As we head into late fall, we have winter weddings on our minds! But when you are getting married in New York, are winter weddings a good idea?
We certainly don’t get as many inquiries for winter weddings for obvious reasons, such as the risk of having bad weather. On the contrary, there are some great reasons to consider having a winter wedding!
First, for those who may be new to our blog, allow us to introduce ourselves! We are the Preston Barn, located in Dover Plains, New York on the property of the historic Old Drovers Inn. Our barn can host up 250 guests, and is fully equipped with heat and AC and indoor bathrooms for comfortable celebrating any time of year! Our inn and other housing options can accommodate over 50 guests, and we can also host all of your pre and post-wedding events for a full weekend celebration you’ll never forget.
Now, let’s talk about our 4 reasons why it's a good idea to have a winter wedding (and share some inspiration and tips too)!
1. They can be SO UNIQUELY BEAUTIFUL.
Just like that first snowfall, winter weddings can be so gorgeous and less ordinary. No, you won’t likely have an outdoor ceremony or cocktail hour. If that is not on your list of priorities, why not take advantage of the snowy grounds, and the unique color, apparel, and floral options.
There’s just something so warm about stepping into a venue with ambient lighting, perhaps with glowing candlelight, contrasting light and dark colors in apparel and florals, photos in the snow, delicious comfort food, and the list goes on…
Tip: For florals (and your florist will likely tell you this too), use flowers that are winter blooms. They are so beautiful and in-season florals will always be a better rate. Some winter flowers we love are Amaryllis, Anemones, and Camellias. We also love seeing fillers like feathers, pinecones, and berries in winter wedding bouquets and centerpieces! Photos: VILLETTO PHOTOGRAPHY
2. More Budget Friendly
If you are looking to save a few bucks on your wedding day, many venues and vendors will offer discounts for off-season dates. Our site fee is lowered (quite a bit!) for dates from November to April! Your traveling guests could also be saving money from lower rates on flights and hotels in the winter months.
You may even be able to take advantage of FREE decorations! Some venues (definitely here at the barn) will have their space decorated for winter and holiday events. For weddings after the holidays, you can take advantage of major discounts at retail shops for all the leftover winter decorations and stylish accessories like scarves, boots, etc.
Marissa and Jake said Yes…. to free decorations and stunning winter apparel!
Photos: VILLETTO PHOTOGRAPHY
3. Less Stress
This may be less true if your wedding is close to the major holidays, but in other winter months, wedding planning could be much less stressful. Here are a few reasons why:
More dates to choose from and no battling others for the date, best vendors, etc. You can take a little more time to decide on the best venue, vendors, etc. for your day.
You won’t likely have to worry about having your wedding too close to another family member or close friend’s big day, which would have put more stress on you, them, and your mutual guests.
Busy season fatigue is real! Think about all the events, vacations, and busy work schedules that come with warmer seasons. Chances are you (and your guests) have a lot less going on in the winter months and therefore, much less fatigue and crunching time!
The weather can be a benefit here too! Keeping everything indoors actually eliminates the stress of planning for outdoor portions of the day. You won’t have to worry about rain at your ceremony or renting a tent. If you really think about it, on-season weddings have weather that is risky too! But if you plan everything to be inside in the first place, you’re golden! (Don’t worry about storms and power outages if you’re with the Preston Barn, because we have generators!)
4. Beat the Heat
Yet another reason the weather can actually be beneficial…
Let’s face it, if you are in New York, you know that the weather is predictably unpredictable! You know that we can have a 90-degree day in May or a freak snow storm in October, if Mother Nature feels like it!
If you or your partner are not big fans of the heat, then you definitely won’t like it in a suit or a gown! In winter, you won’t have to worry about being a sweaty mess (and some guests may be thankful for that as well). Dance the night away without worries!
Marissa, looking stunning in this gorgeous sleeved gown!
Photo: VILLETTO PHOTOGRAPHY
Inspired by these photos? Check out Marissa & Jake’s Wedding gallery with more photos from VILLETTO PHOTOGRAPHY.
Are you considering a New York winter wedding? We hope that this post helped you gain some further insight to help you decide if it is a good option for you. If you are looking for a rustic venue, barn, or venue that can host a full weekend winter event (or any season) in New York, contact us for more information!
