Winter is quite a romantic season, making it perfect for saying “I do.” There’s no better time for couples to cozy up by a fire, go ice skating, or enjoy a lovely evening stroll. Here in California, we all love a little winter coziness and are complete suckers for dreamy winter weddings!

Whether you’re still deciding on your wedding season or you’re eagerly anticipating a wintry celebration of your own, here are some of our favorite things about winter weddings!

You can get creative with your menu.

Whether you’re going for a grand affair with hundreds of guests or prefer to keep the celebration small and intimate, food and drinks should never be overlooked when planning your wedding!

What’s great about winter weddings is that you don’t have to limit attendees to the usual chicken or beef options. The cold weather means anything goes—as long as it’s hot! You can get more creative with the menu by serving crowd-pleasing comfort foods and seasonal cocktails and beverages. Hearty soups, stews, classic mac and cheese, spiked apple cider, hot cocoas, and mulled wine are all worth considering.

You get your pick of some beautiful color palettes.

Who said winter weddings had to be boring or monochromatic? Couples often add touches of deep jewel tones such as red, burgundy, navy blue, and emerald green in their decorations. They add an element of elegance, and are quite a sight when paired with metallic accents! And with or without snow, the rich colors make a striking contrast against the overall grayness of the weather.

A winter wedding also never fails to create a romantic and cozy vibe. If you want to set a homey, inviting mood on your big day, you can add touches of rich browns and tans to evoke campfires and snug log cabins.   

You will have more vendor availability with less budget.

Your wedding is one of the most important days in your life, and we know you want to create the most magical, memorable celebration possible. The vendors you pick can make or break your event, so it’s vital to put a lot of careful thought into choosing them! In the winter, vendors have more availability, so you’ll have a better chance at creating your dream team.

And of course, you also need to consider your budget because you don’t want to dip into your long-term savings or go into debt planning your wedding. Luckily, you have a good shot at booking highly-rated, sought-after vendors, and snagging their services at a lower rate! Why? Because winter is “off-season” in the wedding industry, so you’ll often see a drop in prices. It’s almost too good to be true!  

Your guests will be eager to join.

Many couples choose to say their “I do’s” during the summer. By hosting yours in the winter, you don’t have to worry about competing with other weddings or summer vacations! Plus, most of your guests will likely have additional time off for the holidays, so it won’t take much convincing to extend their breaks to accommodate your wedding. It’ll be much easier to get all of your favorite people in the world together for the celebration of the season!

As they say, winter is the most wonderful time of the year! If a wintry wonderland wedding is in your sights, you’re making a great choice. Enjoy your wedding preparations!