a huge urn of coffee like you see in hotel lobbies, with all the creamers and flavors and covered hot cups available. Or glass mugs, if they’ve gotta have ’em.
And for the wedding itself, talk to the caterers about extra brew. A winter event will require more hot beverages than the other seasons.
6. Lots of throws at the gathering places.
And hand warmers.
You probably can’t control the thermostat at your church or reception venue, so make sure your guests have ways to stay warm. You could mention to guests what the indoor temperature will be so they dress prepared.
Which we also talk about in number 7…
7. Heaters, everywhere.
The guests’ accommodations, if it’s a place you rent for them or a cabin on your yard, should be safely climate controlled. Not everyone knows how to safely use a space heater, so make sure the heaters you allow guests to use come with clear instructions, and meet current safety standards.
I realize I have tendencies that no well-meaning host could warn me away from, but one winter wedding we attended held some surprising results for this desert girl. The men had a roaring wood fire in the iron stove in our airbnb. I came in freezing and backed up to the stove to get warm. And melted the hem of my knit dress to the glass on the stove doors!
So do what you can for the “blond” guests among your wedding attenders!
8. A place for coats, and perhaps boots.
Some venues don’t have enough space for a crowd to hang coats or switch from snow boots to indoor shoes. Try to make arrangements if that’s the case. Perhaps you could designate an office or side room as a coat room with a clear sign leading to it. Of course you’ll want the sign to match your other wedding décor.
Rent coat racks and hangers if you need to, so coats don’t have to be piled on furniture. No one wants to go digging for their coat, only to find it’s been dropped to the floor and walked on by snowy, muddy boots.
9. Snowy venue?
Keep an eye on the weather forecast, and let your guests know what kind of temperatures they can expect. Also, what type of clothing to pack to stay warm and cozy. Even go so far as to offer to round up warm coats and boots for people who come from places where they don’t even own them.
Consider that weather may affect the number of guests who will be able to attend, and you won’t know till the last minute. There’s nothing you can do about this, but keep it in mind so you’re not overly disappointed when your favorite uncle and aunt get stuck in an airport somewhere.
And in case a snowstorm happens? Have names of tow trucks and snow clearing equipment on quick call for drivers not so experienced driving in those conditions.
10. Plan some outdoor activities.
Some of your guests will want to be outdoors, whether they’re used to snow, or never see it where they come from.
Find an outdoor rink you can use, stack the firewood, pile in the blankets and throws and hot beverages, and have an afternoon skating party. Or maybe you have a neighbor who does sleigh rides. What could be more fun than gliding through a snowy woods, then stamping your way indoors to a huge fireplace with a cup of steaming cocoa in hand? Your guests will never forget the experience.
11. Indoor Temperature
This sounds counterintuitive, and perhaps unnecessary. Don’t crank up the heat indoors just because it’s cold outside. Keep the temperature at 68° or your venue’s recommended room temperature and allow guests who are always chilly to dress warmer. A crowd will warm the place up, and you’ll end up stifling if the vents are blasting hot air.
So these are our ideas for
11 Winter Wedding Necessities.
If you have some to add, please comment. We’d love to hear from you.
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