There’s no denying it anymore – winter is here, and it’s here to stay. But for some of our dear readers that might not be such a bad thing. In fact, it’s the most exciting time of your life if you’re wearing a cubic zirconia engagement ring and planning a winter wedding. Planning weddings can be stressful, but we’re here to help.
Do you want to have the perfect winter dream wedding? OK, silly question – of course you do! Who wouldn’t want their wedding to be perfect? Here are a few tips from The Knot for winter wedding cakes and favors to help make your big day just…well, perfect.
Winter Wedding Cake Ideas
Presentation goes a long way when it comes to wedding cakes. In fact, it’s debatably just as important as taste, which we’ll get to in just a moment. There’s nothing that says “winter” quite like a beautiful mixture of icy blues, whites and deep reds or rustic greens mixed with brown. Some chocolate ganache with light blue trimming or ivory buttercream paired with red trim will pull off this look beautifully. For something that stands out a bit more, try an ivory cake decked out in red sugarberries and green sugar holly leaves.
And don’t forget the flowers! Have your baker match your cake to your bridal bouquet with sugary versions of your real flowers. If you’re having a modernized wedding, then you might want to consider some big graphic sugar calla lilies as cake tiers. If you’re going for a more classic theme, then ask if your baker is able to “paint” small stephanotis flowers using edible dye.
Snowflakes, pinecones and other wintery features should accompany the flowers to really bring home the seasonal theming. These can be made out of sugar, gum paste or chocolate. For a more subtle approach, order a cake with small white sugar snowflakes on it, which will make for an elegant appearance.
But how should it taste? Well, like winter, of course. Right, but…what does that mean? Richer flavors like caramel spice cake filled with caramel and with a buttercream frosting; a traditional white cake; or an orange chocolate cake with dark chocolate filling and flecks of decorative orange. Sound too heavy? Consider a lighter white cake with cranberry buttercream frosting and filling.
And don’t forget the sides! You can serve your cake a la mode with black walnut ice cream, a handful of starlight mints on each plate or with warm chocolate pudding.
Chocolates
Let’s stay on sweets for a moment, but in relation to favors. Who doesn’t love chocolate? Virtually no one, that’s who. Chocolate is a wedding classic for a good reason, and chocolate snowflakes make for the perfect seasonal bit of elegant party favor this time of year. Place them in trays near the dessert table or in individual boxes at each place setting.
Hot Chocolate Mix
Yep, we’re still on chocolate here. Hot chocolate mix is a great addition to any welcome basket during cold weather month weddings. Get them prepackaged and decorated with snowflakes or with personalized messaging. Just don’t forget the marshmallows.
Chocolate-Covered Cranberries
This is our last chocolate suggestion. We promise. Cranberries coated in chocolate capture the winter spirit like few other things can. Place them in little bags and leave one at each setting or have your coat-check person give one to each guest on his or her way out the door when the wedding is over.
Personal Pecan Pie Tarts
Hey, we said no more chocolate, not no more sweets. Individual pecan tarts can go a long way in leaving a lasting impression. Put some out on the dessert table in small boxes or – you guessed it – leave one at each place setting.
Gingerbread Cookies
Another classic winter indulgence, gingerbread can be packaged in cellophane and tied together with ribbons matching your wedding colors. Your guests can each pick up a bag and tuck it away for later.
Citrus Marmalade
Citrus marmalade can be bought or made by you personally. Either way it’s going to look fantastic on display at your wedding. Package it up into miniature jars, then cover each lid with fabric matching your wedding colors and tie a thin piece of raffia with a small thank-you note on each one.
Chestnuts
Wrap chestnuts up in small pouches or go the extra mile and have your caterers set up a roasting station allowing guests to take home their freshly warmed treats.
Mini Ice Wine Bottles
Ice wine, which comes from grapes plucked while still frozen on the vine, offers a taste that’s guaranteed to drive home a winter theme. Hand out miniature ice win bottles to guests as a thank you with personalized labels with your names and wedding date on them.