How to celebrate the winter wedding of your dreams

Having a winter wedding in Scandinavia is bold as it is romantic – is there anything more magical than kissing your beloved surrounded by candlelight and real snow? Plus, think of the photo opps. From venues to dresses to food, here's how to plan your winter nuptials with tips from the experts

Having a wedding in winter doesn’t mean you’re restricted to an indoor-only affair, just remember you’ll need to advise guests on the invite to dress accordingly.

“As long as it is not windy, an outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour will be a wonderful experience for the guests,” says Linnéa Knight, wedding planner, designer, florist, and founder of Stockholm-based The Wild Rose. “Have fire pits around the ceremony area; it will feel warm and look beautiful.”

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Like all weddings, regardless of the season, Knight recommends also having a plan b (and c and d if you prefer). “If you are planning an outdoor ceremony, make sure that the venue has a big enough space to be used for your ceremony and cocktail hour if the weather turns.” Readily available blankets on chairs or a blanket box is also a nice (and appreciated) touch.

Ultimately, a wedding should represent the couple, and a good starting point is deciding on a theme and colour palette. Other elements can follow from here.

“I think that the best combination for creating a theme for any wedding is to mix together the venue look with the couple’s style, and then add my unique design formula to this,” says Knight. “This way I will always get a one-of-a-kind concept that totally represents my client.”

For a winter wedding, Knight recommends a neutral colour palette inspired by the winter landscape. “Think crisp white, shades of grey, beige, and dark brown. If you want to add some colour, a dash of light blue or dark green is a good idea. It gets dark early during winter in Scandinavia, so candles and other lights are a big must to create a pretty scenery.”

When planning a Scandinavian wedding menu there are two musts: locally sourced and in-season.

“I love this because it gives you an opportunity to allow the food and beverages to be a part of the wedding concept, which elevates the whole event,” says Knight. A winter wedding menu can be a little more rustic and richer in flavour than a wedding held in the warmer months. “Soup for a starter is lovely in the winter, with freshly baked bread. Maybe serve deer or venison with a gorgeous sauce and seasonal vegetables,” she says.

For an outdoor cocktail hour, serve hot drinks with warm finger food – and have fun with it. “Maybe grill smores on an open fire and serve with hot chocolate.” A hot toddy or hot cider will also warm guests up in no time.

“I adore winter weddings; the Scandinavian winter climate adds extra romance and ambience,” says Parsons School of Design graduate and founder of By Malina Bridal, Malin Ek Andrén. “We do see a big trend in Winter Wonderland themed weddings and a lot of brides want to try something different, other than the classic, summer wedding. There is so much you can incorporate that is Scandinavian in a winter wedding.”

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When deciding on a gown, the key element says Ek Andrén, is to feel your best self, not freeze and be comfortable. “Long and big dramatic sleeves, full lengths of dresses, and thick fabrics bring some extra warmth into the outfit. Half-polo or a suit can also really elevate your warmer winter wedding look,” she says. “Don’t be afraid of layering; we have made two different ivory bridal short jackets perfect to use for colder weddings.”

In adding bridal to her designs, Ek Andrén has also experimented with non-traditional wedding looks, in addition to bridal gowns. Wedding suits and blouse/maxi skirt combinations are becoming popular, in line with the rise of low-key and civil ceremonies.

“My personal favourite is our Mika satin suit – a sleek ivory satin suit with a removable belt to add whatever silhouette you prefer. This is a great option for a winter wedding, paired with one of our long veils,” she says. “I would also recommend using bridal gloves, which have become a big trend. Our pearl-beaded elbow gloves are great to use for any short sleeve dress.”

A cape also works as a great cover-up, as do wide-sleeved blouses which can easily be worn on other occasions. Also play around with the veil, says Ek Andrén, who has created a cape-veil that covers shoulders and adds special something to a wedding look.

Like the menu, pick flower arrangements using in-season flowers and plants: tulips, hyacinths, hippeastrum, anemones, and ranunculus are just some examples, says Knight. “Mix with winter greenery like Norway spruce and other types of fir and eucalyptus. A trend I have seen is to decorate interiors with trees, it is simple but very effective,” she says.

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