Winter wedding ideas are all over the internet! You can get inspiration from sites like Pinterest and Wedluxe, but no one has the time to scour every source out there. We’ve compiled a list of some of the prettiest, most romantic, and cutest ideas into one list for you. If there’s anything you can take away from this article, let it be that winter weddings have a lot of room for creativity.
1. Colour Pallettes
While red, white, and green are common colours for winter weddings, more and more brides are turning to blues, greys, blacks, and golds. Occasionally you’ll see pink and purples, as well. These are all great winter wedding ideas, but if you need help to visualize the colours together, there are tools online to help you find the perfect ones.
2. Footwear
You’re going to want to wear the prettiest shoes, that’s understandable, however, there’s something you should take into consideration before you hit the shoe shop: what’s going to keep you warm during the ceremony? If you’re having your reception indoors then it isn’t a huge deal, however, if you’re outside, then that’s a completely different story. If any winter wedding ideas stick with you, footwear should be at the top of the list.
3. Textures
The thing about winter weddings is that because of the nature of the monochrome/pastel/moody colours, it allows for a lot of room to play around with textures. Lace, velvet, silk, and (faux) fur are popular options,
4. (Faux) Fur Stoles
Stoles are a classic and elegant winter accessory, so incorporating them among you and your bridal party is a nice way to add class and stay warm. You can find them in just about any colour, so take your time looking around. You can have them in traditional colours, or even one that matches your colour scheme.
5. Wooden Elements
Winter and wood tend to go hand-in-hand because of the rustic aesthetic. Chairs and tables are an obvious choice when incorporating wooden elements into your wedding, but consider other aspects like centre pieces, escort cards, and other small touches. It doesn’t have to be a huge log, either, it can be as small as a twig.
6. Fairy Lights
When it comes to winter decor, fairy lights
7. Candles
While on the topic of lighting, candles are another way to add to the atmosphere. Whether you use floating tea candles or traditional lanterns, you’re going to want to include quite a few.
8. Hot Drink Intermission
The weather outside will definitely be chilly, so why not offer guests a hot beverage to warm up? While some people choose small
9. Midnight Snacks
Some couples like to serve a midnight snack or have a food bar later on in the evening. One of our winter wedding ideas that we came up with is offering popular seasonal treats at that point in time. Vanilla, ginger, cranberry, and cinnamon are all popular flavours for holiday sweets, and are sure to be a hit with your guests.
10. Fireplace Alter
Fireplaces are perfect for winter! They have a cozy, rustic feeling to them, and on occasion, can look very ornate and formal. The crackling of fire also adds a great romantic feeling to tie everything together. Bonus points if it’s a real fire because that wood smell is always a lovely touch. Fireplaces are more common for indoor venues, however, some outdoor ones are able to facilitate some kind of fire pit. Fireplaces are one of our favourite winter wedding ideas, so we just had to add it to the list!
11. Arches
Some people prefer not to have
12. Outdoor Ceremony
If the venue of your choice can facilitate it, an outdoor ceremony might just be what you’re looking for. After all, it’s a winter wedding… Just remember to provide blankets for your guests to keep warm. Depending on the location of your wedding, you may even be able to score an ice palace for the big day! Having an outdoor ceremony is one of those winter wedding ideas that does take some time to plan out, so be sure to work out all the details
13. Stick to One Venue
If possible at all, try to have the ceremony and reception at the same location. It not only helps to save money on gas and locations, but it really is more about pending weather conditions. You need to be one step ahead on your big day, but more so when you’re dealing with winter. Blizzards, ice storms, and other inclement conditions can really pose a threat to your wedding.
14. Creative Bouquets
Poinsettias are an obvious choice when it comes to bouquets and other floral arrangements, but the classic winter flower isn’t your only option. Winter jasmine, winter heath,
15. Wedding Dresses
You don’t have to dress in a full head-to-toe parka – unless you want to, of course! As mentioned before, this is the perfect time to play around with textures! Lace, feathers, and satin are all popular, and pair well with white. It’s also a great time to choose a unique colour dress if that’s what you want. Many brides also go for a smokey-style dress.
16. Bridal Accessories
If you’re looking for something different than the traditional veil, then this is the perfect time of year to play with other accessories! Mini ice queen-esque tiaras, snowflake covered capes, lace gloves, and (faux) fur jackets are just a few examples. Hair combs are coming back in style, so if you can find one that would accentuate your colour scheme it would be a great addition to your outfit! If you’re having an outdoor ceremony, just remember that it’s probably going to be cold. There’s no shame in wearing warm boots or ear muffs (as long as you can hear what’s happening). One of our favourite winter wedding ideas for accessories include making or buying a flower crown made of winter plants.
