Candlelit ceremonies

Picture the scene. You glide down an aisle lined with blush rose petals and clusters of candles in hurricane vases. The room is romantically lit with flickering tea lights to make the most of winter's fading light and at the end of the aisle, your fiance waits. When planning your winter wedding theme, take the hallmarks of the season and make them work for you. So, instead of seeing the short days as a race to keep the light, use dusk to your advantage to add oodles of atmosphere. Choose a venue with large windows, like a converted barn or orangery, to bring this vision to life.

Image courtesy of Adam Riley Photography

Whimsical wedding dresses

In summer, a fairy-tale princess gown can become incredibly hot to wear, especially when you hit the dance floor. But in winter, those extra layers become practical as well as pretty.

Think billowy tulle, delicate lace sleeves and a faux fur cape to embrace the winter wonderland wedding theme. Equally, a figure-hugging fit-and-flare design made from a heavier weight fabric with sleeves will skim your curves while keeping you cosy.

Image courtesy of Grace & Bush Photography

Winter wonderland colour schemes

The best winter wedding ideas are a celebration of the season and an integral element to any wedding is the colour scheme.

For your winter wonderland wedding, seek out a colour scheme that will glisten in the candlelight. This will create the magical effect you dream of, without feeling at all Christmassy.

 

Silver and blue

Chic and frosty, a silver and blue colour scheme is a classic for any winter wedding theme. Entwine soft blue lights around white manzanita trees to create a show-stopping centrepiece.

Image courtesy of Melina Wallisch

 

Lilac and gold

Winter wedding ideas needn't feel cold. Choosing a soft, warming palette of lilac and gold will add a dusting of opulence to your day.

Image courtesy of Rob and Wynter Photography

 

Ice white

Keep your winter wonderland wedding timelessly elegant by creating a vision in white. From the chairs to the candelabra to the dance floor, the key to this winter wedding theme is to include white in every detail.

Images courtesy of John Barwood Photography

Fairy-tale flowers

Couples often worry that by choosing a winter wonderland wedding, they won't be able to have the same beautiful flowers as they would in summer. In part, this is true: peonies are available from May to June and dahlias dazzle in October. But all is not lost.

Embrace the season by selecting frosted berries for luxe pops of red against a stylish silver backdrop of eucalyptus. Roses are still available for many winter weddings, as are lesser-known winter blooms like hellebores and clematis.

And if your heart really is set on a certain bloom, you could always invest in a silk flower alternative.

Image courtesy of Scuffins Photography

Enchanting invitations

Cosy up and spend an evening leafing through wedding invitation samples to choose your dream design. For winter weddings, invitations that feature whimsical snowflake patterns or twinkling festoon light prints are instant winners.

At this time of year, consider the luxury extras like velvet ribbon or glittering gold foil, which will really make an impact.

Image courtesy of Feel Good Wedding Invitations

Winter warmers

Arguably one of the most important elements of any winter wedding theme is the food and drink. A winter wonderland wedding is the perfect opportunity for a host of treats, starting with cocktail hour.

Swap traditional Champagne for mulled wine or cider to keep your guests toasty. You could also introduce some hot canapés, like miniature Yorkshire puddings or shots of homemade soup.

Image courtesy of Summer Street Photography

 

To create a truly memorable experience, why not introduce food stations? A twist on the summertime ice cream stall, include freshly made waffles and crepes with serve-yourself toppings, warming hot chocolate bars loaded with marshmallows and fresh-from-the-oven wood-fired pizzas. You could even seek out a venue with fire pits and make s'mores your wedding favours!

Image courtesy of Lydia Stamps Photography

 

Feeling inspired to plan your very own winter wonderland wedding? Check out the coolest winter wedding ideas to create your day.