It may not officially be winter until December 21, but it might as well be for most of us. The days continue to get darker earlier. The leaves have mostly fallen – and the temperatures along with them. Some places have even gotten snow already! And, oh yeah, it’s a great time of year to get married, too.
Yes, you read that right. Spring and summer may be the most popular times of year for weddings, and winter was once seen as the “offseason.” But more and more brides are customizing their weddings to be exactly what they want. That means more walking through winter wonderlands on their big days. Since there’s nothing “off” about the cold season anymore, let’s take a look at some of the dos and don’ts of winter weddings.
Don’t Let Your Bridesmaids Freeze to Death
Breaking news: it’s colder in winter than the rest of the year. If you’re having a winter wedding, then you probably embrace the cold and the snow/ice. That’s great, and your wedding should be everything you want it to be, so don’t be afraid to get married in January! But, keep in mind that not everyone loves frigid temperatures. Even if your ceremony is indoors, at some point your bridesmaids will be outside for photographs or even just to run from the car into the venue. You’re probably going to have to pick out matching coats for everyone, and if you want to go with big glitzy heels, be prepared for everyone to wear sneakers and just change into the heels indoors/for photos so they don’t slip on any ice/snow.
Do Dress Your Bridesmaids in Style and Color
If you’re getting married in the winter, then you have to choose from a limited set of fabrics and colors appropriate for the season, right? Wrong! You can go with strapless dresses, silk fabrics and/or bold/bright colors. You don’t have to restrict yourself to greens, reds and whites with long sleeves and heavy fabrics. As mentioned, everyone is going to need coats for outdoors anyway, and you’re going to have the heat going indoors, so you can get away with lighter fabrics if you want them. As for the colors, just make sure they match the theme of the rest of your wedding. Are you partial to bright greens or yellows? Go for it, just so long as it will fit with the colors and theme of your wedding as a whole. Bright (matching) colors can be a fun surprise to liven things up during a long, cold winter.
Don’t Leave Your Guests Shivering
Your bridal party is important, but don’t forget about all your guests while you focus on them. For instance, if you’re going to have a receiving line, plan it out smartly ahead of time. You don’t want the line to run out the door and have everyone be freezing and miserable. Certain venues have large lobbies/vestibules that allow you to set up there to greet guests after the ceremony. If yours doesn’t, however, you can have the receiving line at the reception, but just make sure it’s far enough inside that guests don’t end up outside in line. If you greet them at the door, they’ll inevitably get stuck waiting in the back of the line in the cold – don’t let that happen!
Do Be a Gracious (and Seasonally Thematic) Host
Winter presents a lot of great opportunities for theming a wedding and giving out thank-yous that match that theme. If your family celebrates the holiday, for instance, you can give out Christmas tree ornaments for December weddings. If you’re holding your ceremony near Valentine’s Day, then give out heart-shaped chocolate. Or for something that works for everyone all winter long, try hot chocolate packets with shortbread cookies or apple cider paired with ginger snaps.
Don’t Overdo It with the Heat
It’s cold outside, so you want it to be warm inside – but not roasting. Keep in mind that most guests are going to find their way to the dance floor for at least a few numbers, and that tends to heat things up. If it seems like it’s getting too steamy once the fancy footwork starts, have your venue manager or wedding coordinator dial down the heat a little bit.
But Do Keep It Cozy
This extends to more than just making sure the heater is running. Put out some candles for when the sun goes down. If there’s a fireplace, make sure it gets lit! And consider some warm, comfy pillows and blankets in a lounge area for guests who get cold easily.
Cubic Zirconia Jewelry
The sun might not be shining as much this time of year, but there’s one thing that always shines like a diamond year round: high-quality cubic zirconia jewelry. Like diamonds, not all cubic zirconia (CZ) jewelry is created equally. Thanks to the “Russian Formula,” though, Birkat Elyon’s CZ shines brighter than other CZ, ensuring your engagement ring will look every bit as gorgeous as a real diamond.