WINTER WEDDING IDEAS

Planning on getting married in Winter?

Planning a winter wedding and not sure where to start? This guide is packed with ideas to help you make the most of the season – from stunning decor tips to cosy touches your guests will love – so you can create a day that’s effortlessly stylish and totally you.

Getting married in winter

Embrace the weather, snuggle down, and get planning your winter wedding.

Winter weddings are the ultimate blend of cosy romance and dramatic style, offering the perfect excuse to embrace rich colours, candlelit settings, and festive vibes for a truly unforgettable day. But, before we get carried away thinking about berries in bouquets, mulled wine drinks receptions and fair lights aplenty, there are some things to consider when it comes to planning a winter wedding.

Getting hitched in the winter can provide some amazing photographs from Halloween spookiness to gorgeous golden light portraits, but it’s definitely not the same as having a wedding smack bang in the middle of the summer!

Light at winter weddings can be a bit limited. So if you’re planning a beautiful candlelit ceremony for 4pm, spare a thought for the photographer who has to get 10 group shots, shoot the venue, organise everyone for a confetti shot, grab some documentary coverage of everyone having a fun day and some amazing portraits all in the space of 45 minutes. If you want lovely portraits in the daylight and you don’t want to feel rushed, it might be an idea to move your ceremony back by an hour. Alternatively consider a first look before the wedding, or moving your family group shots before the ceremony too.

As a winter wedding photographer, with hundreds of weddings under my belt, I want you to have the best images possible and that means ensuring we have adequate lighting. Winter weddings are always very challenging because of the lack of light both inside and outside, and they never look the same as a wedding in the Spring or Summer. Portraits are usually done indoors so you don’t freeze to death. Group shots should be kept to a minimum and unless we can go outside, you need to be realistic about how we shoot them indoors. Check to see if your venue has somewhere we can shoot small group shots indoors in the event of bad weather.

Bride and groom at winter wedding with flower girl and dog

WINTER WEDDING IDEAS

portraits

if you’re running out of daylight or the weather is just too miserable, dramatic portraits can be created indoors using natural or artificial light, so ensure that your photographer knows how to produce work in low light and is a dab hand with off camera flash. A great photographer will be able to produce amazing work even in terrible light in the middle of December.

My approach to portraits is very natural and editorial in nature. Unless it’s bucketing down outside, I will drag you outdoors for some portraits. Bring footwear that won’t get ruined in the rain/snow, something to keep you warm (and I’m not just talking about brandy here, but that’s always an option!) and an umbrella. Be prepared that your oufit might get muddy… remember, you can get it clean afterwards but you can’t recapture those wedding day portraits.

Remember, winter wedding images will look completely different on dark December days than they will in lovely light and bright summery June.

halloween pumpkin wedding at east riddlesden hall winter wedding photographer yorkshire

WINTER WOODLAND & TIPI WEDDINGS

Having an outdoor woodland wedding in December?

Or perhaps you’re planning a celebration in a tipi, here’s some things you need to know.

So you’ve decided to have an outdoor wedding in October – amazing! Who wouldn’t want to get married surrounded by all that autumnal colour? But… if it throws it down in buckets, then what? Will your guests have to sit under umbrellas and huddle for warmth? A back-up plan for ceremonies is essential. If the weather is dry, think about having some mulled cider or hot chocolate to warm up your waiting guests. Gorgeous rugs for them to snuggle under whilst you say your vows is another great idea and how about a lovely camp fire if you’re having reception drinks in the middle of a field?

If you’re having a tipi wedding, don’t forget that it gets cold in the evening – crank up those portable heaters and maybe provide soft fleecy blankets for guests to wrap around their shoulders, keep the log fires well stocked and don’t forget the marshmallows!

bride and groom in winter landscape in north yorkshire

marshmallow toasting winter wedding tipi yorkshire photographer

throws winter wedding details yorkshire wedding photographer

WINTER WEDDING STYLE IDEAS

WINTER FLORALS

Forget expensive peonies, embrace winter foliage.

Winter weddings are a perfect opportunity to showcase stunning UK-grown flowers and foliage that bring a natural, seasonal touch to your day. For bouquets and buttonholes, consider combining textured greenery like eucalyptus, ivy, and pine with hardy blooms such as hellebores, anemones, and ranunculus. Adding pops of berries, like hypericum or snowberries, can create a striking contrast against the deep, earthy tones of winter foliage. For tables, keep things simple and elegant with garlands of greenery interspersed with dried elements like seed pods or grasses, complemented by candles for a warm, inviting glow. Choosing local and seasonal blooms not only supports British growers but also ensures your arrangements feel authentic and in harmony with the season.

orange slices and ferns with candles in bottles

winter berry pale pink rose and foliage bouquet winter wedding flowers creative photography yorkshire

winter wedding decor pumpkins leaf wrapped jam jars creative photographer yorkshire

LEAN INTO THE SEASON

Use elements such as pumpkins or christmas trees as a backdrop for your winter wedding and dont forget the candles & fairy lights!.

winter wedding ideas,winter wedding photographer — Tithe Barn, Bolton Abbey wedding Photography

WINTER WEDDING VISION

Embrace rich, seasonal colours like deep burgundy, emerald green, navy, or even gold accents for a bit of sparkle.

candles and table styling for winter weddings

Winter weddings are all about creating a warm, inviting atmosphere that feels like a big, cosy hug for you and your guests. Start by embracing rich, seasonal colours. These tones work beautifully with the natural textures of winter, such as rustic wood, frosted greenery, and dried flowers. Twinkling lights are your best friend – think fairy lights draped over beams, candles in hurricane lanterns, and even festoon lights outdoors to create a magical glow.

For a tactile element, introduce warm, luxurious textures like velvet table runners, faux fur throws, or wool blankets placed over chairs for guests to snuggle up in. These small touches not only look stunning but also add an extra layer of comfort. Seasonal decor like pinecones, frosted branches, or even dried oranges can bring a subtle, festive feel without venturing into full festive territory. The key is to create a setting that feels romantic and timeless while embracing the beauty of the season.

Remind your guests that they need to wrap up warm!

Don’t forget to remind guests that it’s a winter wedding – this might seem crazy, but every year I see wedding guests dressed in their finery shivering whilst the group shots take place. It’s a great idea to include on your invite a little reminder that there might be some outdoor drinks or photographs and they might want to bring warm coats – plus who doesn’t love a big scarf? Having lots of umbrellas for the guests to use is also a really good idea and some of those little hand warmers will go down a treat.

ENTOURAGE OUTFITS

If you’re buying outfits in the summer, don’t forget that your bridesmaids will need something warm to go over their dress. Lots of bridesmaid gowns tend to be thin and floaty and whilst these look amazing, they’re usually pretty chilly unless you pair them with a nice faux fur coat.

Just Relax

Remember that we can’t control the weather. Come rain, hail, sun or snow, you’ll have an amazing time either way. So lean into your winter wedding and embrace all the wonderful differences and have another mince pie!