A
wedding of your dreams does not have
to be in the popular wedding months.
A winter wedding can be quite spectacular
and there are significant financial advantages.
While
the summer months remain the most popular
time of the year to say "I Do", many
couples are choosing to have a winter
date for the "big event." According to the Society of American
Florists, 13 percent of weddings take
place in the winter, with 11 percent
of those being Christmas weddings. Summer
weddings account for 35 percent, spring
weddings 29 percent, and autumn weddings
23 percent.
Décor
that appeals to the senses is important
when trying to pulling off a romantic
winter wedding. "Choose colors of rich
jewel tones such as purple, forest green,
and navy. Sapphire blue, ice blue or
powder blue, silver and white can be
used if you want to steer clear of the
traditional Christmas colors", suggests
Lynette Gamble, senior coordinator of
Affairs of Grandeur. The glow of candlelight will add warmth
and ambiance to your ceremony and reception
site.
Iridescent
or frosted glass balls and pine cones
can adorn your guests' tables. Snowflake
ornaments and glittery ribbons may be
placed on the food tables or hung from
the ceiling. For a simple touch, only
decorate with red and white Poinsettias.
Since many locations will already be
lavishly decorated, your décor
budget will be minimal.
To keep
floral costs to a minimum, use flowers
that are already available during the
winter months. Some
flower choices are: poinsettias, roses,
amaryllis, and lilies. Evergreens
are popular choices for decorations while
holly branches and other plants with
red berries are ideal for use in floral
arrangements.
A cozy cottage
or bed and breakfast is an ideal location
for your wintry wedding theme. Your
guests may warm themselves in front of
the fireplace while sipping hot chocolate
or wassail during the cocktail hour.
A view overlooking a partially frozen
pond will add to the ambiance. Imagine
your guests delight as they get a glimpse
of a deer drinking from the pond just
outside the reception room window or
a family of rabbits scurrying over the
freshly fallen snow.
To add a
little creativity to your dinner menu,
ask your bridal party to submit traditional
family recipes for your caterer to make
for the reception. If you don't
want to serve the traditional Christmas
fare, ask your caterer for alternatives
and create a unique meal for your guests. As
for favors, Gamble recommends candles
of course. "Cinnamon Apple, Pumpkin Pie,
and Vanilla are all pleasant scents that
remind you of being a kid in your grandmothers'
kitchen and they're nice this time of
year", says Gamble. "Spiced teas, coffee
mugs, snow globes and Christmas ornaments
imprinted with the couples name and wedding
date will also make great favors."
Want
a memorable getaway? Give out mini bells
and have them rung as the two of you
make your way to a horse-drawn sleigh. Decorate
the coach and harness with Christmas
foliage and chiming bells and ride off
into the evening.
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