Every couple dreams about a day when they can step down the aisle and share their vows with the partner they want to spend the rest of their life with. But with so many exciting ideas competing for your attention, it can be hard to make a decision and set the stage for this monumental occasion!
Winter wonderland weddings are a grand and impressive way to embrace a less busy wedding season. Picture a grand entrance in a snowy landscape, dotted with a handful of fresh, seasonal flowers. Everything about a winter wonderland wedding sings elegance and sophistication! Glide through the fresh powder of early snow for an experience that’s magical, enchanting, and full of winter wonder.
Here are nine elegant ideas that will help you embrace the theme of a winter wonderland.
1. Fog Machine
Fog machines might make you think about Halloween decorations, but that isn’t necessarily their only use. A well-placed fog machine paired with your sophisticated array of decorations and arrangements adds an atmosphere of enchantment. Position them around the dance floor so that guests can glide through the misty, magical atmosphere.
2. Snow Globes
Looking for a unique way to hand out party favors? Couples can remind everyone of their winter wonderland wedding with custom snow globes sent home as party favors. Your guests can pull them out each winter and remember the wonderful time they enjoyed celebrating your union.
Alternatively, you could use snow globes as table centerpieces during the reception. Instead of glass vases with flowers (or perhaps in addition to!), snow globes can serve as the main attraction, offering something beautiful, unique, and interactive.
3. Twinkling Lights
Lighting is particularly important for winter weddings because the sun sets so early in the evening. You and your guests don’t want to have to call it an early night just because it’s too dark to see!
Instead of harsh overhead lighting, consider icicle lights, fairy lights, or even candles. Not only are these lights delicate, but they also remind everyone of the holiday season.
If you’re having an evening wedding, you may even use fairy lights to line an arbor where you and your loved one will stand to say your vows. This gives the perfect, soft backdrop for your pictures and looks incredibly elegant on film.
4. Fire Pit
While you and your bridal party are off taking photos, your guests can keep warm and stick with the theme of your wedding by spending a little time around the fire pit. Instead of small snacks passed around on trays by caterers, guests can cook their snacks in the fire. Have s’mores as well as hot cocoa ready for them to prepare.
You can also offer an assortment of winter cocktails like spiked hot cocoa, mulled wine, or apple cider.
5. White Flowers
There may not be as many flowers in season in the dead of winter, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be left without any options. In fact, there are some gorgeous winter wedding bouquet ideas that can match your winter theme or even add a splash of bold color.
Winter brides often carry a classic bouquet of white flowers that echo the snowy landscape. But don’t reserve your stunning white flora just for the bride! Use the flowers everywhere you need a little more décor by arranging them on tables and seat backs, making for a breathtaking winter wonderland wedding scene.
6. Winter Foliage Decorations
To complement an assortment of white flowers, add a pop of color by choosing to go with winter foliage that stays green year-round. For example, decorate with boughs of holly, limbs from pine trees, or even mistletoe for a little romantic edge to your wedding night.
All of this can provide some color to break up some of the white that comes with snowy winter weddings without taking away from the winter aesthetic.
7. Lavish Colors and Textures
Don’t feel like you have to have a monochromatic wedding just because it’s the middle of winter. A white landscape pairs well with lavish colors and textures, including metallics like gold and silver. They offset the blank canvas of a fresh landscape and give you the pop of color you need with a very elegant arrangement.
If metallics aren’t the way you want to go, there are other options. Creamy white marble complements the design easily, as do glass and quartz. You could also create a bold look by using jewel tones to highlight your wedding, which feels more elegant and refined compared to the soft pastels or vibrant palettes common with spring and summer weddings.
8. Ice Carving Decorations
One standout feature classic to a winter wonderland wedding is a gorgeous ice sculpture. These grand decorations may be a bit pricey but they raise the elegance and prestige of your wedding to an entirely new level! You may even feel like royalty preparing for a winter coronation.
Ice sculptures and other carved decorations can be the highlight of your buffet tables, line your bar cart, or welcome guests as they enter the venue. Get creative and talk with an artist experienced in ice sculpture to create something one-of-a-kind for your big day.
9. Snow Machines
If you’ve been dreaming of a winter wonderland wedding, snow has no doubt played a role in many of your ideas! Since we can’t plan around the weather, snow machines are another magical way to celebrate the winter season during your ceremony or reception.
Creating an illusion of snowfall with snow machines can show up well on film for a wedding exit, marking the occasion with something a little extra and fun as you say your goodbyes and head off to your honeymoon. However, you can also leave the machines on throughout the reception for guests to enjoy—and it isn’t just for the kids!
Capture and Remember Your Winter Wedding Forever
No matter what time of year you choose to hold your wedding, it will be a unique and stunning experience with memories to last a lifetime! Along with your wedding photography, working with a wedding cinematographer can capture the movement, expression and sparkle of your special day.
At Reverent Wedding Films, we know that we only have one chance to capture every precious moment for your highlight films, and we bring all of our experiences to the table to preserve your memories. After capturing your winter wonderland wedding on film, we’ll edit and polish it into high-quality cinematic storytelling that you can treasure for the rest of your life.
Reach out to us today to learn more about our wedding films and book your day!
