Fall is in the air and soon it will be winter. With my big move planned to go back up north I decided to start blogging about fun northern wedding ideas! Here are some great winter themes for you:
Menu ideas:
You can have all of your favorite food but add some winter touches like a squash dish, or warm pumpkin soup. Consider serving eggnog, spiced wine, or hot chocolate (alcoholic or non-) as special treats. Look for an all-white cake, decorated with silver embellishments, or sugar sculptures. Greet your guests with warm coffee or hot chocolate as soon as they come in the ceremony or reception site.
Flower ideas:
Decide whether you want to go for a silver and white elegant look, or celebrate the season with reds and greens. For those who like silver, look for dusty miller, silver-dollar eucalyptus, and baby blue eucalyptus, mixed with white flowers such as roses, football mums, crocus, lilies and stephanotis. If you're looking for a brighter bouquet, consider red roses with holly and pine-tree greenery. In season flowers such as tulips, roses, and ornamental berries generally will be less expensive choices. (Talk to your florist, as your region may have different availability)
Decor ideas:
Fill the room with light by arranging pillar candles on a bed of pine branches At the after-Christmas sales, stock up on strands of small white lights, then string them decoratively around doorways, over tables and on archways. Bright red cranberries in a bowl surrounding floating candles make an easy and inexpensive centerpiece. Or, decorate a pre-made gingerbread house for each table, and center it on a bed of greenery with candles around it.
Fill the room with light by arranging pillar candles on a bed of pine branches At the after-Christmas sales, stock up on strands of small white lights, then string them decoratively around doorways, over tables and on archways. Bright red cranberries in a bowl surrounding floating candles make an easy and inexpensive centerpiece. Or, decorate a pre-made gingerbread house for each table, and center it on a bed of greenery with candles around it.
Favor ideas:
If you and most of your guests celebrate Christmas, an ornament makes a perfect favor. An inexpensive homemade favor is a pretty tin of spiced hot chocolate mix or hot cocoa mix with marshmallows. Also consider a snow globe, with a bride and groom inside, or a holidaycookie cutter with a cookie recipe attached that says your names, wedding date, and "truly cut out for each other".
Peak wedding season falls between May and October in most of the U.S., says Richard Markel, the president of the Association for Wedding Professionals International. During that time, most wedding vendors -- including caterers, photographers and limousine companies -- charge the most because their services are in demand. But in the winter, business comes to a standstill, especially in the northern regions hit with particularly harsh weather, and engaged couples have more room to negotiate for lower prices. (December weddings aren't as cheap because banquet facilities give priority to recurring customers: conventions and companies planning holiday parties.)
Hot chocolate, hot apple cider and tea are all suitable for the alternative cocktail hour. Set up self-serve stations to save on the costs of hiring servers. Create separate stations for the different beverages. Place the hot chocolate packets and tea bags in containers next to the appropriate beverage dispensers.
New Years Eve Wedding
Bring all your family and friends together for New Years Eve and ring in the new year with your wedding!
I strongly considered a winter wedding. I was thinking the Biltmore on Christmas eve. I'm glad I went the October route, but I still think it would have been gorgeous - great ideas!
ReplyDeleteLOVE those festive dresses! The hot cocoa bar is always a great idea, too! :)
ReplyDeleteHot cocoa bar sounds AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteI had a winter wedding, so I LOVE all of these ideas!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE winter weddings and the hot cocoa bar sounds so awesome! We did a New Years Eve wedding a few years ago and it was amazing! The bride and groom changed into more fun and festive party outfits right before the stroke of midnight and we through rose petals for them right before the party started. It was so much fun!!! Overall, I like the different winter flowers and the use of winterberries, which are my favorite for that time of year.
ReplyDelete