Winter is a truly magical season to say ‘I do’ in. With dark nights and frosty air, it makes coming together that much more special. At Hayne House we are encouraging our couples to indulge themselves and their guests in a classic winter wedding.
Here are a few tips on how to create the ultimate winter wedding!
‘All in one place’ Venue
When it’s cold outside you and your guests don’t want to be moving too far or spend too long outside – having a venue that can host both your ceremony and reception means your wedding day can flow, and guests won’t feel the chill.
At the end of the night, your guests really won’t have to go far with up to 11 bedrooms on site within The Former Hunting Lodge.
Keep your guests warm
Always make sure your chosen venue is ready to keep you warm. Hayne House has underfloor heating throughout the Orangery keeping it perfectly toasty all day. As a bonus, in our Former Hunting Lodge, the fireplaces can be lit, and our beautiful lounge area is perfect for hosting drink receptions for smaller weddings. Blanket boxes go down a real treat but consider being able to re-use and re-gift these to stay more eco-conscious.
Give them something mulled
You might not be aiming for a ‘Christmas’ wedding, but a drink on arrival of mulled wine or cider is a warm welcome at any time during the winter. You could always go for something different and offer Winter Pimms with a splash of brandy.
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Dessert Stations
With grazing stations and sharing platters becoming ever more popular at weddings, why not have a ‘dessert station’ to treat both your big and little guests? Be it a crepe station, or churros with some of that incredible dipping chocolate, or maybe mini desserts and ‘build your own’ hot chocolate station with cream, marshmallows and a little dash of something cheeky for the grown-ups. We’re sure it would go down and absolute treat, just be careful of that white dress!
Choose your colour palette wisely
A winter wedding doesn’t mean going icy blue and white with your palette. Think about all the lush greenery that is around at this time of year and we’re not just talking Christmas trees (although blue spruce can provide some fantastic texture). Beautiful holly with pops of deep burgundy, variegated ivy leaves and beautiful warm oranges can inspire your winter wedding flowers and decor for the day.
Make your venue twinkle
Flickering candles and delicate twinkling fairy lights create a relaxed and elegant atmosphere, both during your ceremony and your wedding breakfast.
Hayne House has adorned the buildings outside with fairy lights as well as the edges of our beautiful glass ceiling lanterns. Why not line your aisle with some tall pillar candle clusters, either real or LED, this creates a cosy scene for your big entrance?
Let it Snow
Everybody is after that Insta-worthy winter wedding confetti shot. If we can’t guarantee a smattering of snow on the day, why not ‘Let it Snow’ and invest in some purely white ‘real-petal-only’ wedding confetti or a snow machine. Hand out your confetti to guests at the end of your ceremony and bring a little magic to your day.
Wow with your gown
Winter wedding dresses are a real opportunity to create a WOW. Whether you go for delicate long lace sleeves, or a simple but stunning satin design, we’re seeing more and more of subtle sparkle being added to wedding dresses and winter is the perfect time to go for it.
Invest in winter warming accessories
Accessories for you and your bridal party are a must for winter weddings and can really finish off your look. Think along the lines of faux fur shrugs, and a touch of glitz to your veil or hair accessories. You might even want to consider having hand warmers on hand for those group photos!
Dress the Groom to impress
Grooms can go all out and opt for a full three-piece suit for this time of year. Go for something with texture and interest to it, such as tweed, soft tartan or velvet. Darker colours such as soft browns or deep navy will make a foliage heavy boutonniere really pop in photos.
If you’re looking for your perfect winter wedding venue in Kent, then Hayne House could be perfect for you.
Exclusively yours to create your perfect day.
Find out more here.