Your wedding doesn't have to be held in spring or summer. The cooler months of autumn and winter offer the potential of more comfortable weather for men in their suit jackets and long sleeve shirts, and means sweat is less of an issue for the bride and bridesmaids in the summer heat. Everyone has a memory of watching the bridal party and the guests all hovering around the air conditioning units to try and cool down before and after the wedding ceremony. With no breeze outside and the sun not setting for another three hours. That type of heat isn't typical of all summer weddings but to be sure to avoid that scene at your wedding, why not plan a winter wedding event. Ice sculptures won't melt and umbrellas in your photos add a touch of timeless glamour. And it is easier to warm up than cool down, especially when you pick a venue with a large open fire place.

Venues for a winter wedding

Winter wedding venues can offer a more intimate event for the couple and their guests. When choosing a venue look for one that offers that feel for your guests. Instead of choosing a venue with huge glass windows that show off a view during the day (which will not be seen at night and will conduct the cold) find a venue like a historic venue or restaurant that is well decorated and has warm lighting. A venue with OFP (open fireplace) will add to the intimate feel over the night. If possible have some chairs arranged around the fire to allow guests to sit and talk with a coffee after the meal.

Choosing a venue that also offers accommodation is kind to your guests that do not want to drive home at night in the rain or fog. Choosing a venue that has a taxi rank nearby meals guests won't be waiting out in the cold for long after the wedding is over. Or book a bus to take guests home (or close to home) to allow guests to enjoy their night without the worry of driving.

Clothes for a winter wedding

For the groom and his groomsmen winter doesn't really change what they will be wearing. The jacket will probably stay on for a longer amount of time over the day/night. If you have chosen a winter wedding at the snowfields matching gloves and scarves might be a nice addition to the men's attire.

Bride's Clothing. Just because the wedding is in winter doesn't mean you can't have a strapless dress still. However it does open up a range of other options, including a dress with sleeves, or a fur shrug. As a bride you can add a splash of colour to your outfit through the wrap or shrug you choose to compliment your dress and keep you warm. The wrap can match the bridesmaids' dresses and groomsmen's tie.

Guest's Clothing. Guests can choose to wear weather appropriate clothing, or keep with strapless dress and open toed shoes without stockings. Hats maybe included with outfit.

Decorations

A winter wedding theme can cover snow flake decorations hanging on the walls and snowflake glitter on the tables. What winter wedding would be complete without an open fire? Guests can toast marshmallows beside it, or just warm themselves during the reception. You can pose for your professional photos beside it (and warm yourselves too). When choosing your wedding venue for winter look for a venue that has a large open fire place that they will have stoked all night for you and your guests.

Food and Drinks at a Winter Wedding

Winter is associated with hearty comfort foods. Wedding food packages offer winter meals throughout the year so you won't have to change too much. However you can add some extra touches to your food and drink package to embrace the winter theme.

• You can hire a barista to make hot chocolate and coffee for your guests (with marshmallows of course).
• Offer guests schnapps after dinner (it also helps with digestion). People will love to have a toast to the newly married couple with a shot of butterscotch schnapps in hand.
• After the ceremony and before the reception, warm your guests up with some delicious gluhwine (warm, spiced mulled wine).
• You could choose to host a full Christmas in July feast for your wedding (see menu ideas here ).

Extra Touches for Your Winter Wedding

• Open Fire Place . When selecting your winter wedding location have a look out for restaurants, pubs and venues that offer an open fire place. It will provide a warm, romantic feel to the evening and will bring people together as they stand around it, enjoy the glow and the heat.
• Outdoor heaters. For those who want to head outside on the deck or garden. For a more eco-friendly option for outdoors you can have a bundle of blankets and coats available for guests to use. You can either splurge and purchase blankets in your wedding colours, or raid your cupboard along with friends and family's cupboards for blankets to have at the ready for guests sitting in the outdoor area chatting.
• Extra umbrellas . Guests like to pretend that it just won't rain on a wedding day no matter what the BOM states. To keep your guest's heads and clothes dry have a bunch of umbrellas on hand for guests if they need to make their way from the ceremony to the reception in the rain. This helps if you have a marquee for your wedding to keep guests dry as they wander around.
• Wedding Budlighting . Because the sun sets much earlier in winter there is more opportunity to create a winter wonderland with gorgeous budlighting. eBay has a huge range of fairy light strands to match your wedding colour theme and decorating ideas. There are rattan balls , flower lights and more.
• Candles . Add candles to provide a gorgeous mood lighting to set all your guests in a romantic glow. Use candles to light the walkway up to the entrance of your ceremony venue and your reception venue. Use candles on each table (safely of course) and to offer soft lighting in the bathrooms.
• Wedding Sky Lanterns (eBay) . Allow your guests to send off good wishes to the newly married couple by writing on a sky lantern and then lighting and sending it off into the sky. This offers a gorgeous nightscape and a romantic intimate feel to the evening. To create the right effect try and find one for each guest. (Set alight safely).

Winter Wedding Flowers

Check with your florist what flowers will be in season during winter. Some popular winter flowers include tulips, daffodils, iris, poppies (late winter), chrysanthemums, jonquils, japonica and orchids.

Winter Wedding Colours and Themes

• Popular colour choices for winter weddings include silver, black and white. Silver, white and red. Navy and white. Pink, of course pink works in winter. A good splash of colour like pink or red is wonderful against the black of umbrellas, cars and paths. Black and white wedding, with a black tie theme and black and white dresses for the women.
• Fire and ice parties are not just for the rich and famous, why not add that to your wedding, with ice sculptures, open fire places and candles and black, white and red for your colours. Let your guests know to dress in those colours too. Fire and Ice theme works well with snowflake decorations (and snow outside if you are fortunate enough for a white wedding).
• Rainbows , you can choose to include all the colours of the rainbow that may form over your day if it rains and it a bit sunny. Your decorations can be multi-coloured stripes or with a rainbow embossed on them.
• Christmas in July theme . Complete with turkey, stuffing, gravy and pudding. For the southern hemisphere countries that eat a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings in the heat of summer (and naps for hours afterwards) this will be a great treat. Having a fruit cake as your wedding cake fits with this theme.

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