Cold Weather Wedding Tips

Having a winter wedding? Even later fall or early spring wedding days can be rather chilly! Those cold days don’t have to mean all indoor photos. You just have to be prepared.

Outdoor photos in the winter can be so beautiful with softer light, possibilities for snow or ice, and they represent the special season in which your wedding takes places.

I work with my couples to make sure that our schedule provides for time outside before the sun sets early and without extended time outside.  We arrange for short spurts near their venues or vehicles where they can quickly warm up again.  We also make sure that we take plenty of lovely, indoor photos as well.

Ensure that members of the wedding party have proper footwear. Closed toed shoes and hose or tights are big helpers in keeping those feet and legs warm.

Don’t shy away from staying warm.  Use winter accessories to add interest to your photographs and bring in your wedding’s colors and personal style.  Men and women can sport scarves or gloves.  The ladies can wear shawls, cardigans or jackets with their dresses to keep them warm. 

Consider providing warming packs, like hot hands, to your wedding party to help them brave the chilly weather and coffee or hot chocolate instead of cold drinks when they are done.

Sometimes, we even schedule only photos of the bride and groom outdoors, keeping the photos of the entire wedding party indoors.

Either way, it’s a great time to focus on what’s beautiful in the winter, rather than what’s lacking.  Evergreens, openness of landscapes, your wedding venue, and architecture are all great settings for wintertime wedding photography.

Other favorite winter wedding ideas I’ve seen over the years are:

Including warm treats like s’mores and pies at the reception

Fire pits

Hot cocoa bars

Winter decor like pine trees, pine cones, and candles

Lap blankets for guests during the ceremony

See also my post Wedding Day emergency kits.