A week or so ago I posted on my stories asking what worries couples had since postponing their wedding day. A large majority came back with the two same worries:
- That the change in season would mean their photos wouldn’t look good and that they’d have to re-think décor and flowers
- That their families wouldn’t be able to make the new date
I wanted to put together a blog post to help address these worries and have asked a few trusted suppliers to share some of their own words and advice.
So lets tackle that first point- “our photos won’t look as good” with the wonderful Katrina Bartlam and some of her words…
I love a winter wedding – which may surprise you as my photography is naturally very light filled . However I think this is exactly WHY I love a winter wedding so much. Here are the main reasons why and some of my top tips for getting the most out of a winter wedding
The light is soft all day
You don’t get that tricky very harsh midday light that you can get on a scorching summers day. In that situation I am constantly looking for nice open shade to prevent getting lots of harsh shadows and contrast on people’s faces, in winter this isn’t a problem
Sunset is so much earlier
You’ll have heard photographers talk about ‘the golden hour’ – well in winter that happens at around 3 or 4pm and lasts for longer which means that we can get lots of photos in stunning light in the middle of the wedding instead of it happening in the middle of the night!
Light is more interesting
In winter the light is so interesting and you can play with light and shadows. I’ll be looking for beautiful window light in your venue, long corridors with beautiful pockets of light, bursts of sun through bare branches – these can all create beautifully interesting images
The party kicks off early!
For some reason in this country people tend not to really let their hair down and put on their dancing shoes until it is dark. In winter when this generally happens by 5pm it means the party really gets going nice and early which means lots of time for me to capture the most fun images of the day – throwing some shapes on the dancefloor and necking jaegerbombs
Thanks so much to Katrina Bartlam for sharing her words and images, I’ve always agreed with this. Some of the best images I’ve received have been the weddings from September-March as you get such beautiful soft lighting. Yes it may be a bit colder but once you’ve had a few drinks you won’t notice it at all!
September and October have the most amazing golden sunsets as seen below (1st Image- by Darina Stoda) and November-March you have beautiful soft lighting and if the weather isn’t playing ball you can make use of slightly covered areas for intimate photos (2nd Image by Jessica Raphael)
Image by Darina Stoda taken at a wedding in September 2019
Image by Jessica Raphael taken at a wedding in December 2019
Another worry was that “you’d have to re-think décor” by that meaning flowers, colour schemes and decorations. Whilst I think the majority of colour schemes can carry through to winter you can be a bit bolder and add in a deeper colour. With winter weddings you get to play with texture a bit more and add sumptuous velvets or muslins. It’s also an excuse to have ALL the candles and fairy lights too. By the time you and your guests are sitting down for wedding breakfast it will be darker so to get that romantic atmosphere and wow factor go for lots of warm and soft lighting in the form of candles and fairy lights.
Image by Jessica Raphael taken at a wedding in December 2019
Your main décor shouldn’t have to change between the seasons but I’d add a few extra touches to help guests feel comfortable. Blankets are always a great idea for winter so guests can wrap up. Perhaps change a pimms drinks reception to a boozy hot chocolate station or a mulled wine station.
As for flowers I’ve asked the wonderful Charlotte from Flowers By Charlotte Elizabeth to shed some light on how a change in season may impact your flowers…
Autumn offers a chance to introduce some jewel toned opulence into your wedding day, blush and burgundy is often a firm favourite and adding some darker tones into your flowers can be an easy update ‘Chocolate Cosmos’ (a personal favourite – yes it actually smells like chocolate!) alongside some dark foliage such as ‘Cotinus’ would give a quick change of season to a lighter pink palette.
Luckily, British grown flowers are still abundant during much of this season and Dahlias, Cosmos, Antirrhinums, Japanese Anemones and Zinnias, all offer a plethora of different colour combinations. You are bound to find flowers you love to suit your already established ideas and with the help of your florist you will soon be falling in love with your new season!
Image by Katrina Bartlam
If you prefer a paired back colour scheme and favour muted, neutral tones this can work brilliantly too, by incorporating lots of texture, always in ample supply all around us during Autumn. Crab Apples, seed heads, decorative Grasses and dried elements can add a modern, seasonal edge to your arrangements.
For those couples who have now found themselves adjusting to the idea of a Winter Wedding, let me assure you that nothing could be more romantic and there are still wonderful blooms to be had!
Image by Joanna Briggs
Hellebores and Ranunculus probably deserve special mention here and swags of silvery foliage and foraged catkins are pretty hard to beat! Rosemary and Jasmine can work brilliantly in bouquets alongside ruffled Roses and in Buttonholes alike. Perhaps delicate Snowdrops en masse for table decoration or foliage garlands and endless candles?
Wreaths as ‘thank you’ gifts for loved ones or in threes behind cake tables can give an elegant and tasteful nod towards Christmas.
Texture is again something to consider and a beautiful velvet and silk ribbons in a soft grey or pale blue trailing from a bouquet is a simple way to add some Winter luxe to your special day.
Image by Joanna Briggs
Thanks to Charlotte for sharing her advice and extensive knowledge on flowers! The flowers in the first two images also feature Charlotte’s flowers to give you more examples of some winter florals. I’m a huge fan of hellebores myself, I can’t get enough of them in winter!
So where does that leave us now? On to a worry many had “our family won’t be able to come”. Now it’s not one I originally thought I could offer any advice or help with but after thinking it through I’m assuming it is a worry that stems from changing from a weekend wedding to a weekday wedding. I know myself and other suppliers have had this with many couples and it is a big change.
The only re-assurance I can give is that in 6 years of styling weddings I have decorated them over every single day of the week. Gone are the days of weekend only weddings. All of your friends and family will have known that you are in an unprecedented situation and that postponement has meant a weekday has had to be chosen. I am sure they will do everything they can to be there for you. And at the end of the day what does this all come down to?
It is a promise between two people to look after and support one another through life’s ups and downs. No matter what.
So in light of that as long as the two of you are there with those closest to you, making your promises to one another, who really cares about the rest? I once styled a Jewish wedding and sat in during the ceremony to find myself in floods of tears. The Rabbi explained what the breaking of the glass meant: “It is to portray true life, for life itself is not perfect and neither should your wedding day be”. The wedding industry as well as our couple’s are under a constant pressure to make everything perfect and whilst we all strive to achieve that I though it was a beautiful idea to embrace and acknowledge that life is imperfect.
Now more than ever I think this rings true, suddenly we are all becoming more aware of the importance of the little things as we’ve been stripped of all of the superfluous. We value our family and friends even more so as we’re unable to see them at present. I truly think all of these worries will go out of the window as soon as you’re able to dance and share memories with the ones you love again.
I really do hope this all helps in some way and if any of my couples want help with changes for their day just give me a call, you know where I am!
Happy Easter all,
Lauradana xx
Thank yous to:
Katrina Bartlam
Flowers by Charlotte Elizabeth
Images by: Katrina Bartlam, Darina Stoda, Joanna Briggs and Jessica Raphael
