Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: winter weddings are magical and romantic. Snowflakes, festive dinners, warm beverages, and seasonal decor – these are just some of the possibilities and aesthetics that can make your big day a truly memorable experience.

But there’s more to winter than white. Here are some wedding decoration ideas that truly capture the season and the warmth of love.

Sleigh the day with gold and silver

Warm doesn’t always have to be in bold and bright earthy colours. For your winter wedding, go for cool shades of gold and silver for the decor.

Richly patterned tablecloth patterns with garland-like swirls in bluish grey evoke ice crystals and cool frosts that add opulence to any table. According to BBJ Linen’s winter wedding  article, pairing your linens with gold-rimmed china and etched crystal stemware gives your wedding a decidedly unique nod to winter.

For a more contemporary look, opt for acrylic seating instead of upholstered chairs, and Lucite candelabra instead of metal candleholders. They make for a truly inspired touch.

In the mood for love

Black and red are the perfect contrast to winter’s white. Plus, it’s a great palette both for the bridal party’s attire and for the wedding reception decor. Bridesmaids chicly dressed in elegant black dresses are a great counterpoint to the woman in white carrying a stunning bouquet of roses and anemones.

Mirror this in your table setting by using white table cloths with detailed lace runners, matched with black, velvet napkins to add drama and texture to your tablescape.

For your centrepiece, lay out branches and leaves of evergreen on a simple white table runner. Add accents of red to the green with red roses or aubergine dahlias. The latter’s white-tip petals evoke winter’s magical frost covering nature’s thicket.

Bring the season to the table

Don’t be afraid of championing the season during your wedding day. Hang mistletoes in your wedding venue. Put up a Christmas tree and decorate it with photos. Adorn wedding aisle with wreathes of fir branches, pinecones and evergreens neatly attached to lacy, white bows.

Rustic centrepieces also add a cosy, holiday vibe to any wedding reception decor. You can also go for traditional, log candle holders and complement it with small pine cones strewn across the table.

For your flowers, match the season’s landscape with composition of olive branches with scabiosa and berries set in decorative, metal vases. If you prefer plain white china, pair it with fresh green table runners and linens for naturalistic design that bring to mind the colours of succulents and eucalyptus, and set them on wooden placements or chargers.

The colour of cool

Make your winter wedding exquisite with an all-white decor that is a true classic. Set up white floral or branch wedding arches lined with the incandescent glow of Christmas lights to make the affair extra special.

When choosing linens, opt for textured cloths, runners, or napkins to add depth and a three-dimensional feel. Scatter white and silver snowflakes on your table to make them shimmer as the guests arrive.

Or simply hang LED snowflake lights over tables for a unique, wintry visual effect. You can add more ‘colour’ to white by going for flowers in cream, ivory or delicate pale hues. Garden roses in peach as well as silver brunias make excellent accent pieces for any winter wedding that needs a stroke of colour.

Whether you’re going for a classic all-white decor or opting for unexpected splashes of colour and textured ornaments, winter weddings offer plenty of promise. Pulling one off should not be intimidating. With imagination, creative insight and careful planning, even the chilliest season will warm up your fairy tale, winter wonderland affair.

Image credits: Photography: Beautiful Day Photography | Event Planner and Designer: Kristin Banta Events