Tradition dictates that your wedding will probably take place between June and October. More frequently than ever, though, couples are bucking tradition and shaping their weddings to better capture both their passions and their budgets. One way to save money and shake things up is to get married in the wedding off-season, between November and March. In this post, I’ll lay out three reasons to consider a winter wedding.
Vendor Rates & Dates
There are 2.4 million weddings every year in America, but only five-percent of them take place in the winter. The dearth of weddings in the winter opens up a whole new world of planning opportunities. For starters, venues and vendors are fighting for whatever business they can scrounge up. This means more availability, more attention to your big day, and even discounted rates—especially in January and February. If you have your heart set on a photographer or venue that’s just out of your price range, check in to see what their rates look like in the off season.
Wedding in a Winter Wonderland
A good wedding venue takes its decorations seriously, and the winter months are no exception. While planning a wedding in December can be tricky due to holiday plans, it can be worth it for the beautiful decorations alone. Wedding venues will be decked out in lights, garlands, and ribbons—the perfect backdrop for a storybook ceremony and festive reception.
During the summer wedding season, sweltering heat and humidity can be taxing on your young and elderly guests—not to mention all the groomsmen and guests in their heavy vests and suit coats. A winter wedding avoids these extremes and, if you’re lucky, affords your wedding a beautiful, peaceful winter landscape. Snowy wedding photos? Sign us up.
Finally, wedding fatigue is a real thing. The season is in full swing by June and reaches its peak in September and October. That’s five months of wedding invitations, gift buying, traveling, and parties. Even the most romantic guests can get worn out. Guests in their 20s and 30s are especially susceptible as all of their friends and peers might get married in just a few consecutive summers. A winter wedding gives your guests a chance to take a break from the hectic wedding season and recharge for your big day.
The Winter Honeymoon
A budget-minded winter wedding goes hand in hand with a winter honeymoon. In many cases, plane tickets, hotels, and travel packages are cheaper in the winter. Of all the trips you’ll take in your life, your honeymoon is arguably the most important and memorable. No one wants to pinch pennies on their honeymoon. Setting up cheaper accommodations and travel means more money to spend on food, drinks, and experiences that you and your partner will cherish for the rest of your lives. If you can swing it at work, a cheaper honeymoon can afford you a few extra days in your destination. Why take a one-week honeymoon when you could stretch your budget to two weeks, or even three?
Taking a winter honeymoon opens the possibility of winter-oriented travel. Couples who love skiing, winter hiking, or quaint, snow-dusted mountain villages will relish the destinations and activities a winter honeymoon affords. And if you’re a classical tropical beach honeymooner? Nothing makes that white sand and blue sky sweeter than knowing it’s 30 degrees and sleeting at home. If you're interested in exploring the unique opportunities of a winter wedding, drop me a line at mebmac@gmail.com.
