The unpredictability of the elements makes Winter the least-loved season for weddings. It comes dead last in popularity, with the vast majority of brides and grooms opting for Summer or Fall weddings.

But for those brave souls who crave a unique wedding experience — or just couldn’t find an available reception hall available in June before 2016 — winter is the perfect time to tie the knot (what better time to profess eternal love than during such a cozy and romantic season?)
To help those couples pull off the winter wedding of their dreams, we polled some of the nation’s best event designers to find out the most important thing to remember when planning a (potentially blustery) wedding.

Color Palette & Lighting

“Obviously winter weddings tend to happen near or around the holidays so be careful with your color choices. You want to stay away from color pairings that feel holiday or reference holiday ideas… unless you just can’t get enough of the holidays and you want your wedding to feel like an extension of the season! A great way to bring in something chic and festive is to work with elegant white or ivory tones and pair with sophisticated metallic tones such as antique gold, pewter or copper. Go heavy on candlelight. The warm light candles provide is perfect for a winter setting.”

Ventilation

“Winter weddings are so special; they almost always feel incredibly intimate and magical. But when it’s cold outside, especially if it’s snowing, guest comfort becomes a heightened concern. You want your venue to be warm and cozy but not stuffy. The more people you have in one room, the stuffier it can get. Ventilation is key.”

Plan For The Weather

“The most important thing to remember when planning a winter wedding isn’t the fashion, or the flowers, or even the food… It’s the weather! We all know that winter can turn harsh without much warning and if you’re not prepared, it can spell disaster for your nuptials. When you begin planning, imagine every possible scenario (wind, rain, snow, etc) and think of a plan in case those elements come into play. If you’ve got a contingency plan, you won’t have to stress in the days leading up to your wedding. Think of your guests: Will they have to walk along a snowy path to get to the ceremony? Does the reception hall get chilly due to all the large windows? Should valet be stocked with umbrellas so no one gets drizzled on getting in and out of their car? These are all things you can think of in advance to ensure a flawless wedding day regardless of what Old Man Winter has in store!”

Guest Comfort

“The number one consideration for planning a winter wedding is your guests’ comfort! Getting all gussied up and making your way to a wedding is fun, but can be a LOT more challenging in the winter months. Consider greeting guests with a warm beverage when they arrive, like a glug or a spiced cider. If you can, spring for valet at your venue or for transportation from the ceremony to reception, it’s never more appreciated than on a chilly day. Consider having pashminas in baskets or on chairbacks for guests (they can be bought online for as little as $2 a piece) in case they catch a chill. If it’s snowy or slushy out be sure to have some chairs near coat check for easy changing from wellies into heels!”

Winter Fashion

“Not necessarily the most important thing to remember, but my most favorite is winter wedding fashion! It’s really the only time of year a bride gets to use fun accessories like scarves, cardigans, boots, faux fur boleros and put a wintery twist on the classic bridal look.

I also absolutely love winter bouquets and boutonnieres. A lot of the colorful and lush flowers aren’t in season, so instead focus on elements that embrace and evoke winter – coffee berries, soft grey leaves, thistle, curly willow. For the wrappings use materials that are more abundant in the winter time like wool, tweed or cable knit!”

Reconsider!

“Consider your guest list and honestly, if you have more than 30 percent traveling in from out state, don’t even think about having a winter wedding if you live somewhere it snows regularly. Or, if you insist, spend a few hundred bucks and get wedding insurance in the event that your wedding has to be postponed in case you’re buried under three feet of snow.

Keep in mind that freshly fallen snow is very romantic. But don’t forget – the next day it looks like ugly grey slush. Summer weddings are usually much more predictable!”