Transform Your Postponed Spring/Summer Wedding to Suit Autumn/Winter

A CHANGE OF SEASON DOESN’T NEED TO RESULT IN A CHANGE OF HEART

You had your heart set of a romantic Spring wedding or maybe an outdoor Summer soiree but due to an unexpected global pandemic you are now faced with a slightly random mid-week date in November?! You will undoubtedly be heartbroken and that is totally fine, but I promise you there are plenty of new, exciting possibilities and ideas to embrace to ensure your Autumn or Winter wedding is just as amazing as your Summer celebration would have been.

Click here to read why considering a weekday wedding is a must.

One of the main reasons for choosing a Spring or Summer date is the thought of a beautiful sunny day alongside your nearest and dearest enjoying drinks outside, sunglasses on! With the Great British weather that is never a guarantee and with Autumn and Winter weddings becoming increasingly more popular, many venues across the UK have ensured they can be enjoyed whatever the weather with special spaces inside and out.

VENUE considerations

It is likely your venue may host weddings all year round therefore your first port of call should be them, ask to see images from their previous Autumn and Winter Weddings and discuss the provisions they put in place for wet or cold weather. You may also find that your venue has some unique features, such as a cosy wood-burner or firepit area especially for those colder months. It might also be a good idea to ask about different location options you have when it comes to your photos as it may not be possible to go outside, it is always worth discussing this further with your photographer too.

For those with plans for a marquee or tipi wedding, it may still be possible, your supplier will be able to advise on this and give practical information in regards to heating and bad weather contingencies.

BRIDE STYLE

If you are yet to find your dream dress the good news is, dresses with sleeves are in and there are so many beautiful options, perfectly suited to the slightly cooler months. Many of these dresses have detachable sleeves, so when you start to dance the night away and warm up, you can simply pop them off! If you have already found your dress it may be an option to have sleeves added, your seamstress/boutique will be able to tell you if this is possible.

Maybe sleeves aren’t for you or the dress you had your heart set on is more suited to the warmer summer months, this is not a problem, there are some beautiful cover-up options and anything goes! You may choose to wear this extra layer for the entire day or perhaps just for ceremony. Some of my favourites include a denim or leather jacket, these can be personalised and will work perfectly for your girl squad too.

One thing you don’t want to be getting on your wedding day is cold feet! Boots and wedding dresses are a match made in heaven and there are options to suit every possible style of Bride. Don’t worry about the fancy heels you may have already brought, you’ll be able to utilise them on all of those girly nights out when lockdown is lifted!

GROOM STYLE

Of course this is important too! If you already have the suit sorted consider, again, adding an overcoat or outer jacket to make it more suited for the cooler wedding months or perhaps change the suit jacket itself. An alternative fabric is a great way to add colour and texture to your overall look, maybe some velvet or tweed. A boot is an option for the gents also, with shoes on show this is something you can really experiment with for an alternative or more seasonal feel. Last but certainly not least is the option to factor in a hat, an up and coming look set to be even bigger over the next couple of years and far better suited for that Autumn or Winter wedding.

flowers

There are so many ways to change up your florals to suit the season, without compromising on effect and the overall ‘feel’ you had hoped to achieve. There are different options available in different seasons, you may have to give up on the Peonies as they have a very small seasonal window but fortunately there are some beautiful alternatives like Dahlias, Roses and even Tulips grown to look like your beloved Peonies. Adding deeper and richer tones to your current floral colour choice is a perfect tweak to make or perhaps adding some Autumnal coloured foliage. If you had your heart set on the very popular green and neutral botanical vibe then this will still work perfectly, perhaps with some slightly warmer caramel blooms or rust colours added in to warm it up for Winter.

Flowers by Floren Studio

One of the biggest current trends in the floral world, and one of my all time favourites, is dried flowers - I’m sure you have seen Pampas featuring all over your Pinterest boards recently! It doesn’t matter what time of the year it is when you are working with dried florals and foliage and it’s a perfect way to add texture to your styling and bouquet, alongside fresh flowers. You are spoilt for choice as they come in a wide variety of colours and can even be sprayed hot pink if that is your thing!

Food & drink

Who doesn’t love a hot chocolate, a spiced mulled wine or some heart-warming comfort food? Food and drink choices are just as seasonal as floral choices and something you will need to consider carefully in order to adapt the choices you may have already made. Think about changing up your cold canapes for warm ones and your Summer Pimms at your drinks reception for a mulled cider. Consider more substantial and warming food for your wedding breakfast and if you’ve already chosen citrus and fragrant flavours, such as Ceviche and Calamari speak to your caterer about new options with potentially richer, more indulgent flavours.

Another way of incorporating Autumn and Winter notes into your wedding day include thinking about adapting your wedding cake, perhaps a tier of Ginger flavoured cake or maybe Salted Caramel Banana?

Wedding décor and styling

Give me all of the lights! When styling an Autumn or Winter wedding lights are my best friend and by far the best styling tool you will have. Not only will you need a little more light for practical purposes (to ensure guests can see when dining and also so that speeches can be read) you can also use lighting to elevate your venue and enhance all of it’s beautiful features. Candlelight is a must for your tables for a warm and enchanting atmosphere but make sure you check with your venue exactly what they will allow. Pair this with your revamped florals and add a splash of deeper, richer colours or textures such as velvet and you have nearly completed the transformation!

Image by From The Smiths Photography

Logistics

There are some more practical things that need to be considered with an Autumn or Winter wedding, the first being the need to consider the much shorter days. You may want to enquire about moving your ceremony to a slightly earlier slot to allow you more time to have your photographs taken in the daylight. Enquire with the venue about the finer details such as where guests can hang coats and leave umbrellas and check heating facilities as you do not want your guests getting cold. Also, make sure you come prepared with a warm shawl, gloves and/or wellies for moving between photo opportunity spots.

It is heart breaking to see so many couples have to postpone their weddings due to the Coronavirus crisis however, remember to stay positive and enjoy your extended engagement. When your wedding arrives you will be surrounded by your ‘people’ and it will be forever the day you began the rest of your lives together, regardless of what month that date fell on.

After planning countless weddings in both the Autumn and Winter months, I am available to help couples navigate this challenging part of their planning process and am always available if you would like a chat or to put your mind at ease, contact me below!