For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of getting married on New Year’s Eve. But living in the Midwest, this is always bound to be one of the coldest nights of the year.
So when I got engaged almost a year ago, I knew I’d have to do a lot of work to convince my fiance to have our wedding on the date I’ve always wanted. And let me tell you – even though it was -13 degrees that day, it was absolutely perfect. The pictures are beautiful, nothing went wrong, and all of our best friends and family were there to ring in the new year with us in a cozy, warm banquet hall.
Lucky for me, this was an easy sell. We first met on NYE so the date has a special meaning for us (maybe I’ll write my next post on how to find your soulmate in a crowded bar full of drunk people). But if you’re not so lucky – here are some reasons to use when trying to convince your partner to deal with the cold and snow and set a winter wedding date.
- Total romance.
We’re pretty cute, I know. Candles, fireplace, warm blankets, you can incorporate as many romantic, classy details as you want and it’s completely fitting.
- You don’t have to fight friends or family for the date. Since most weddings are in the Spring (although I have to say, a lot of my friends are now choosing Fall over any other season), you won’t have to worry about stealing someone else’s date, or making your guests choose between weddings to attend. The only potential issue would be conflicts with company holiday parties. But we all know everyone hates going to those things, so a wedding is a perfect excuse to miss it!
- Save money on decorations. Most event venues and churches are already decorated for Christmas, so you’ll save a lot of money (or time if you’re the DIY type) by using the decor that’s already provided. I had to do nothing to church in which we were married. It was already decked out in greenery, lights and candles. Tadaa!
- Better chance of getting your dream venue. Every single wedding-planning timeline I looked at on Pinterest or in magazines led me to believe I needed to book my venue at least a year out. Hello stress! I’m going to let you in on a little secret…if you’re planning for a date in the winter, most all venues will still be open even three months out. And even better yet – a lot of venues offer off-season pricing at a discount.
- Flowers. They’re cheap and easy. You don’t have as many choices as in Spring or Summer when the majority of flowers are in bloom. I walked into Whole Foods the day before my wedding and found the perfect bouquets for a total of $60. Boom.
- Winterscape pictures. I was adamant against taking photos outside because I am the biggest baby when it comes to cold weather. But I’m so glad my photographer forced me into it. (Full disclaimer – I chugged half a glass of champagne immediately beforehand, so that helped.) Freshly fallen (or falling) snow is the perfect magical setting to capture how happy you and your partner look on that day. Summer backdrops can’t quite do the same.
- No strenuous arm workouts. In winter you can get away with wearing a long-sleeve dress to hid your un-toned arms 🙂
- It is perfect timing for a honeymoon.
The view from breakfast on day 2 of our Hawaii honeymoon. I’ve had so many friends recommend booking your honeymoon soon after the wedding, or it will never happen. So if you get married in winter, what better than a warm-weather getaway to celebrate your new big commitment to each other! We waited a few weeks after the wedding so we could get our lives back in order, and then jetted off to Hawaii leaving negative temperatures and a foot of snow behind for 10 days and it was HEAVEN.
- Hot Cocoa Bar. Needs no explanation. Yum.
- Time to party! Whether you choose a fun holiday like I did, or a random weekend in winter – your friends and family will be looking for something fun to do after being cooped up inside for far too long. This is such a great opportunity to give them a reason to dress up, eat good food, drink a little to much and dance the night away.
-R
awkward vodka 