Snow glistening in the sun like shimmering diamonds. Warm and cozy flames blazing in the fireplace. If these images evoke warm feelings in you, then a magical winter wedding is for you.
COLOR SCHEMES
Maroon and silver; silver, royal blue, and white; white, pink, and
silver; forest green and gold; hunter green, white, silver, and
gold all inspire wintery sentiment. Also consider plum, cranberry,
ruby, emerald, cobalt, navy, platinum or red and white.
ATTIRE IDEAS
BRIDE
- Crushed white velvet or heavy satin gown trimmed with white faux
fur and a hooded cape or matching hat trimmed in fur.
- Beautiful, long-sleeved wedding dresses accented by mufflers,
elegant capes or overcoats.
- A short, white, faux-fur jacket, matching fur hat (instead of
head-dress and veil) and large muff decorated with white flowers
and silver bells and ribbons.
- Full length, white, cape of velvet trimmed with fur.
- A wedding dress that has its own matching long sleeved jacket.
- Carry a muff instead of a bouquet and/or have your bridesmaids
carry candles.
BRIDESMAIDS
- Have your maids carry candles instead of flowers.
- Dress the bridesmaids in silver gowns with white wool, mohair
or faux-fur wraps.
- Find bridesmaids' dresses with a holiday flair - trimmed in fur,
accented with snowflakes or stars - made of rich fabrics like velvet
or brocade.
- Accent dresses with long white gloves, trimmed with sparkling
beads.
Shop for bridesmaid dresses in the department stores during the holiday season. You're sure to find many appropriate choices for a winter wedding.
GROOM
Your groom could have on a black or white tuxedo with tails and
top hat with matching overcoat. The groomsmen dressed in white
tuxes with silver (or gray) bow ties and vests.
For a warmer casual look, dress the men in wool sweaters
and slacks and ladies in white cashmere dressed up with pearls.
INVITATIONS
Invitations that reflect a winter wonderland.
Use snow-scene Christmas cards.
Decorate with silver snowflakes and use silver print.
Decorate with white ribbon ending with small white snowball like
pom-poms.
Add a touch of glitter or artificial ‘frost’ to a ready-made
invitation.
Shape invitations as snowmen or ice crystals.
CAKE
An all-white cake with a snow globe cake topper. Decorate
the cake with ‘icicles’ and silver ornaments. Place
the cake on top a pile of fabric (such as silk or satin), cotton
snow or shimmery white tulle.
FOOD IDEAS
Warm your guests up with hot chocolate with a shot of crème
de menthe, warm punch, mulled wine or cider -all good drinks to
help set the mood of a winter wonderland reception. Cheese fondue
would make a warm and fun appetizer to start off. Follow with
a soup course instead of a salad if you are having a sit-down dinner
or provide soup on the buffet. Warm bread is especially satisfying
on a cold winter day. Ham, turkey, fish, or beef all would be suitable
meats for your meal. A bar of fancy coffee drinks (use Chocolate
dipped coffee spoons as favors).
FAVOR IDEAS
Wedding ornaments with your name and wedding date engraved
as keepsake.
Holiday scented potpourri (cinnamon, pine, etc) in traditional potpourri
sachets.
Attach miniature bells or silk poinsettias to any traditional favor
to add a holiday touch.
Candles wrapped in tulle.
Cookie cutters in Christmas shapes.
Wintery snow globes and decorated with the name of the bride and
groom.
Jordan Almonds.
Small evergreen trees.
FLOWERS
All white bouquets! Use white flowers
such as roses, calla lilies, carnations, gardenias, magnolias, alstromeria
or snowball mums.
Find unusual combinations of winter flora for
your bouquet as well as your bridesmaids. Pine cones, holly, mistletoe,
pine needles, and poinsettias are all excellent additions to centerpieces,
arrangements, and bouquets. Make boutonnieres and corsages out of
holly leaves or wild winter berries.
CEREMONY
- Arrive to the ceremony site in a horse drawn sleigh complete
with bells or a white limousine.
- Decorate your arch with Pine tree materials, seasonal ornaments
and lights.
- Ask guests to bring a seasonal ornament as a symbol of well wishes
and have them place it on the arch.
- Decorate the pews with bright red bows and gold ribbons top off
with white candles, trimmed in pine greens or white ribbons with
an ornament.
- Twinkle lights...use them to light the aisle,
decorate the inside/outside of your wedding hall/reception venue.
All white lights are elegant!
- Unity candles can be white in regular silver candlesticks
with white flowers (or Petals) surrounding the Three Candles.
- Include artificial snow and glitter sprinkled down the walkway.
- Use sliver/white glitter for tossing instead of rice. Place in
paper cones.
- Depart by a horse drawn sleigh, snowmobile or chair lift.
Reception DECOR
- Lots of green or white garland
- White poinsettias.
- White twinkle lights.
- Icicle lights.
- White branches decorated white twinkle lights and tulle or garland.
- Iridescent snowflakes hanging off tablecloths, chairs, walls or
ceilings.
- Christmas bulbs wrapped in tulle (be sure to use cool-to-the-touch
bulbs).
- Use plant material such as holly, pinecones, evergreens and mistletoe
in centerpieces.
- Use garlands of stringed popcorn or cranberries to decorate tables
or walls.
- Toss a bit of glitter on plain white tablecloths to instantly
add a winter feeling.
- Use rich looking materials (velvets, velveteen, brocades, etc.)
to add instant elegance.
- Christmas trees or shrubs (in pots) with the white twinkle lights.
- Suspend artificial snowflakes on transparent fishing line from
the ceiling.
- Have a gigantic ice sculpture.
- Floating candles in cut glass bowls, with shiny glass beads in
the bottom.
- Use shimmering fabric over the white table clothes and scatter
a little artificial frost.
- Use white painted branches, decorated with white, twinkling lights
to frame the doorways.
- Scatter artificial snow crystals on the tables and illuminate
with white candles in silver candelabras.
Centerpiece Ideas
- Miniature ice sculptures on each table
- Miniature wreaths and candles.
- Poinsettia plants or miniature Christmas trees (faux or real).
- Floating candles in the shape of stars, trees or snowflakes in
a simple glass bowl.
- Use gingerbread houses as your centerpieces. Make them yourself
to save money.
- A 3-wick pillar candle surrounded by an evergreen wreath. White
Christmas bulbs wrapped in tulle
Music
To help set the mood of a winter day or evening, chose some songs
with the word snow or winter in them. Some examples are: Snowbird,
Walking in a Winter Wonderland, or The First Snowfall.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Snow snow can be both your best friend and your worst enemy. A nice dusting of snow before your wedding can create a festive atmosphere and provide a winter wonderland backdrop for your wedding photos.
It is impossible to control the weather. While you may like a few snowflakes after the ceremony for a romantic getaway on a horse and sleigh, guests coming from any distance may decide to forgo your wedding for fear of a storm.
The Honeymoon
What’s better than going from a wintery wedding to a tropical
honeymoon?
Ideas ...
"We are having a sleigh shaped cake with (cake) presents in it."
F
E E D B A C K
Planning a winter wedding?
Share your ideas here.