Winter Bride Inspiration

Lately, we’ve had a lot of beautiful snow days in Connecticut. I always know that we’re going to have a snow day when I don’t wake up to the high school bus making its way around our neighborhood at 6:30am. It is so quiet. The snow muffles everyday noises and I lie in bed luxuriating in the silence. Don’t be jealous, it doesn’t last long. My five-year old typically bounds into the bedroom demanding breakfast.

As we make our way downstairs, the first thing I do is look outside. One of my favorite things to see is snow sticking to the trees. Our yard looks like a winter wonderland and I find it totally enchanting and romantic! It got me thinking about people who get married in the winter. So today, I wanted to honor the Winter Bride – a woman who bucks tradition and makes a statement with a winter wedding.

I kind of went a bit overboard with the photos, ha! I usually limit the photos, but I just couldn’t. Each one was prettier than the next. Between ogling over the dresses, the bouquets and the cakes there was way too much eye candy.

Winter brides have a little more to consider about what to wear on their wedding day than brides who get married in June. While an ivory dress is gorgeous regardless the time of year, most of us have a pale complexion in the winter. I think that a lighter skin tone allows the bride to consider a wedding dress in a deeper color such as taupe that will be more flattering (and not wash you out). If her heart is set on a white wedding dress, the cold weather opens up a wide array of ideas for accessorizing with a faux-fur shawl and coordinating muff or a cashmere wrap sweater that cinches at the waist.

The incredible jewel tones of flowers in a winter floral bouquet adds a lot of deep, rich color that can’t be pulled off as easily in the spring or summer. Alternatively, I love the idea of completely winter white theme with romantic pops of color like pink tempered with grey. Fashion decisions aside, perhaps one of the best advantages of being married in the colder months is being able to have a reception that is lit COMPLETELY by candles with a ceremony in front of a fireplace adorned with evergreens! A crackling fire adds an air of romance and charm – and everyone looks amazing by candlelight. Enjoy the photos and share with a bride-to-be!

As for the sweet endings, a red velvet wedding cake or carrot cake decorated with pine cones and berries is gorgeous.

| Connecticut’s own Erica O’Brien Cake Design |

| naked cakes are all the rage |

At the end of your enchanted day, warm your guests from the inside out by having the caterer pass brandy glasses filled with hot chocolate topped with whipped cream or Kentucky Spiked eggnog as they are headed out the door. Connecticut has so many beautiful venues for a winter wedding that will set the stage for a memorable day!