Wedding Trends: Off-Season Weddings

Brides are saying 'I Do' to off-season weddings, velvet gowns & twinkle lights

Traditionally, from about May to October each year, the K-W area’s wedding vendors, churches, and banquet halls are hoppin’ with weddings. This is a given. For brides, this means that if you're starting to plan less than twelve months before the big day, you're going to have a tough time finding vendors and locations for your wedding, that aren't already booked.

SOLUTION? Hold an off-season wedding! Brides have once again proved that they love shaking things up a bit, breaking a few traditions, and going for velvet gowns, winter twinkle lights, and the luxury of easier wedding planning.

What & when

Off-season is the time of year when weddings are traditionally less popular, and vendors have more availability to offer:

• January and February OR

• Any time between November and the end of March

However, there are some exceptions...

• Christmas Party season (mid-November to Christmas Day) is super-busy with corporate parties Vendors and venues are booked well in advance.

• Valentine's Day or Week (if you want a Valentine's theme, have your wedding the week before or the week after)

• New Year's Eve

Dressing for winter

Trade the summer strapless idea for a rich velvet wedding gown. Add faux fur trim for an added elegant touch. Rent or buy a Snow White cape with hood for a stunning winter look. Accessorize with winter muffs. Take advantage of the Christmas-time sales in department stores, if you want to dress the kids in red for a Valentine's or Christmas-themed wedding. Rich red apparel is beautiful with white.

Winter colours & themes

"Colours are rich in the winter... Burgundy, red, gold and white," says one expert decorator. All the usual pale or pastels are definitely out for the winter, unless they tie in with a rich colour. Decorating Dreams are pros at tying in winter. "We incorporate Christmas trees into our wrought iron gate backdrop, and 24 inch sparkling snowflakes into the ceiling canopy. Christmas trees around the room can be grouped together and accented with lights and fabric on the ground to create twinkling snow."

Budget savings

Some vendors (depending on their availability and type of service) will even give special rates for off-season wedding dates. This is a great way to get more of the people and packages you want, within your budget. These special rates usually apply mostly in January and February, but some vendors offer these rates between November and March as well. Sharon Hales, Assistant General Manager at the Best Western St. Jacobs Country Inn, says that they love being able to offer more flexibility in prices and space available in the off-season.

The benefits

Availability of wedding services and locations is everything when you’re planning a wedding. By choosing a wedding date that does not land smack-dab in the midst of wedding season, you increase your options ten fold. No vendor on earth likes telling a bride that he/she is booked for their wedding day, and so you'll rarely find one that wouldn't love helping you with your winter wedding.

A local florist explained to us that, "Flowers may last longer because there is no heat, however at the same time, be sure your flowers don't freeze if taking photos outside for a long period of time." One disc jockey told us, "It’s so much easier to plan a wedding in the off-season, because you don’t have to fight to get the reception hall you want, the DJ, the photographer..." He also says that any couple planning a wedding in a short period of time, would have a much easier time in the winter. An award-winning photographer just laughed and said, "Dress in long underwear and boots! No one will ever know what's under that wedding gown!"

The Wedding Timer authors, Rory Butson and Diane Tolton, made a great point. "If you want to go somewhere warm on your honeymoon, it's a benefit to get married in the winter." Why go from hot to hotter? Use your honeymoon as your winter escape from the cold.

"A benefit of off-season wedding is the lower costs, not to mention winter pictures on a warm sunny day, make for great photos!", says Brent, of Brentwood Livery.

A local officiant pointed out that, "You'll find less people are on vacation [in the winter]. More guests will be able to attend your wedding... It takes a little more planning [for the weather], but then I have seen summer weddings with huge showers and wind storms!"

The disadvantages

Messy: Brentwood Livery warns of the risk of being a bit messier for the chauffeurs and detail crews that clean up, but not as much for the actual bride and groom themselves.

Cold weather: Winter weather is always a consideration but at the same time, nearly any vendor will point out that both summer and winter has inclement weather. You can just as easily get rain, wind and heat stroke in the summer, as you could get snow and slush and cold in the winter.