Planning a wedding day takes months, and for some years, of planning, dreaming and saving. Choosing your date is a big part of this process as the season then influences the flowers, the colours and the fashion. If you are one of the many brides and grooms who have dreamt of a beautiful spring wedding only to find yourself suddenly having to postpone your day to an autumn or winter date, then I’m sure it’s been a difficult decision to make.
However we want to give you a big dose of inspiration and love for the cooler months – Emma from The Tythe Barn is here to talk us through all the benefits.
Emma says…
Right now, there is the very real possibility that you may have to postpone (or indeed have already postponed) that dream spring or summer wedding which you booked months ago to ensure you nailed down that date you had your heart set on. Yes, the sun may not be beating down, but let’s face it that was never a guarantee and yes you may spend a bit more time indoors than out but there’s a lot to be positive about and many venues across the UK will have ensured that the very best of the venue can be enjoyed throughout the spaces inside out outside, whatever the season.
Part of your planning process has probably included choosing a place to get ready in. Whether this is a bespoke bridal preparation room at your venue or somewhere you’ve adapted off site, it is where you and your bridesmaids can gather together on the morning of your wedding and have the best few hours getting ready. Past brides often comment that this was one of their most favourite parts of their day – second of course to the actual moment they said ‘I do’ to their grooms and partners! With a few hours set aside solely for the purpose of some serious self-pampering, a bit of bubbly and your girls around you it won’t matter what the weather is doing.
The ceremony, indoor or outdoor? Who knows with our British weather, we have had brilliant sunshine and outdoor ceremonies in October and late July weekends where the rain hasn’t stopped from set up to the final goodbyes. With an autumn or winter wedding ceremony you can take away any of the doubts about what the weather will allow and plan to be indoors and if the sun does decide to shine you may choose to take it all outside – but have a look at these stunning images and you may just prefer to stay in.
The time following the ceremony calls for bubbles or Prosecco or spice things up perhaps with mulled cider or ginger-infused Pimms. Hand on heart, in some years, there have often been more drinks receptions taking place outside in gardens across the counties than inside – certainly in September and through early October and November. The beauty of many private wedding venues, particularly countryside venues, is that their gardens are walled or sheltered and catch the afternoon sun – and that afternoon light is perfect for photographs! You may also find that your venue has unique features in place for this time of year like the outdoor wood burners at The Tythe Barn in Launton.
The Wedding Breakfast is a very special part of your wedding day, often the highlight for many couples with guests relaxed, wonderful food and the fun and emotion of the speeches. So, whatever the season, whatever is happening outside with the weather, none of it will matter because you are surrounded by friends and loved ones. Whether you have chosen a barn, a marquee, a hotel or Manor House, however your set up – banqueting lines, festoon bulbs, elaborate floral chandeliers or simple bare top tables – the venue and the moment is yours and everybody is there just for the two of you!
When everyone is ready to get down from the table and part ways with their wine glass (some more reluctantly than others) there is the short interlude of tea and coffee, a well-needed time to stretch legs and possibly a stroll through a garden. Yes, outdoor spaces still play a role during the autumn and winter seasons and wrapped up warm, enjoying these moments of fresh air, autumn sunshine or a coffee Martini on a crisp, winter evening can be magical. Don’t forget the games either. Just because it’s not the height of summer does not mean you need to dismiss the option of gathering guests together for a bit of Giant Jenga or Connect 4. At this point during the day, as long as it’s not wet, guests are keen to let off steam and we frequently have silly nonsense in the winter sunshine…
And from here on in… it’s party time! The music plays, the lights are dimmed and it’s time to immerse yourselves in the last few hours of your day.
The cake is cut, the dancing ranks up a notch, the pizza oven has fired up or there’s fireside munchies!
And please don’t forget that many features of your venue are still there to be enjoyed – replace Pimms with mugs of hot chocolate for guests pre-ceremony, Gin, Whisky or sweets instead of strawberries on an old wooden cart or ‘cheese’ towers with figs and sprigs of rosemary and chalkboards with your ‘order of the day’ decorated with rich greens and delicate fairy lights!
Best of all, you’re surrounded by your gang!
… and, when it comes to saying goodbye, winter is the best time of year for that incredible ‘sparkler’ exit!
So, your wedding day – what’s your day about? It’s a day spent with the people you care so much about and the guests who are there are there because you mean so much to them. It’s the day you married the love of your life and started the rest of your lives together. That is what is so special about your wedding day… and it doesn’t matter whether the ceremony took place outside or inside or whether the Croquet was played on the lawn or the coffee was served by the fire and no particular season or degree of sunshine can change that.
Today was your day.
Based on a weekday wedding in January.