9 Awesome Advantages to Having a Winter Wedding

Warm up to the idea of a winter wedding.

In our humble opinion, it’s probably the most underrated wedding season. Sure there are inherent weather-related risks to consider, but there are also so many benefits—and workarounds!—that can all but alleviate those concerns. And things like cozy sweaters, warm bevvies, and glittering décor make a winter wonderland wedding almost impossible to resist.

Let’s channel our inner Elsa, and talk about the 9 reasons we’re obsessed with winter weddings!

1. Your wedding will be a special snowflake.

Winter is considered “off-season” for weddings, which benefits you in the following ways:

• Off-season weddings are typically less expensive. If you’re on a budget you’ll get the most bang for your buck from December–February or even early March.
• You’ll have a wider selection of available dates. Since winter isn’t exactly wedding prime time, your venue and vendors should have more availability on their calendars. Which means you’ll have a better chance of securing the date of your dreams with your favorite venue + vendor team.
• Your guests won’t be slammed with wedding invites. Or travel plans! Which means more of them will be eager to attend your event. Just be aware that winter’s got a lot of holidays, so plan your date accordingly.

Can we say triple benefit? The bottom line is, winter weddings are great for your bottom line! In the winter months, your wedding budget can potentially stretch much further, you’ll have a better chance of securing your most coveted venue and vendors, and your guests won’t be suffering from wedding burnout—so they’ll be ready to party!

2. You can don glorious accessories.

A leather moto jacket that says BRIDE on the back? Um, sign us up! Winter weddings let you layer up in style, without the risk of overheating. So say yes to that gorgeous long-sleeved gown, a chic velvet shawl, a luxe designer scarf, or a faux-fur stole. And don’t forget all the cozy flannel! Get cute button-down flannel shirts for getting ready with your bridesmaids. It’s the cold-weather spin on the bridesmaid robe trend! You’ll get a warm-and-fuzzy feeling every time you look at your photos.

3. The sun won’t be in everyone’s eyes.

Have you ever attended an outdoor summer wedding where the sun is beating down on you, everyone’s sweating in their formalwear, you forgot your sunglasses, and you’re getting an awkward sunburn on the tops of your shoulders? #weddingguestnightmare

Do your guests a favor and spare them the hot mess express: Hosting a winter wedding in a climate-controlled space ensures everyone will be comfortable and happy with no concerns about the elements. And as an added bonus, your hair and makeup will remain flawless.

Of course, if you do plan to hold an outdoor ceremony, have a contingency plan in place for inclement weather. Many venues are able to accommodate weather-proof tents for their outdoor spaces, so you can rest easy knowing you’ve got a rock-solid Plan B.

4. The sun won’t be in your eyes.

Winter wedding photos are the dreamiest. Powdery white snow on the ground, glittering snowflakes in the trees, and even without snow you’ll still get that soft overcast lighting that’s pretty much Mother Nature’s filter. Winter wedding photos can be downright majestic. Plus you won’t be squinting in your photos, so there’s that.

Since sunset happens much earlier in the winter months, you’ll want to check with your photographer about timing for “golden hour” if you plan on taking outdoor photos. But the nice thing about the sun going down early? You can get the dance party started even sooner!

5. Your guests can score better deals on travel.

Travel has a peak season, too. And besides the timeframe around major holidays like Christmas, it ain’t winter! Many hotels are unable to fill every vacancy during the coldest months, so naturally the room rates will be lower. Supply? Meet demand. And since there’s typically less demand for flights during the chilly post-holiday season, there’s a higher potential to find cheaper airfare—which makes things easier on your guests’ wallets, too!

Of course, travel during winter can be dicey. Flight delays can be common, icy roads are hazardous, and no one wants to step outside in a blizzard. Just things to keep in mind if you’re planning on inviting a lot of out-of-town guests.

6. You can do all the cute winter wedding things.

There are soooo many adorable winter-inspired elements to incorporate in your cold-weather celebration! Here are just a few ideas:

• Give guests “To have and to hold in case you get cold” blanket or pashmina favors.
• Set up a hot drink station like a hot chocolate bar, or sip on cozy signature cocktails like spiked cider and hot toddies!
• Offer up tomato soup shooters with grilled cheese croutons as your tray-passed hors d’oeuvres.
• DIY wedding favors like hot cocoa cones, candy canes, or mulling spices. Or just give everyone mini bottles of Fireball to warm them up from the inside out.

7. No one’s worried about their summer bodies…

Which means comfort food galore! It really is the best way to keep your guests warm and cozy. The seasonal produce is full of starchy goodness including sweet potatoes, parsnips, and all manner of squash. Hearty, healthy fare like roasted root vegetables, steaming bowls of soup, and mashed potatoes will no doubt make everyone happy.

You can also set up a cozy food station! How about a hot grits bar with all the fixings, a pasta station with different noodles and sauces, or a make-your-own s’mores station? And just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you need to avoid lighter foods like salads! Seasonal fruits and veggies such as apples, cranberries, and turnips pair perfectly with heavier comfort foods.

8. Holiday décor can do double-duty.

You can potentially save some money on décor if your venue is already decorated for the holidays. Ask your venue coordinator what the holiday décor plan is for the event space. You may be able to use their string lights, greenery, or other holiday-inspired accents for your wedding. You’ll also want to keep the existing décor in mind when planning your own decorations so that they won’t clash!

But even if there’s no holiday décor already at your venue, you can still be inspired by the season. Luxe velvet tablecloths, glimmering metallic candelabras, hypericum berries, and flickering votives are just a few examples of the rich textures and accents that make winter weddings so gorgeous.

9. You can honeymoon somewhere warm.

The best beach vacations happen when you can leave the chilly weather in favor of somewhere hot and tropical! Book a honeymoon in Turks and Caicos in December and make all your friends jealous with your Instagram posts. #paradise

The best part? You have the opportunity to repeat this tropical-vacay-in-December pattern on as many anniversaries as possible! Winter weddings, ftw.