Want a Winter Wonderland Wedding? Start Planning Now!

The greater Atlanta area may not receive much snow, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a winter wonderland for your midwinter wedding. According to a survey by a popular wedding planning website, January, February, and March are the least popular months for weddings, with only a mere 5% of nuptials occurring in winter.

While winter weather can be unpredictable and cooler, a winter wedding can be comfortable and cozy. Winters weddings also often offer substantial vendor discounts — a great advantage for the couple on a tight budget. Here are some tips to make your winter wedding wonderful.

Choose the Date Carefully

While your chosen venue may have dates available in November and December, these months are typically quite busy for most people. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve all fall in these two months. Between preparing for holiday celebrations, shopping, and work and school events, some guests likely wouldn’t be able to attend your wedding.

After the first of the year, the Super Bowl, which is usually the first Sunday in February, Valentine’s Day, and Easter, are the only big events that may cause conflict. By choosing a date that doesn’t fall on any of the big days, you can be sure attendance will be high.

Pick Proper Attire for Your Bridal Party

While the greater Atlanta area doesn’t typically see subzero temperatures, midwinter can still be quite chilly. Men typically wear a tux or suit and are well-protected from the cold, but you don’t want your bridesmaids standing around shivering.

Consider elegant long-sleeved dresses for your attendants. Another option is matching gloves and fur stoles or a coordinating shawl or scarf to keep your best gal pals warm and fashionable. Since people lose about 7%–10% of their body heat through their head, stylish hats are another chic possibility.

Select an Appropriate Color Palette

While the cold, dark days of winter may be gloomy, your wedding colors don’t need to be. One option for an elegant and classic winter color palette is choosing all white. A monochromatic theme can be very classy and provide a modern take on a white wedding. You can even request your guests wear white to add to the overall white-on-white winter wonderland theme.

If you’re going for glitz and glamour, silver is the perfect color for a winter wedding. Silver will add instant bling and will look fabulous against an all-white venue. If you want a pop of color, silver pairs very well with blue, red, or a deep plum. Another option is going all metallic and pairing silver and gold together. Wedding accessories and favors in these colors are extremely easy to find so you won’t have any trouble finding the right decorations.

Opt for a Winter Feast

Lemon herbed baked cod, tropical chicken, and a fruit and vegetable tray may be ideal summer menu options, but the middle of winter requires something a little more seasonally appropriate. For example, appetizer choices could be Swedish meatballs, bacon-wrapped scallops, mini quiches, and baked smoky Cheddar cheese puffs.

For dinner entrées, you could offer your guests a choice between tender braised beef short ribs on a bed of mashed potatoes with crème fraiche and butternut squash or roast turkey breast with caramelized sweet potatoes and cornbread dressing with gravy. If you have vegetarian guests, a hearty 3-cheese rotini is the perfect option.

Rather than a fruity, cold signature cocktail, consider hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps and mini marshmallows dipped in colored sugar that matches your wedding colors or hot buttered rum with a butterscotch candy stir stick instead.

Even though the temperatures outside might be frightening, a winter wedding can be an incredibly warm and cozy event for you and your guests. It can also be a great way to save money. If you are excited to get started planning your grand winter wonderland wedding, contact us at Pristine Chapel today!