I must admit, I always envisioned my wedding day to be on a bright, sunny, warm day with lavishing greens and an assortment of floral colors, bridesmaids in cute tea-length dresses, and everyone in a nice summer glow. May through August is deemed ‘wedding season’ for a reason, right?

Photo by Linley Schmit Photography

Our story meant planning a wedding around a military deployment.

My wedding planning journey began on December 19, 2012 when my best friend, love of my life, and my hero proposed to me at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport; he was returning home to MN for a two-week pre-deployment leave. Planning a wedding around a military deployment forced me to let go of my summer wedding dreams as we settled on a wedding date of January 4, 2014. Due to his short time at home, we even had to do winter engagement photos. It was cold, but they turned out great! Above is my favorite shot, at the Stone Arch Bridge.

Check out my winter wedding ideas and tips.

I am now seven months into wedding planning, with less than five months to go before the big day! I am happy to say that planning a wedding for winter has not only been wonderful, but cost effective as well! Here are some of my Minnesota winter wedding ideas and insights:

Three Words: Off Season Discounts! I couldn’t believe how much money we have saved with off-season discounts with our vendors. Our photographer and DJ both offered discounts, and the majority of venues have lower minimums during the off-season.

Better Availability: Having our date in the off-season, I could take my time and find the right vendors for our special day with less pressure to book now before someone else does.

Unforgettable and Unique: All weddings are special and unique, but for those who are in their mid-late twenties like I am, I think you’ll agree that there tends to be wedding fatigue by the end of the summer. Winter weddings stand out more  and give your guests a special reason to get out of the house and have a great time during those depressing winter months.

Elegant and Romantic Winter Wedding Ideas: If you envision your wedding to be elegant, just think about having it amidst the falling snow, twinkling lights, and glistening trees of a winter day in Minnesota! I’m embracing the wintry outdoors by bringing warmth and elegance to the reception with a primary color of plum/eggplant, frosted glass vases as centerpieces accented with dark purple stock and white calla lilies, decorative clear rocks, twinkling white ceiling draping, and lots of candles. As for the wedding dress, the fabric was a no-brainer – the elegant sheerness of satin! I will be wearing a fitted satin (charmeuse) dress, Allure 8861. My bridesmaids will be in Jordan 1501 in eggplant, a full-length satin gown with a dramatic laced back. Our accessories will incorporate a combination of crystal and pearls.

Consider this advice when planning winter weddings.

A few words of caution about winter weddings:

• If you plan on taking outdoor photos, be sure to look up the expected sunset so that you don’t miss valuable daylight for pictures.
• When planning for travel time, give yourself extra time in case of poor road conditions.
• For those brides  who have their hearts set on a particular flower, be prepared to pay a little more for flowers that may not be in season.

Planning a wedding for a Minnesota winter is turning out better than I could have ever imagined. I can’t wait to bring our family and friends together for an evening of elegance, while embracing the stunning winter scenery of our beautiful home state of Minnesota. Best wishes to all the brides and brides-to-be out there!

Are you planning a winter wedding? What advice do you have for brides with winter weddings?

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on new products, special promotions, and popular posts!