Winter Wedding Planning

 

I live in South Florida – there is no “real” winter weddings. It may get chilly for a few weeks but we don’t get to have that snowy winter wonderland wedding that many brides dream of. There are many ways to create a winter wedding, even if it’s not so cold outside.

#1) Atmosphere. Winter weddings are generally in the evening. I picture a cold night with the bride and groom indoor dancing by the candle light. Having said that, I think illumination is highly important.

#2) Colors. Winter wedding colors are pretty basic. Blue. Silver. White. While these traditional colors are beautiful, this year we are seeing a lot of rich browns included in the mix. A light blue with a warm brown can set the mood for a chilly winter wedding, even if it’s warm outside.

#3) Accessorize. Just because it’s not snowing outside doesn’t mean that you can’t bring the snowflakes INSIDE. There are tons of coordinating snowflake favors and accessories that can be used to really create a winter wonderland atmosphere. Hang pretty dangling snowflakes from the ceiling and scatter white holiday lights to create a magical experience.

#4) Chocolate. I mentioned the color chocolate brown above, but this is referring to the FOOD. Chocolate is thought of as a “warming” and comforting food. Many brides like the idea of giving personalized chocolate bars, personalized hot chocolate mix and even chocolate fountains! Guests with a sweet tooth will love this addition to your winter wedding!

Fashioncraft Snowflake Candles

Adding Illumination to Your Wedding

Weddings are a time for celebration and laughter, but the romance aspect can't be left out. It's hard to really capture how romantic a wedding can be if you don't have the right "mood". I find that you can really create a nice atmosphere with simple lighting and illumination.

Anybody can light some candles. Really, I can't knock the candles because there are so many beautiful candles out there. In fact, I encourage the use of candles. Just think outside the box for how you display them. Take the above Vellum Shades by Kate Aspen. These inexpensive decorations totally mask the candle by creating a lamp. All you need is a standard wine glass and a white votive candle. These shades dim the lights and really turn this simple votive candle into a premium wedding decoration.

If you want some light but don't want the candle effect, try the water activated diamond lights by Weddingstar. These versatile accessories can be used as centerpieces or as decorations around your reception area. My favorite part? The light can shine a different color with just a few drops of inexpensive food coloring. That means you can coordinate these with your color scheme or wedding theme - very cheap!

 

We have mentioned how illumination and lighting can enhance your reception, but don't forget that they can also be used in your ceremony. Many brides and grooms incorporate the unity candle ceremony into their ceremony. This light really shines at the altar where the bride and groom are exchanging vows. There are so many unity candle sets on the market - some can be personalized or coordinated with your wedding theme. The great thing about the unity candle ceremony is that these items can be kept as keepsakes.

Wedding Accessories