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Top 10 Trends for a 2009 Winter Wedding

1. Themes

Winter and the festive period lends itself perfectly as a romantic, family orientated and cosy wedding theme. Consider a less-is-more approach to your colour palette, silver and white with crystal accents can add some serious glamour to your winter wedding. Seasonal invitations could be white with silver snowflakes or a wedding invitation that has an embossed look of snow. The venue could be decorated with snowflakes and icicles and mini wedding bells incorporated into your bridal bouquet. The flower girl could throw a dusting of imitation snow on the ground and snow cones of confetti ‘snow’ handed to your guests. The bridesmaids would look beautiful in silver, champagne or ice blue with little touches of snowy looking white fur. Your wedding gown could be dressed up with a winter white furry coat. Snowflake wedding accessories are a great winter wonderland touch for your reception along with a snowflake winter wonderland wedding cake. It’s even possible to hire a snow machine, ice rink and create a forest of trees if you really want to!

2. Black and White

The elegant black and white winter wedding is very classy and is a popular trend for 2009. Why not ask all of your guests to wear black and white whilst the bride stands out in a bold burgundy or sumptuous fabric. The theme could be continued by use of black and white photography, using projections of old cine film or possibly a casino and black tie dress for all.

3. Calligraphy

Using stylised lettering or creating a monogram of your initials is a real growing trend in the industry. The monogram, acting like a logo, used to brand napkins, invitations, candles and tableware. Using calligraphy on the wedding cake is becoming increasingly popular and a step away from the plain white icing, floral and chocolate indulgences.

4. The Dress

Ball gowns and long gloves are back in style in 2009 and a winter wedding is the most appropriate time of the year to step into this look. The classic winter wedding ideas are usually focused around a winter wonderland theme, so a ball gown fits right into the opulence and glitter that is a winter wedding.

5. Pared Down Wedding Cakes

Wedding cakes have gone through a series of trends in the last few years, in many cases being disassembled entirely. The layered wedding cake is back and the current winter wedding trend is thankfully a little more budget friendly. Compact, but ornate wedding cakes made up of just a couple tiers are one of the biggest trends right now and are a great way to save money. These smaller cakes can be just as impressive and personal just like the cupcake trend or larger cakes that have been used for years. Play up the season with a white, vintage-style cake, dusted with edible silver powder. For accents, have your baker add a white sugar ribbon and crystal drops cascading down one side of the cake.

6. Beverage Additions

A welcome touch on winter bridal menus has seen the addition of hot chocolate with marshmallows, winter Pimms, hot cider and other warm winter favourites gaining in popularity. You could serve up white hot chocolate in small espresso cups and eggnog in small punch glasses for your guests as they arrive.

7. The Flowers
Red roses, calla lilies, and amaryllis are decidedly winter wedding flowers, but if you step outside the flower box you’ll find a variety of options for winter blooms. Consider fuller flowers, such as white hydrangeas and soft ranunculus. White boutonnieres can be handsome when they’re accented with greenery, but they also look great with a simple white ribbon. Add sparkle to your bouquet by wrapping the stems in ribbon embellished with crystals.

8. The Décor
Go beyond glowing candles to add both warmth and romance to your reception venue. If you want to heighten the drama, bring in the icy outdoors with ice-carved vases on your reception tables. Have your florist fill the vases with tall winter-white branches and hanging crystals to reflect the light from the tables. Surround the centre pieces with votive candles, and top your tables with white table linens and frosted glass china.

9. Favours

Food wedding favours are always a hit, but if cookies or truffles seem passé, try new treat ideas to send your guests home satisfied. Give out small packages of chocolate-covered cranberries or roasted chestnuts. An over-the-top idea that will undoubtedly impress: have your caterer set up a hot chocolate and marshmallow station to top off the evening or go for a candy station.

10. Honeymoons

While many couples flee the blustery weather for warmer and sandier locales for their honeymoon, a winter wedding can segue perfectly into a snowy escape. Embrace the season and rent a cozy log cabin for a week in Lake Placid or join the jet-setters at a luxurious hotel in Aspen for some serious skiing, wining, dining and snuggling.

Chicago Wedding Reception Ideas

Photo 1 and 2 from Hello Darling, Chicago, Courtesy of Artisan Events, Inc.

Photo 3 from Keith J. Laverty, Dallas,