5 Must-Haves for a Winter Wedding

Winter weddings can be beautiful and quite unique, but there are some things you need to put on your list as you plan your dream winter wedding. These 5 must-have ideas for a winter wedding will help get the ideas flowing.

1 – Flexibility

Winter weather is unpredictable. Being willing to take whatever Mother Nature throws at you will make your day much more enjoyable. Odds are you won’t have a beautiful snowfall for a perfectly picturesque wedding. You might have weather that causes delays or fewer attendees. Just remember the goal of the day, and embrace the change.

2 – Warm, Cozy Winter Venue

Having a winter wedding outside can work. However, at some point you’re going to need to warm up, and creating a warm, cozy environment a great way to set your wedding apart. Use your venue as an opportunity to remind your guests—and yourself—of everything they love about winter. Warm fires, snuggling under a blanket with a hot drink, decadent food, and of course, twinkling lights. We have a list of our favorite venues at the Lake of the Ozarks to help get you started.

3 – Embrace the Winter Chill

It’s going to be cold, but with a little bit of planning, it will only enhance your wedding day. Make a plan with your wedding vendors to have part of your day take place outside. Make sure that are prepared and experienced with these conditions.

We love taking pictures outside, even in winter. You can bring along props that help you stay warm. A special coat, good looking blankets, or a fire can make for interesting photographs, but serve a practical purpose as well.

Perhaps you want your ceremony outside. Consider purchasing matching coats for your wedding party as a gift, or having outdoor heaters to keep Grandpa and Grandma nice and toasty.

Whatever you choose, plan ahead to be extra warm. You can always ditch extra clothes, but getting married in your Aunt’s knitted sweater might not match your vision of your wedding day.

4 – Be Unique

You’re already unique for having a winter wedding. Now you can differentiate yourself with a color palette, decorations, and flowers that are different from all of your friends. You can create a wedding that is warm and cozy, with soft, warm colors, or you can create a wedding this is classy with cool, striking colors. Jewel tones are also a fun choice for winter, and of course, red. Whatever you choose make sure it conveys your personalities as a couple.

Ask your friends and family what they think of when they consider you and your fiancé. What kind of moods, foods, fun, and feels remind them of you.

Use your wedding vendors as a resource. Remember, they have seen many weddings of all types and can help guide you towards a wedding that is truly one-of-a-kind and suited to you.

5 – The Best Idea, Winter Money Savings

You chose to have a wedding in the offseason. That means you’ll have a better choice of wedding venues and vendors, and possibly at a better price. Most vendors aren’t packing their schedule in Winter and you might be able to negotiate a lower price for a weekend they probably won’t book anyway.

The worst they can do is say no.

Bonus – Destination Wedding

Do you hate winter? Are these winter wedding ideas bumming you out? Consider a destination elopement. The Caribbean is nice this time of year! Plus, it’s the offseason. Travel and lodging are cheaper. Our friend Rachel at Hidden Gem Travel will hook with up with the destination wedding of your dreams.