5 Things to Think About When Attending a Winter Wedding*

Due to government restrictions over the last two years, people who hadn’t previously considered a winter wedding are taking what they can and getting hitched over the coming months, lets face it, we’ve all realised by this point that know one knows what’s just around the corner and we haven’t historically done well with the early months of a year lately. But those attending a winter wedding might not know what to expect, as most people favour getting married during the light nights and warmer days. I know prior to a few years back I’d never attended a wedding in the winter and it was a totally different experience. Because of this, I’ve put together this post to help wedding guests manage their expectations of the day so the Bride and Groom can sit back, enjoy and focus on the most important thing, remembering their special day.

A great way to remember it is by using the fantastic Wedding Photo Swap app and encouraging their guests to do the same. Guests upload their wedding photos and it’s a great way for the Bride and Groom to catch moments they’d been too preoccupied else where. Then they can pick and choose which ones they want to keep and add to their collection. It’s also great if the alcohol is free flowing and the later hours become a bit patchy!

Where Is It Being Held?
The first thing to look at is where the wedding is being held. This is important for any wedding you’re going to because it can give you an idea of what the dress code will be. This is something to consider in the winter as it will be cold and you may have a temptation to wear boots. It’s also important as if you don’t live near the venue you’ll want to look for somewhere to stay near by. In the summer, you can look at walking distance as it’ll be light and warm until late, in the winter you need to find somewhere that will have safe transport to get you back in the dark.

What’s the Weather Going to Be Like?
Thinking about weather in the UK is hard as it’s so changeable, it’s hard enough in the summer when you have to look at the forecast and decide whether to take a brolly or not, but in the winter you could have anything from thick mist to strong winds, torrential rain and snow, or even ice. The changeable weather is a nightmare because you might not even know what it’ll be like until the day of the wedding meaning you have to plan for all eventualities. Weather planning for a wedding can include what to wear, what to take with you and transport, especially at night after the wedding, you don’t want to get stranded anywhere in the middle of winter!

How Will You Get There?
So transport is a big deal in the winter no matter where you’re going (I’m so wary after the snow cancelling our flight a few years ago and ruining our holiday), which is why you need to think about it if you’re attending a wedding. It’s already a stressful day for the bride and groom without adding the extra burden of transporting guests. Sometimes the bride and groom will put on a bus if the wedding is a distance from the church to the reception but they probably won’t for travelling to and from the venues at the start and end of the day. This is for you to consider. Ensure there are taxi services and perhaps pre-book one or maybe consider carpool with someone who isn’t drinking.

What Will You Wear?
Arguably one of the most important things to think about is what you’re going to wear and in the winter it’s not as simple as picking a pretty dress up off the rack. Most weddings are still formal affairs to your jeans and wooly jumper isn’t going to cut it. Perhaps look at prom dresses  that you can layer up. A maxi dress can disguise any tights you wear to keep your legs warm and long sleeves will mean you don’t need anything but a single coat on top. Maybe look at heeled shoe boots rather than strappy sandals and if it’s going to be icy ensure you have some traction on the soles of your shoes.

What About Your Kids?
Keeping children entertained at a wedding can be hard going but at least in the summer they can play outside the venue. As a kid the weddings I attended had activities set outside to keep kids busy. If you’re attending a wedding with a lot of children there they may provide some activity packs but if you feel that (along with the dancing) isn’t enough to keep your kid occupied it may be worth finding a sitter for them. Weddings where your kid is cooped up in doors all day and night, probably isn’t going to be enjoyable for either of you.

Just because a wedding is in the winter, it doesn’t mean it isn’t going to be a beautiful, on the contrary, some of the most beautiful weddings I’ve seen are the ones held in the snow, you just need to be prepared for them!