4 Fun Winter Wedding Events

The winter and snow may be here and even though the traditional “wedding season” is still months away there are plenty of fun winter wedding events to take place. Winter is the perfect time to have a beautiful engagement party, a wedding shower, bachelorette party which can all lead up to your day and don’t forget about a beautiful rustic winter wedding.

Have an engagement party that reflects the season! Use cut logs to create height on the buffet and for centerpieces, and surround the room in white fairy lights and cream-colored votive candles. Use a mix of more upscale materials like crystal and glass, and rustic materials like bark, pinecones, and burlap. Luxurious foods, like oysters on the half shell, roasted duck, white chocolate drizzled strawberries, and champagne will have your guests feeling warm, welcome, and important. Remember, events don’t have to be complicated to be a success: this simple palate and an offering of quality foods will have guests talking about your event long after the snow has melted.

  See More From This Winter Wedding Inspiration / credit: Jaclyn Simpson PhotographySee More From This Real Winter Wedding / credit: Double Take Photography  

Winter always seems to bring to mind time spent with family and friends. Instead of playing overdone wedding shower games and leaving the boys out, why not have a full-fledged family party, potluck style? Invite guests to bring their favoritedish to pass, as well as the recipe. At the party, have a recipe book out instead of a guest book, and ask friends and family to jot down their recipe for you—this recipe book will be a great resource to you for new family meals, and a wonderful keepsake to have and pass down through the generations. After the meal, bust out the sleds, sleighs, or snowshoes for a fun evening outdoors, and then bring the party home with some mulled cider and tea by a crackling fire (a perfect forum for mom to show all those naked baby photos of her little bride to be). Source: Kelsey Taylor Events

Rethink the cliché limo ride, strippers, and cosmos routine—there is a whole world of possibilities out there when it comes to pre-wedding fun for the ladies. Find a bed and breakfast or ski lodge in a cool town, and book a weekend to spend with your best gals.  Instead of drinking martinis, try a hot cocoa bar complete with peppermint schnapps, Irish cream, and cinnamon whiskey. You could walk or hire a car to drive you to a pub downtown where you can hear some great music and enjoy each other’s company in a far more intimate, laid back setting than a club or bar. Start the morning with a room-service breakfast in bed, and then treat yourselves to some DIY spa treatments and time in the hot tub. Don’t skip the mimosas (for a wintertime treat, add cranberry juice)!  When you feel fully pampered, head out to the slopes, go shopping, or tour local breweries.

Save some money and have a cool-weather event that isn’t like every other wedding you’ll see in pictures this year. Serve comfort foods like roasted lamb and Italian wedding soup instead of the same old wedding fare of green salad with chicken or salmon. At the bar, kick the cozy factor up a notch by offering spiked cocoa or eggnog alongside wine and beer. Winter really livens up the décor, too: twinkle lights, glass, crystal, a roaring fireplace, candle light, and a fresh blanket of snow compliment that beautiful white dress, and give a magical, wonderland feel to the whole event. Winter weddings also work out well because out of town friends and family will already be travelling to get together during the holidays: why not give them a reason to really celebrate! Or, to save some money, book a venue after the holidays when event seasons—and booking prices—are at a lull. Consider reserving a ski lodge or bed and breakfast; then the wedding, reception, and guest lodging can all be in one snug, scenic location.

 See More From This Real Winter Wedding / credit: Double Take Photography