ALT-3 Dos and Donts of Winter Weddings
Planning a wedding in the wintertime is quite different from planning it in the more popular summertime. If you are unsure about what is appropriate and what is not for a winter wedding, refer to this easy list of winter wedding do’s and don’ts.
DO…
…send your save-the-date cards and invitations earlier than you would for a wedding at another time of year. Factors like weather and holidays in particular can make attending a winter wedding tricky, so allow your guests plenty of time to clear their schedules.
…take advantage of sales! The holidays bring all sorts of bargains on just about everything you may need for your wedding.
…keep your registry reasonable. Because of the holidays, some of your guests may find it difficult to give you anything too expensive for a wedding gift. Keep your registry to mostly the essentials, with a few items for fun, in a wide range of prices so that all budgets can be accommodated.
…make sure you stay on top of all of your vendors. Because of the holidays, some vendors may find themselves a bit stretched. Stay organized and be sure nothing slips through the cracks.
…give yourself a “holiday gap”. If your wedding is close to the holidays, make sure it occurs either about a week before or a week after in order to allow yourself plenty of time for planning and preparation.
DON’T…
…buy that strapless, gauzy wedding dress unless you really enjoy hypothermia. Stick with appropriate fabrics! This goes for your wedding party, too – don’t let your bridesmaids shiver down the aisle!
…serve light, cold food. Winter weddings call for hot, hearty meals, like comfort food. It’s a perfect excuse for that mac n’ cheese bar!
…expect everyone to be able to drop everything the moment you need them to. Winter can be a hectic time due to work, school, and holidays. Be understanding with your friends and family who are helping with the wedding and try to work around their schedules.
…book a venue way off the beaten path, unless where you live is a place that has very little chance of a freak snowfall. Otherwise you may find yourself out thousands of dollars and minus a wedding if there is a blizzard the day before!
…schedule any showers too close to the holidays. Try to have them taken care of before Thanksgiving so that no one goes broke before Christmas!
