ALT-2 Dos and Donts of Winter Weddings
Winter weddings require a lot of planning and it is useful for the bride and family to remain as laid back, forward thinking and flexible as possible in order to ensure a stress free wedding day. These special days are renowned for their unexpected problems, calamities and mishaps and the unpredictable winter weather is a further condition to take into consideration.
Do plan carefully, taking every possible scenario into consideration. For example if your wedding location is renowned for harsh snowy conditions in late winter, then you may wish to choose an earlier date when the weather is milder and wetter so to ensure an increased chance of all the guests making your special day. However do not become distraught if at last minute a few guests cannot make it because of weather conditions, it is unavoidable and ultimately beyond your control.
It is important that you do have an alternative inside photo venue to hand which you are equally happy with if the weather proves to be uncooperative, so that it does not cause stress and upset on your day of days. Try not to set your hopes on gorgeous outside photos; you have taken the risk on having a winter wedding and consequently it could be rainy, windy or darkness could fall earlier than expected.
Make sure that you do have a venue that is large enough to seat all the guests comfortably for the entire of the reception and games/entertainment planned for any children there. Also do check if smoking is allowed on site in the grounds, if allowed then do have a heated and lighted tent outside for guests to smoke in relative comfort out of the winter dreariness. Do not settle on smaller venues, setting your hopes on guests or children filtering out to the garden as you cannot trust the weather.
As it is winter ensure that you do have a range of hot/warming drinks at the reception for the guests’ arrival, including tea, coffee, whiskey, hot chocolate and mulled wine. Do not settle simply for the traditional cold wine, sherry and soft drinks, your guests will greatly appreciate a warm drink, especially after a cold outside photo shoot.
It is useful if you try and prepare for every weather scenario, this will ensure that the bride and wedding party will be equipped to handle any unwanted bitter cold, high winds and miserable rain whilst still smiling and enjoying the day. Do not simply bury your head in the sand and just hope for the best, counting on beautiful crisp blue skies.
Make sure you do still have your dream dress and long train if you want one, despite the predictable bad weather. You can either ask a bridesmaid or member of the family to hold the train up out of danger when outside or ask the dress maker to provide a hook at the back of the dress so the train can be stylishly swept up out of the way. However do not choose grass photo venues which only look stunning in summer, for they could well be fields of mud come winter. Also winter grass can stain light fabrics and it would be heartbreaking to ruin the dress so early on in the celebrations.
Do be flexible throughout the whole of the wedding day, especially in regards to the outdoor photographs. Do not insist that everyone stays out for the whole of the photo shoot particularly in inclement weather. Do however organise the photo shoot whereby after each group has finished they can go on to the venue if they prefer rather then getting cold waiting around. Also do not insist upon the bride and groom arriving first ahead of the guests after the photos, in order to greet each guest personally. In winter this time old tradition could be impractical for it is too cold for guests to wait outside for long periods of time waiting on the happy couple. Instead do let the guests inside the venue to settle down and relax after the ceremony and photographs. Do also provide favor boxes, nibbles and maybe disposable cameras in order to keep the guests occupied before the dinner commences so they do not become bored for being restricted within the venue due to wintry weather.