17. Creative Wedding Favours
It’s a winter wedding, after all! Cute mugs, warm blankets, and Christmas ornaments (if early enough) are all acceptable wedding favours. Have fun with it! This is one of those winter wedding ideas that you’re going to have a lot of wiggle room with to make it uniquely yours.
18. Seating Cards
Winter wedding ideas don’t have to be boring. You can make seating cards in the shape of a snowflake, attached to a pine cone, or of course, something different altogether! The nice thing about seating cards is that they’re a small part of the wedding so they don’t have to conform to the norm.
19. Seasonal Invitations
This one depends more on the theme of your wedding, but have fun with it! Do you want gold sparkles on your one-page invitation? A mini evergreen toy on the front? Perhaps the invitation doubles as a Christmas tree ornament (postage-proof if you’re mailing them, of course!)?
20. Cutlery
Some venues will provide you with their standard utensils, however, if you’re providing your own you may have forgotten that cutlery doesn’t have to be boring. You can find gold or rose gold cutlery depending on your needs. If you’re looking for something with a more wintery motif or sparkles, there are options for you, too. If you can think it, there’s a cutlery set for it!
21. Snowglobes
It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a centrepiece or a gift for your guests, you shouldn’t give snow globes the cold shoulder. You can either order custom fancy ones or make them on your own to give them a
22. Cake Designs
Popular winter wedding ideas for cakes usually include having a white cake with a few snowflakes on it, but it isn’t mandatory. Many people also have cakes that look like birch tree bark with red berries and pine twigs for decorations. Others like to add gold flakes or blue gradient frosting. It all comes down to the theme of your wedding. As for flavours, you can’t go wrong with chocolate or vanilla – after all, they are classics! Red velvet, cranberry, and red plum are also good ideas.
23. Suits
Many people joke that it’s easy to shop for the groom and his men, but realistically, winter weddings allow for a lot of room to play around with colours, patterns, and textures. Just like dresses, try something new. Grey, black, and white are all popular suit options, and colours like red, gold, and navy blue are usually accent colours for vests and ties. It really just comes down to what will look good with the rest of the theme.
24. Men’s Accessories
As mentioned before, menswear is often overlooked, but really shouldn’t be. Neckties and bow ties are a great way to add a pop of colour or texture. Cuff links are also a great subtle detail that make all the difference. Lapel pins are a great way to add to the winter aesthetic. Snowflakes, pine cones, and pine tree twigs are all popular ideas for lapel pins. Try other unorthodox seasonal plants like dogwood or crocus for something different.
25. Marble
Marble is a great tool to have on hand. It comes in white, black, and grey, so you don’t have to worry about it not matching your theme, and it’s always elegant. You can use it as a centre piece, a seating card, or in any other way you can use it.
26. Sparkles and Glitter
There’s something to be said about sparkles and glitter in the winter. Anything with sequins or that shines is always a safe choice in winter, especially during the night. If glittery things don’t match the general aesthetic of your wedding, you can always add them to your nails.
27. Fireworks
Fireworks in winter are always romantic. If you can get the proper permissions to have a private fireworks show, then why not? Add some extra colour to the night sky. If not, maybe sparklers are more appropriate. Again, just make sure to get the proper permissions.
28. Jewellery
You don’t have to stick to snowflakes or Christmas motifs. Pearls and gold are usually popular in the winter, and nothing beats a classic bezel necklace. Try some classic pieces, vintage-inspired pieces, or maybe something more abstract and artistic. Jewellery is a personal thing, so it depends on what you like to wear.
29. Wedding Photos
One of the more fun parts about weddings? Posing for pictures, of course! There’s a lot of creativity to be had, especially since weddings are more about enjoying yourself than maintaining appearances. Walk down a snowy country road hand-in-hand with your new spouse, sit in a horse-drawn carriage or just side-saddle it. Maybe take a ski lift for a few rides while holding fun poses for the camera. If you and your spouse share a love of winter sports, maybe incorporate them into your pictures.
30. Winter Doesn’t have to to Mean Christmas…
The nice thing about winter is that there’s more to it than just red and white decorations. You can focus more on blues, browns, and greys, and mix in different elements of art deco or minimalist styles. There’s a lot that you can work with so any and all winter wedding ideas are on the table while avoiding the “are you having a Christmas wedding?” questions
31. … but it is a Good Excuse to Have a Christmas Wedding!
If you can’t beat it, you might as well enjoy it! Go modern holiday or traditional Christmas with it, have an evergreen on each table decorated with lights, buy a bouquet full of poinsettias, and do it your way!