As Michigan wedding photographers, we love winter weddings! There’s something so romantic about winter weddings. The chill in the air makes you want to snuggle up close to the ones you love. To us, winter evokes images of sparkling stars, gently falling snow, and cozying up to the fire on a cold night. When it comes to winter weddings, we love how romantic they can be!
You have so many opportunities to style a wedding in the winter in elegant and sophisticated ways. With that in mind, we wanted to take a moment to educate our Michigan brides on how to make their winter wedding classic, without being Christmas-y or cliché. So cozy on up with your sweetie, pour a hot cup of cocoa and enjoy our Winter Wedding Planning Tips!
Winter Wedding Planning Tips:
When planning a winter wedding, it’s easy to fall into having everything look like Christmas time. When you look back at your wedding album for years and years, we don’t want you to feel like you’re looking at pictures from a Hallmark movie! There are so many ways to make sure your wedding elegant, sophisticated and timeless without looking like a Christmas card!
Keep it Classic with Black Suits and Ties
Black suits and ties are simply timeless. Men look so handsome and dashing in a well-tailored black suit. Plus, up against a blanket of white snow, the black and white looks so crisp and clean. Winter weddings evoke a feeling of elegance, so a classically tailored suit is the way to go.
Stay Warm with a Winter Shawl or Wrap
Michigan winters can be harsh! We recommend our winter brides stay warm and cozy with a warm winter shawl or a wrap. Plus, is there anything more elegant than a long sweeping cape? As the bride, you might consider subbing out the traditional veil for a dramatic hooded cape. Matching pashmina wraps can be a lovely gift for bridesmaids—especially when we are braving the cold for wintry wedding portraits in the snow! Even if you shed your warm wrap for formal bride and groom portraits, your maid of honor can be holding onto it for you to warm up! (As a husband and wife wedding photography team, we know that love can keep you warm for only so long!)
Get Inspired with Winter Colors
Bright, ice blue isn’t quite in style anymore. When getting inspiration for decorating your winter wedding, lean into the colors of the season. Look up at the winter sky at sunrise or sunset and you’ll have all the color inspiration you need! Instead of the overused seasonal colors, why not try a sophisticated seasonal palette of silver, winter white, and lavender? Neutral blues and greys are both chic and timeless. Or, for a more dramatic look, gold and black are another timeless combination.
Use Seasonal Wintry Florals
Incorporating evergreens is classy, but don’t overdo it or it will can come off as too Christmas-y. But, using subtle seasonal details like pinecones, sage, lavender, and partridges can add soft and romantic touches that evoke a wintry feel without being too literal.
Think “New Year’s Day” Theme
For a classic and sophisticated winter wedding theme, you might want to consider a “New Year’s Day” theme. Even if you don’t have a wedding on New Year’s Eve, the same classic sophistication can be lent to your wedding theme. What’s not to love with ivory, champagne, top hats, and sparkles? You can make it as formal as you want, and it will be fun for you and your guests to celebrate!
Add Plenty Of Sparkle
Speaking of sparkle, it wouldn’t really be a wintertime wedding if there wasn’t plenty of shimmer. Don’t be afraid to layer in extra shine in your jewelry, shoes, accessories, table décor and centerpieces. It will look beautiful when combined with the sparkling snow and the bright, shining stars above.
Winter Bridesmaid Dress Inspiration
When it comes to bridesmaid dresses, again you can lean into the season for color inspiration. Classic black is beautiful, but neutral winter colors like muted lavender or pastel blue-grey can also be stunning. Just think of what would look beautiful against a soft grey winter’s sky and go from there!
Have an Inviting Winter Wedding Reception
Probably the most important part of a successful winter wedding is the wedding reception itself. Michigan winters can be so unforgiving, so having a warm, inviting reception area is so nice for your guests. You want them to hang up their coats, sit down, and enjoy the celebration, so think of cozy elements that will make the reception space more inviting. There are so many amazing West Michigan wedding venues to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect backdrop for your winter wedding celebration.
Michigan Winter Wedding Photographers
When planning a wedding, you and your fiancé have plenty of things to think about… But your wedding photography shouldn’t be one of them! Your engagement photos and wedding photos will become some of your most prized possessions. We love love and everything about it, and it would be an honor to photograph your Michigan wedding!
If you are interested in booking wedding photographers in Grand Rapids Michigan for both your engagement photos and wedding day photos, make sure to reach out! We’d love to hear your love story!
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