Every wedding comes with its own unique challenges when it comes to planning, but winter weddings have their own set of logistics to plan for! As a wedding photographer, I’ve been to a whole lot of weddings and today I wanted to share the best tips that I’ve learned about winter weddings to help you plan the perfect winter wonderland wedding. This blog also gives me the chance to brag about how beautiful Kylene + MIcheal’s wedding was (prepare to swoon a little)!
Snow is never guaranteed
Okay, let’s start off with the ugliest fact of winter weddings – snow is never guaranteed. When we picture winter weddings, immediately we think of beautiful and fresh fluffy white snow coating everything. However, living in Ontario, we know that our weather can be moody at best! If you dream of fresh snow on your wedding day, it’s best to aim for January and February dates, since they are our best snow months. If you set your date for earlier in the season, just know that you have a higher risk of everything looking a little on the brown side.
Extra wiggle room is a must!
Speaking of snow, know that fresh blankets of snow also come with traffic delays. On Kylene + Micheal’s big day, it snowed all morning long which caused delays with vendors and guests getting into Carleton Place. Thankfully, the couple planned for that possibility and things still ran smoothly. Most importantly, everyone arrived safe and sound!
I suggest always planning for extra time in case of weather changes during any of the cooler months. Tell guests to arrive 20-30 minutes earlier than you think (so about an hour or so before the ceremony). This way you get to focus on enjoying the day instead of worrying about people being late.
How to stay warm
Even if the forecast says that your big day will be seasonably warm, always plan for the cold! Kylene + Micheal were supposed to have a day sitting at about 5 degrees, and instead it was just below zero. Their crew were troopers and managed to hold it together to make it through photos, but it definitely adds some difficulty!
To combat the cold, here’s what I recommend.
- Have shawls/blankets available for your wedding party (or anyone who’s having photos taken outside)
- Plan your portraits early (for light AND to take advantage of the warmest parts of the day).
- Have emergency insulated boots ready, trust me, you won’t see them under a dress anyway!
- Thick wool socks for the fellas.
- Have a car or truck nearby that has working heat as transport.
- The sun goes down quickly in the winter – consider doing a first look to capture your formal portraits earlier in the day.
- Hand warmers – put them everywhere! Shoes, pockets, bra, anywhere to keep you toasty.
- A little whisky goes a long way – it’s a great way to warm you up on the inside!
I’m a sucker for winter weddings, even if we don’t get the fairytale snow fall first. There’s something that feels more intimate about them, I’m not sure how to describe it! If you’re dreaming of having your wedding in the winter, I say go for it! Plus, most wedding photographers (myself included, wink wink), aren’t as busy in the colder season so it’s usually easier to find a date!
