In the wedding industry, the winter months are often referred to as “off-season”. However, that doesn’t mean weddings don’t happen, in fact weddings over the holiday and winter months are becoming more and more popular!
That being said, there are some things to consider when you are trying to decide if a winter wedding is for you. Instead of breaking the points up by pros and cons we’ve decided just to lay it all out. What may be a viewed as a pro to one couple, could be seen as a con to others, since it really all comes down to personal preference!
Photography:
You may think that photography in the winter would be unfavourable when compared to a warm and sunny summer day. However, if you can brave the cold, the photos you end up with will be incredible. Whether snow is falling from the sky, or it’s covered the ground you are walking on, snow makes for a beautiful prop and background. Not only is it beautiful, but makes it so romantic too.
Another thing to consider when it comes to photography this time of year is how early the sun sets and gets dark out. This might mean that the sun is setting when you are in a busy part of your wedding day timeline, and makes it unable for you to go out and get those sunset photos. That being said you can always sneak out later in the evening for latenight shots in the dark and snow, if there is any. Those photos would be a totally different look to sunset shots, but equally as stunning in our opinion!
Expenses:
As we mentioned previously, the winter and holiday months are typically known as “off season” which can definitely work in your favour. When it comes to securing a venue, and potentially even some vendors, most offer discounted pricing when it comes to this time of year as they usually aren’t as busy. This means if you have your heart set on a venue, but the peak wedding season months are quite pricy, if you don’t mind changing the season you can have your wedding at that same place but for quite a bit less! Now, keep in mind that each venue is different, so how much of a difference in price will vary. By reaching out to the venue or your wedding planner, they will be able to help you with getting the pricing for each season.
Speaking of expences, this time of year tends to be qiute expensive for everyone, with gift-giving, travelling, dinners, and everything else that comes with the holidays, it can add up quickly. You just need to keep this in mind when it comes to your guests, and that they may not be able to spoil you as much as they would like too.
Decor & florals:
During the winter months most if not all venues decorate for the holiday season. Decorations including Christmas trees, garlands, lights, candles, some may even have their fireplaces dressed up and lit. This can be a huge benefit when it comes to decorations for your wedding day. As long as the specific decor matches the look you are after, you can save big time in not having to provide your own decor, or at the very least you won’t need as much! In terms of florals, keep in mind that not all flower types are available year-round, so if you have your heart set on certain flowers you may not be able to get them if they aren’t in season, or you may be paying a big premium to get them provided that is even an option.
Guests:
This time of year can be tricky! Most people do have time off from work to spend with their families, especially while children are on their winter break from school. However, for most people between dinner parties, family gatherings, community events, work Christmas parties and more, this time of year can be so hectic and leave their calendars packed. Our advice? Make sure you give your family and friends as much notice as possible so they can be sure to attend your special day, and plan the other holiday festivites around it.
Date Availability:
Speaking of giving your guests ample notice to your wedding, you may want to also book the venue well in advanced too. Yes, it may be “off season” in the world of wedings, but this is the time of year that people rent out different venues for their Christmas parties or other holiday festivities. Venues may not be busy with weddings, but availability may fill up fast for the Christmas parties and events, so you will want to make sure you plan ahead to secure a date!
Weather:
As mentioned earlier, the snow can make for a stunning and romantic backdrop to your special day. That being said the weather can be so unpredictable, causing snow storms, ice storms and power outages, which can cause major travel issues for guests. It is impossible to predict the weather so the night before or even the day of, you may end up with guests that aren’t able to attend because they are unable to travel, or they feel unsafe in doing so. It is Canada after all, and our weather can be so unpredictable!
We aren’t trying to push anyone in one direction over the next, as weddings are all about personal choice and style! Just keep these points in mind if you are trying to decide between having a wedding during the summer months or winter. Again, there is no right or wrong way to do things, a wedding is about the two of you and your love, make it exactly how you two want it to be!
Perfect Planners is an award winning wedding planning team located in Oakville, Ontario. We plan and coordinate weddings in Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Niagara, Vaughan and beyond. Please contact us for a custom quote or link the button below to book a free 15 mins discovery call to discuss your wedding.
