The 7 Advantages of Having a Winter Wedding

A Wedding in the Winter is a Beautiful Thing!

Winter wedding photo of bride and groom in downtown St. Charles, Illinois

Let me introduce myself.  I am Kelly, the wordsmith, for Dish & Decor Vintage Rental. As I am working on this blog about winter weddings, it dawned on me that I should share with you our winter wedding experience. My daughter Kate and son-in-law were married December 19th a few years ago. We experienced all 7 of the advantages that I outline in this blog.  Their winter wedding was a beautiful thing and absolutely gorgeous at Hotel Baker in St. Charles, Illinois. The venue offered a winter special package, and the wedding was the weekend before Christmas. As you can see in the photos below, the venue was decorated in silver and gold, so the wedding colors of navy and silver complimented the venue. The cocktail area was filled with flocked trees and looked like a winter woodland. We saved $$$ on room decor! Because of the savings, Katie and Andrew decided to hire a harpist for cocktail hours to play Christmas music. Guest just loved this unique touch. As part of the winter package, the venue offered the late-night snack option, so we had a hot dog cart at the end of the evening and also an extra food choice for the cocktail hour. We sent Save the Date cards out early, so family and friends could plan accordingly with the holidays approaching. The wedding was a great big festive reunion of college, high school, work friends and family. I will say...it was cold! We planned for that by giving the bridesmaids pashminas with antique brooches for the outdoor photos. Kate wore a faux fur bolero as well. And the gals are all runners, so their running shoes allowed them to sprint to the various outdoor photo locations. As you can see in the photo above, the winter outdoor photos are really something!
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Knowing what I know NOW about renting glassware and dinnerware, I would have added the various colors of blue stemware to our tables to add that sparkle. I could also see the blue and white salad plates on the venue's white plates too. Hindsight is 20/20, so learn from me and contact Janet ⬆️to create your winter reception tables. Remember by going for a winter wedding, you save $$$ which would allow you to elevate your reception tables with these rentals. Adding just a pop of color in the glassware and a patterned or colored salad plate to the venue's standard white makes such a difference.

Look at our reception tables to see what I mean about adding colored glassware.
​The mix of mismatched navy, ice blue and light blue stemware would add sparkle to the tables.
The blue and white mismatched salad plates would add additional dimension. 
⬆️Check out the colorful glassware and dinnerware inventory above.​

​7 Advantages to Having Your Wedding in the Winter

1. Venues typically offer discounts or special deals for weddings in the off-season. They may throw in extras that normally are not offered in the summer months to entice you. Ask! How great would it be to get that PERFECT venue on the EXACT date you want at a DISCOUNTED price?  No competing with all of those spring and summer couples for venues and dates.
2. Seriously...snowy photographs are gorgeous. No melting in the summer heat and humidity! A faux fur bolero or bridesmaids in pashminas for photos can be beautiful in the snow. If no snow, your photographer has creative ideas for how to capture the best winter photos. Take a look at their winter wedding photos. 
3. Most venues are already decorated through the holidays, so you can save on decor or enhance what is already there. This would allow you to add something you might not have been able to afford to your celebration.  Maybe a horse and carriage ride. Or a late-night snack event. Or elevate your table settings by renting dinnerware and glassware beyond the standard place setting that the venue offers. Gives your a budget a little room for other things because room decorations can be expensive. Ask the venue how they decorate for the holidays! Ask for photos so you can plan around what will be there. 
4. Especially around the holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, you can send those Save the Date cards early enough that family and friends can plan accordingly for your day.  It can really become a reunion of sorts.  People are getting together anyway, so why not have it be for your wedding.
5. Hotels and airfare offer off-season rates at this time of year. None of that summertime travel price hikes. 
6. A winter wedding is a perfect time to go formal.  Summer weather is not exactly comfortable for formal attire. Imagine it.  Black tie on a snowy day. 
7. And lastly, a winter wedding is different! Unexpected!

Get Inspired!

A Winter Wonderland

Use all the blues...icy blue, cobalt blue, navy blue, dusty blue...with our White Lace, Scalloped Water Lily or Glorious Gold dinnerware. ❄️

Glorious Gold dinnerware, brushed gold flatware, Bella goblet and light blue goblets. Photo shoot by Limani Designs.

​NYE Wedding Celebration

Use all the golds...Glorious Gold, brushed gold, and brass. Plus, crystal and all the bling! CHEERS! 🥂🍾 One of our couples chose to add a decanter and two rock glasses to their sweetheart table. 

Golds and Sparkle for a Glam wedding

​A Wedding Holiday

Traditional reds and greens with gold and brass. Add plaid linens and go all in for a festive holiday wedding. 🎄

Traditional holiday feel. Limani Design.

​I'm Dreaming of...

Bring on the snow...White Lace dinnerware, silvers and crystal with lace linens. OR ground the all-white wedding with colorful linens and florals.

Winter white wedding

​Here's to your happy winter wedding planning! 🍾

We are ready to assist you in finding the perfect table settings, decor, serve ware and sweet table rentals.  
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​⬆️ Set up your free consultation now.

Kelly and Kate. Photographer Janet Johnston. Florals Avant Gardenia.

Dish and Decor Vintage Rental is located in Crystal Lake. We deliver to Greater Chicago, Rockford, Naperville, Winnetka, Highland Park, Plainfield, Lake Geneva, Kenosha and surrounding areas.
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Friendors

Kate's Wedding
Venue/Hotel Baker, St. Charles
Florals/ Avant Gardenia
Photographer/Janet Johnston

Photo Shoot
Florals/Limani Designs 
Planner/Limani Designs
Photographer/Ashlee Cole
Place settings/Dish & Decor Vintage Rental
Table linens/BBJ Linen