Winter weddings are so wonderful. There’s something magical about a lovely day spent with friends and family enjoying everything that’s special about this time of year, from glittering frosts to animal guests! And, of course, enjoying wonderful entertainment that lights up even the darkest of winter nights.

So, what are the trends this winter to make your winter wedding ultra-special?

Pets on the guest list

Don’t leave half the family behind on your special day! Make sure your cherished canine companions are part of the ceremony, whether walking you up the aisle or carrying the rings in a box on their collar. (Just make sure their recall is good!) Or opt for something a little wilder; we’ve heard of ponies and alpacas and reindeer escorting brides, and owls delivering rings a la Harry Potter. Check beforehand that your venue is happy with reindeer hooves on their floors, and that the animals are provided by an ethical company who care for them and ensure they are not stressed. 

Entertainment ideas: The soothing sounds of a string quartet, a capella carol singers,  or the gentle music of a harp will help ensure your furry or feathered guest/s are calm during your ceremony. (If you’re planning something noisy like trumpets, a big gospel choir or dhol drummers, employ a dog walker to take your dogs out before it all gets too noisy or they howl along to “O happy day”)

Drinks and food carts

Not so new a trend, but one that adapts beautifully for winter weddings. Greet guests at the church door with a warming glass of mulled wine, cider or fruit juices served from a cart. Equally, provide an outside cart of two serving drinks and roasted chestnuts for when guests want a break from dancing, or a starlit chat.

Hot chocolate carts are always popular, but if you don’t have room, create a hoc choc bar (or large tray) with various chocolate drops. Provide take-home commemorative china mugs or bamboo insulated reusable mugs to melt the chocolate in, with hot milk from an urn or jug. For the non-drivers, add a splash of rum, brandy or Bailey’s for an indulgent treat.

Entertainment ideas: Get everyone on the Christmas spirit(s) with a Bavarian oompah band (they know a thing or two about beverages!) or a trio of singing lady Santas a la Andrews Sisters. Not to mention a 1970s tribute band playing hits by Hot Chocolate, natch. 

Frozen flower arrangements

Yes, exactly what it sounds like – the beauty and colours of fresh flowers captured in a frozen block of crystal clear ice. Stunning, eco-friendly and recyclable too. You can even chill your champers in frozen flower ice buckets (just have a drip tray handy for when the heating clicks in!)

Entertainment ideas: An operatic duet singing Delibes’ famous Flower Duet (the British Airways advert theme) or other famous floral arias. or go contemporary with a music theatre singers singing  those hits from Disney’s “Frozen” films; “Let It Go” and the new song “Into the Unknown”.

Keep guests warm and cosy

You’re getting a theme by now we guess! Let’s face it, winter weddings can be a bit chilly if you’re walking from church to venue, or waiting for your vintage bus from registry office to venue. So, provide your guests with throws and blankets to keep them warm, especially the senior generations. Encourage guests to take them home and donate them to their local shelter or homeless charity, to help keep somebody else warm long after your wedding has ended.

Entertainment ideas: Get your guests warmed up with a marching band to guide them from church to venue (or bus), or strolling acts such as stilt walkers, fire eaters or a mobile Mexican mariachi band (why not!).  

Good with wood

Bring the outside in with your decor, and you’ll inevitably include wood, bark and branches. So why not continue the theme with wooden decorations, accessories and features with a modern twist, such as laser-cut table numbers, and personalised favours that people can keep and use. Create unique sign-posts pointing guests to the various elements of your wedding, or a unique log pile table plan, with tables named after trees and  names written on cut piled logs. Best of all, these can be recycled afterwards in outside fire pits to keep everyone cosy – how eco-friendly is that!

Entertainment ideas: Keep the wood theme with a woodwind quartet, a string group or an act featuring a vintage wooden piano. 

Selfie frames

Upgrade the cardboard selfie frames we’ve all seen at exhibitions to a delightful, natural flower circle, with seasonal foliage and may be some twinkling lights. Everyone will want a photo when framed with such simple beauty!

Entertainment ideas: If guests want to pose for a photos, they need to sing a song too, accompanied by our human jukebox or a one man band!

Dances in a barn

Rustic is a theme that really suits winter weddings. That doesn’t mean you have to do everything in a barn! There are lots of venues which combine modern spaces with more traditional ones rich in natural wood and authentic atmosphere. Choose carefully, and your dining space can quickly be cleared into a dancing space for everyone to enjoy all night long. (It’ll probably save you money too!)

Entertainment choices: Whatever you want, from classic ceilidh bands to contemporary cover bands Call us and we’ll suggest acts local to your venue, to reduce the carbon footprint and emissions created by your wedding. 

Bespoke winter wedding music 

If you’ve an innovative idea for your winter wedding music, or not a clue about what you’d like, call us. We have created bespoke entertainment packages for almost every type of event from music festivals to mega sporting events. Call us and we’ll make that winter music magic happen for you too!