Key Takeaways
- Winter weddings can be more budget-friendly since many venues offer off-season discounts, so always ask about special rates.
- Plan your ceremony timing carefully, as daylight fades early in winter—schedule around 3:30 p.m. for golden hour photos.
- Choose venues with cozy indoor options or heated outdoor spaces to keep guests comfortable in chilly temperatures.
While many flock south for a winter wedding with their toes in the sand, there are those who dream of creating a wedding wonderland that rivals a scene from a shimmering snow globe. If you’re warming up to the idea of a wintery milieu, we’ve called in wedding expert Jennifer Allen to share her tips for cold weather location scouting. Her first word of advice: “Since ‘wedding season‘ is typically over by the winter, be sure to ask if your venue offers a winter discount.”
Meet the Expert
Jennifer Allen is the founder and CEO of Just Elope. She is an elopement and micro wedding expert based in Dallas that specializes in planning all-inclusive weddings with as little as 48 hours’ notice.
Winter Wedding Venue Tips
Timing
As far as the venue itself, Allen reminds couples that depending on your location it is typically dark around 5:30 p.m. during this season. If you want to get those golden hour images with your photographer, you’ll want to aim for a 3:30 p.m. ceremony start time and ensure that the timeline works with the venue.
Weather
As beautiful as a stark white blanket of snow may be as the backdrop of your wedding day, biting temperatures may accompany that setting. If your wedding is outdoors, Allens says heaters are a must to keep your guests comfortable. It’s also a wise idea to create a cozy ambiance with accessories that can pull double duty, as she says items such as throw blankets can also double as your wedding favor. Most of all she warns, “Be sure your venue has an indoor backup option that is equally as beautiful should the temperature take a dangerously low dip.”
Catering
While speaking with your catering team, consider food and drink options that will complement the chilly setting. “Coffee, tea, or a gourmet hot chocolate bar will keep guests nice and warm during your outdoor ceremony,” Allen says. “If you opt to have an indoor ceremony, these options still work as an added element to your winter wedding day and are a great way to warm up your bridal party after coming in from outdoors taking pictures!”
With cold and flu also prominent in the winter months, Allen advises considering a served meal versus a buffet to reduce germ spread and staying in constant communication with your catering team. “Have a very transparent conversation with your catering company regarding final guest counts and when they are due, as guests may have to cancOur expert weighs in on how to choose the perfect wonderland for your winter wedding dreamsel due to illness,” says Allen.
The current outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. As the situation remains fluid, we’ll be sharing tips and stories from industry experts to give you of-the-moment advice and help you navigate wedding planning today. For the most up-to-date guidelines and latest on travel restrictions and requirements, check the CDC and U.S. Department of State websites.
Ahead, check out 15 venues across the U.S. that will inspire a sense of winter wedding bliss.
