By Lynette Gamble
The wedding of your dreams doesn't have to take place during the popular wedding months. A winter wedding can be spectacular, and you'll enjoy significant financial advantages.
While the summer months remain the most popular time of the year to say "I do," many couples are choosing a winter date for the big event. According to the Society of American Florists, 13 percent of weddings take place in the winter, with 11 percent of those being Christmas weddings. Summer weddings account for 35 percent, spring weddings 29 percent, and autumn weddings 23 percent.
Décor that appeals to the senses is important when trying to pull off a romantic winter wedding. The glow of candlelight will add warmth and ambiance to your ceremony and reception site.
"Choose colors of rich jewel tones such as purple, forest green, and navy. Or you could use sapphire blue, ice blue or powder blue, and silver and white if you want to steer clear of the traditional Christmas colors," suggests Lynette Gamble, senior coordinator of Affairs of Grandeur.
Iridescent or frosted glass balls and pine cones can adorn your guests' tables. Snowflake ornaments and glittery ribbons may be placed on the food tables or hung from the ceiling. For a simple touch, only decorate with red and white Poinsettias. Since many locations will already be lavishly decorated, your décor budget will be minimal.
To keep floral costs to a minimum, use flowers that are already available during the winter months. Popular choices include poinsettias, roses, amaryllis, and lilies. Evergreens are tried and true for "sprucing" up large areas, while holly branches and other berried plants make merry floral accents.
A cozy cottage or bed-and-breakfast makes a perfect location for your wintry theme. Picture your guests warming themselves in front of the fireplace during cocktail hour, sipping hot chocolate or wassail. Imagine them overlooking a frozen pond, or catching a glimpse of a deer drinking from the pond just outside the window ... or a family of rabbits scurrying over fresh snow.
To add a little creativity to your dinner menu, ask your bridal party to send your caterer some traditional family recipes for the reception. Or if you don't want to serve the traditional Christmas fare, ask your caterer for alternatives and create a unique meal for your guests.
As for favors, Gamble recommends candles of course. "Cinnamon Apple, Pumpkin Pie, and Vanilla are all pleasant scents that remind you of being a kid in your grandmothers' kitchen — and they're nice this time of year," says Gamble.
"Spiced teas, coffee mugs, snow globes and Christmas ornaments imprinted with the couple's new name and wedding date also make great favors."
Want a memorable getaway? Hand out mini bells, and ask your guests to ring you on your way as the two of you ride off in a horse-drawn sleigh decked out with silver bells and Christmas foliage.
December 26th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
hi
i am helping my friend plan her dream of a winter wonderland wedding but she is having it in the summer please do u have any ideas that i may help my blushing friend!!!!!!
December 21st, 2007 at 7:27 pm
I am getting married on february 2nd 2008! and i am just now thinking about center pieces! I love these ideas! I was having a really hard time finding something i liked! thank you guys so much! how creative you both are!
December 4th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Hi,
Great article! A few large ice sculptures or ice table centerpieces can add a definition to your winter wedding theme. The cost of a sculpture might be cheaper than you think. Look around your local area.
Suggested sculptures are:
Snowflakes
Penguin
Snowman
Polar Bear
Not traditional wedding pieces but event the traditional hearts, dove or swans can work.
Another way to define your wedding as a winter wedding is to add an ice table centerpiece. The general size is 15in tall by 10in wide. 18in tall with illuminated ice tray.
The suggested table centerpieces are:
A snowflake
One letter monogram
You can expect the price of a ice centerpiece to be ice 70-100 dollars each, thats the price Ice Miracles charges in New York. However, check your local area, not all ice sculpture companies are able to do the centerpieces.
August 19th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
HI!
by the way congrats.
center piece ideas.
you could go out side now and find sm branches(10-12in) and spray paint them or leave natural. go to a craft store find sparkling glitter in clear or silver. rub branches with glue and roll in the glitter.then put into clay pots or glass bowls.with styrofaom balls.you can cheat and cut balls in half.stand the branches up in the middle. now you can hang little snowflake ornamenst from them.tie tiny ribbons in your colors onto the branches too.if you use glass bowls stlye. you can put cotton batten or cotton balls in the bowls to hide the foam balls.even sprinkle glitter in too. fpr clay pots you could decorate them with snowflake stencils patterns or use stickers on painted pots too. if you want to make your own laterns for center pieces.you could spray paint coffee can and have punch sowflake pattern into them and then put candles in side to glow through. one more idea for a winter candle thats sparkles is to freeze water in small pals spay inside with pam before filling with water.insert a plastic cup about 16oz while pail freezes in the center. to keep cup down while freezeing put ice cubes or some water inside it,then when done tip the ice out remove the cup nd place small votive candles in side. set your ice bucket in glass bowls and lite.this is so prety when they are lit. i also used small glass marble beads in my bowls as a filler.you an also dye the ice if you want while its freezing.hope some of these help.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
I am trying to plan a wedding with a snowflake winter kind of theme, Im getting married in 5 months yikes if anyone has any ideas please help.