5 Things You Should Know When Planning A Winter Wedding

They had wanted a winter wedding from the start as they knew just how stunning it could be when all of the styling elements came together and they certainly weren't disappointed. They embraced the chilly weather and like every couple does on their wedding day, no matter what the time of year, they kept their fingers crossed that the rain would stay away.

So, for those of you planning a winter wonderland wedding, or wondering whether to take the plunge and head down the path towards a wedding full of festive romance, cosy ambience and twinkling lights here are our tips to to make your winter wedding unforgettable. 

5 Top Tips When Planning A Winter Wedding

1 - Stay Warm 

First things first - make sure your venue is cosy even on the coldest of days. Visit between November and February if you can and see how warm and welcoming it is as you walk in.

Are there open fires and if so are they alight, and are the radiators keeping things nice and toasty? Is the heating in the main events spaces, for the wedding ceremony and wedding breakfast sufficient to make sure that you and your guests can take off their jackets and still feel comfortable? There's nothing worse than being cold so this is a really important one to do your homework on. 

In an ideal world, to ensure a seamless delivery, your wedding venue will also have ample space to comfortably accommodate all of your guests for a drinks reception, and a completely separate area for your wedding ceremony and reception to take place.

2 - Don't Be Afraid Of The Rain...Or Snow!

Embrace it! After all it can rain on any day of the year no matter what the month. Your wedding photographer is no doubt a true professional and will love the opportunity to get creative behind the lens. Light rain can make the most incredibly romantic images so order your wedding brolly and even a pair of fancy wellies if you wish and embrace all that the weather has to throw at you.

As for snow - it's rare but oh my goodness looks so beautiful. Check that your wedding venue is set up to be able to cope with extreme weather (by for example clearing driveways and nearby country lanes, and spreading salt in the car park and pathways). Then just sit back and enjoy your winter wonderland wedding. 

3 - Use Candlelight At Every Opportunity

There is no such thing as too many candles!! It's so simple but the effect candlelight has for a winter wedding is just un-paralleled and totally magical!

If you are going for a December wedding the addition of a couple of Christmas trees with twinkling lights and elegant ball balls bouncing the light around will only enhance this.

P.s Hopefully your wedding venue allow open flames but do check with them as it's not always the case.

4 - Plan Your Travel Routes And Allow A Little Extra Time

To avoid any un-necessary travel disasters it's always reassuring when your wedding ceremony is in the same location as your wedding reception. Church ceremonies are beautiful and so if that is the route you are going down, simply leave a little bit more time for travelling in between the church and your wedding venue.

Don't plan for a wedding ceremony that's too early in this case as you will then give your guests more time to travel - perhaps a 1pm start for a church ceremony, or 2pm if you are having a Civil Ceremony at your venue. 

5 - Identify Beautiful Indoor Backdrops For Photography 

First impressions are everything and so if your wedding venue has a wow-factor on the outside as well as the inside you're already one step ahead. 

Make sure that there are plenty of pretty indoor spaces, big windows and beautiful backdrops to work with for your wedding photography and if your wedding venue looks amazing at night too, you're onto a winner!

In winter the days are shorter and you may not want to walk too far into the gardens or grounds if it's chilly or damp underfoot and so being able to have really striking images of you and your guests in multiple locations, just outside your venue is a real plus. 

There is no better feeling than receiving your wedding gallery of images after the wedding - all the emotion and happy memories will come flooding back and so doing to the ground work initially to ensure that your venue ticks all the right boxes will really pay off. 

A Few Words From Becca, Our Featured Bride...

“My favourite moment was when the sun came out for our photos when it had been a cloudy and drizzly morning. We couldn't believe our luck”

“At the end of the day, a wedding is all about the love you have for each other above all else! Try not to stress over the little things and enjoy every moment.” 

We Hope That You Enjoyed The Blog!

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Your 5 top tips for planning your winter wedding are:

- Stay warm

- Don't be afraid of the rain...or snow!

- Use candlelight at every opportunity

- Plan your travel routes and allow a little extra time

- Identify beautiful indoor backdrops for photography

Rockbeare Manor is a beautiful winter wedding venue in Devon, just outside Exeter. To come and explore please contact our team on 01392 797 444 or email us here. 

Curious about what Rockbeare looks like from the air? Have a look at our flyover to find out.