Top Winter Wedding Tips

Winter wedding season is well and truly here – waking up this morning to minus degree weather is certainly a wakeup call from the recent milder weather and for those brides and grooms planning their winter wedding one thing is surely going to be on your mind: keeping your guests warm and cosy. Winter weddings aren’t just different in terms of the weather, oh no, we’re talking food and drink choices change, floral decorations change and Colour schemes are different. Here’s how to plan your winter wedding accordingly:

• Time to wrap up! Possibly think about having winter blankets, scarfs and shawls readily available for your guests. Storing them in a cute old wicker basket, delicately rolled up can make them into a nice focal point when dotted around your wedding venue. Add a nice kitsch sign ‘don’t forget to help yourself to an extra layer to keep out the cold’ – if budget is an issue, why not make these our wedding favours!
Alternatively adding onto your invite for people to dress warmly is another nice way of keeping your guests well prepared, should the temperatures drop!

• Welcome drinks! We all know the normal welcome drink is for a nice glass of something sparkling, but the last thing your guests will want to do is to stand out in the cold with a glass of something even colder. How about offering a warm glass of mulled wine – with its welcoming, warming nature this is sure-fire hit to get people in the mood whilst keeping them warm!
Offering warm apple juice or Ribena is a great non-alcoholic version as well as a great drink idea for children, or opt for some hot chocolate with some added cream on top!

• Warming food! Let’s face it, come the colder period, we are all dreaming of warming comfort food rather than small, fresh salads. Comfort food may sound too substantial, but in fact, it can be slightly cheaper and the key is to make sure your guests are full and warm – serving things such as stews, soups and hearty puddings can indeed make everyone feel happy and full. Service breadsticks with soups, fresh warm bread at the tables with different spreads. How about cottage pie for main – with fresh vegetables, and opting for a classic pudding-like sticky toffee pudding is always going to be a winner!

• Chill out! Creating a room where your guests can go and chill out and relax is a great idea. Create a cosy environment that is away from the noise so people can regroup and chat. Add in a log fire, candles lit, comfy sofas and some more blankets and you’ve managed to create just the right environment for the older generation who like to have a chat and young mums also.

• Hot chocolate! A great idea instead of a sweetie table is to have a hot chocolate table where guests can make their own drinks – sprinkles, marshmallows, cream, chocolate flakes – the list is endless. Include some flavoured coffee too with different syrups.

All in all, think about how you’d like to be welcomed at a winter wedding, from the moment you arrive until the time you leave – use this thought to make sure your winter wedding is everything you want it to be!