How to Throw a Winter Wedding that Doesn’t Look Like Christmas

Winter is such a magical time of the year to get married. After all, it’s already a festive season! While some couples want to showcase the holidays at their event, others might want to steer away from any Christmas vibes. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to plan a winter wedding without guests feeling like Santa is going to walk in at any moment. Here are few suggestions to get you started:

Before we talk décor, let’s talk suits and tuxedos. We have a lot of Winter Weddings at Generation Tux, and some of the most popular styles we’re seeing from customers are the Black Notch Tuxedo, Navy Blue Suit, Black Suit, Black Peak Tuxedo, and Mystic Blue Suit. And bright colors are definitely the trend, with a lot of customers getting accessories like plum, yellow, and orange.

Be careful with color. If you don’t want your winter wedding to scream “holidays,” avoid traditional seasonal color palettes such as green and red or silver and blue, says Gretchen Culver of Moon & Stars Events. Instead, she suggests choosing something unexpected and incorporating lots of color. For example, utilize colorful blooms that can pop off a neutral, wintery linen. Whatever color you choose, we have ties, vests and accessories in a variety of hues.

Skip winter motifs. Stay away from the typical holiday décor items, like snowflakes and evergreen trees, and find other ways to bring in the season. Culver recommends creating a winter wonderland dessert table with sparkly fake snow, or make it snow indoors with a snow machine. “This evokes winter without the iconography,” she explains.

Choose the right blooms. It is easy to go straight for cedar, juniper, and holly in winter, but it can lean too far into a holiday look, notes Joan Wyndrum of Blooms by the Box, who suggests greenery that you don’t see in the holiday décor section of your local store such as dusty miller, and lacey dusty miller along with brunia silver flower, to add a silver tone that will look beautiful during this time of year.

Ditch the twinkle lights. String lights will inevitably remind guests of Christmas. Take a different route with Edison bulbs and candlelight to create a warm glow, recommends Wyndrum.

Serve up warm treats. Go crazy with a menu of winter favorites. “Bubbly upon arrival, passed mini cranberry and brie tarts, and a rosemary infused cocktails will be hits among guests,” says Alesia Riley of blk haus branding + events. “The traditional holiday peppermint and gingerbread flavors will be the last thing on their minds!”

Set up cozy spaces. Outdoor weddings will still be popular—even in winter—so create some seating areas where guests can stay warm. Think comfortable seats or couches in front of a fire pit and give guests a special treat by serving hot chocolate and s’mores!

Hand out a themed favor. Ditch the ornaments and send guests home with personalized blankets (your wedding date or monogram) that guests can use year-round.

Incorporate a custom ice element. No matter where you are located, everyone associates ice with winter, notes Culver. But remember, gone are the days of cheesy sculptures in the shape of a heart. Instead, think custom ice cubes with your monogram or an ice seating chart. Or really wow your guests with an ice luge for your signature cocktail.

Go tropical. If you really want to go in the other direction, consider a destination that might be more on the tropical side. Couples more than ever have an abundance of options for where they should host their most special day, so don’t go for the obvious, says Bri Marbais of The Bridal Finery.

And once you’re ready to start planning, one of the first steps is figuring out what to wear. Browse our collection of tuxedo and suits to start putting together your wedding day look.

Contributions:

• Emilee Carpenter Photography – @emileecarpenterllc
• Bethany Small Photography – @bethanysmallphoto
• Jason Crocker Photography