We have had a fairly mild fall here in Michigan so far but we all know one thing for sure: winter is coming! And while I do love soaking up all the sunny days myself, winter is often such a fun time to be a wedding photographer! While there are fewer weddings overall, more couples get engaged over the winter season and I love talking to couples as they start their wedding planning journey (click here if you are recently engaged and wondering what to do first!).

The one thing I love even more than that though? Bundling up to capture winter wedding photos! If you are planning a winter wedding (or just collecting a little inspiration), I’m sharing a few of my favorite winter wedding ideas (and winter wedding color palettes) on the blog today!

 

Most Popular Winter Wedding Colors: Reds & Jewel Tones

If you are looking for elegant winter wedding ideas, one of my favorite winter wedding trends has to do with the use of rich red color palettes and jewel tones for your wedding ceremony and reception decor. Red roses are romantic in every season (check out this summer wedding that featured red roses a few months ago!), but in the winter they bring such richness to your wedding color palette! Especially if you pair them with other jewel tones (like deep shades of purple and navy blue).

Pearl Jewelry

I always adore pearl jewelry on a wedding day (pearls really do add such a classic elegant feel to your wedding day attire). With more and more couples opting for a classic wedding color palette of white and greenery or wanting to add timeless wedding details to their day, it’s no surprise that pearl jewelry will continue to be popular – and effortlessly stunning – for winter weddings to come.

Fun fact: “Pearl wedding decorations” was a trending search term in 2022 (up 185% from last year!) and pearl wedding gowns were searched for 3x as often as in previous years. I always love seeing what couples are searching for and doing next and this one did not surprise me (being a lover of timeless weddings myself).

Using Softer textures in Your Wedding Decor

When it starts to get colder, couples are choosing softer materials to “warm up” their winter wedding ideas. These soft paper chargers and brown-paper gift wrapped favors shows how a neutral color palette and softer materials can make an impact on your winter wedding decor.

Long Sleeve Wedding Dresses

When it comes to winter wedding ideas, the first things that come to mind are gorgeous long sleeve wedding dresses. There are few things that give me goosebumps like an intricate lace wedding dress with long sleeves to match, and I’ve found during winter weddings brides really bring the heat!

Chalkboard Wedding Signage

When it comes to wedding trends, black seems to be the new neutral! While you may find yourself attracted to darker and moodier color palettes overall, during winter weddings you may want to keep it a little lighter (and let the coolness come from the weather). If you do love black wedding decor, I recommend bringing it in with a chalkboard wall or wedding sign accent!

 

You can still choose white and greenery for your winter wedding colors, but choose tougher greenery.

I briefly mentioned above that classic wedding color palettes of white and greenery work well for winter wedding ideas, but I want to dive into that a little further here. When you are choosing greenery for your winter wedding, consider something a little heartier for longevity throughout the day. Your florist can definitely advise you further, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to share some classic wedding decor photos featuring this stunning minimalist color palette.

Pinecone Accents

I just had to finish off this roundup of winter wedding ideas with some fun pinecone accents! Although I love classic and timeless details, I also love when couples infuse some of their personality and have fun with their wedding decor. In the photos below, you’ll find pinecones intertwined in the bride’s bouquet, as the standout piece of the groom’s boutonniere, and as the cake topper (my personal favorite). While I hope you have enjoyed some of the winter wedding ideas I’ve shared here, just know the sky is truly the limit when making your wedding uniquely YOU.

What are your favorite winter wedding ideas?

These are a few of my favorite winter wedding ideas I’ve seen lately, but I would love to hear from you too. Are you planning a winter wedding in 2023 or 2024? I would love to see which of these winter wedding ideas I might see in your decor (or if you are planning something else – be sure to share the details!). If you are looking for a Michigan wedding photographer, you can learn more about working with me here. In the meantime, make sure to say hi over on Instagram and let’s chat about your winter wedding plans! You can also check out my Pinterest board comprised entirely of even more winter wedding ideas here.