If a traditional June wedding leaves you feeling a little tired and uninspired, a seasonally themed wedding might be the special touch you hadn’t considered.
Maybe it’s a Falloween wedding, combining the glory of fall colors with a little Halloween fun, suggests planner Lacy Branch, owner of Lacy Branch Events in Collinsville. (Steer clear of the ghouls and tombstones for décor, though, she cautions.)
Or how about a Fourth of July wedding to celebrate your independence from your past life? Imagine being feted by sparklers as you waltz away from the reception. (Go for a patriotic pre-reception tray of blue-state blueberries, valor-red strawberries and American white cheddar cubes.)
Whether you’re thinking about a Valentine’s Day wedding or Winter Wonderland–themed nuptials, there are many different ways to have a seasonal affair. But lots of advance planning is essential, lest disasters make your big day memorable in ways you hadn’t intended, says wedding consultant Sarah Grus, owner of Sarah Grus Weddings.
Besides taking some extra time out for planning, mostly what you need is common sense and some creativity. For instance, if you want a winter celebration, fresh tulips for your bouquet might be difficult to get and tough on the wallet. Planners recommend that you talk to your vendors to learn more about the possibilities and alternatives.
Let the season be your friend, and use what it offers you for inspiration, color cues, decorative items and themes, Grus urges. Fall’s rustic colors are a perfect palette for an autumn wedding, with russet and gold-burnished leaves providing a potential template for centerpieces. The frost of winter is the perfect opportunity to make snowflakes part of the décor, and warming drink options, such as a spiked hot chocolate bar (unleaded for the kids), provide an out-of-the-ordinary but much-appreciated treat for chilled guests.
No matter what the season, check whether you’ll be required to purchase liability insurance for the venue you choose. If you’re holding a wedding at home, make sure to ask city hall whether any permits are needed for things like parking, Branch says.
Here’s our checklist for hosting weddings in each season, warm weather or cool, indoors or out.
Spring
• Gauge the temperature, especially in early spring. A cold snap is still possible.
• Rent a tent for an outdoor wedding, and make sure there are heaters and tie-down flaps available in case of a chill or rain. Reserve both ahead of time with a deposit. If you don’t need them, you’ll forfeit the ($1,500 or so) deposit, but at least you won’t have cold, soggy guests.
• For outdoor affairs, always have a backup venue in mind.
• Book popular venues such as the World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park 18 to 24 months ahead of time.
• Select bridesmaid attire with the temperature in mind. Goose-bumpy, blue-lipped bridesmaids don’t make for attractive photos. Early-spring dresses with jackets are good options. Perhaps provide a shawl as a bridesmaid’s gift.
• Don’t book outside photos for more than an hour in chilly weather—otherwise, prepare to be assailed by a wedding party full of windblown human popsicles.
• If rain is forecast, having umbrellas is an excellent idea. Buy them in bulk online in your wedding colors, and have them monogrammed if the budget allows.
• Pack a care package for the wedding party with extra tissues, cold and headache medicines and throat lozenges for allergy-season sufferers. (A guest who’s hacking before the ceremony may appreciate a lozenge as well.)
• Be aware of holidays that could affect attendance or venue availability, such as Mother’s Day, graduation, Easter and Passover. Offer a meatless entrée for a Friday-night rehearsal dinner during Lent.
• Purchase favors and décor for a Valentine’s Day or similarly themed wedding shortly after the holiday if you’re planning more than a year before your ceremony, Branch says. You’ll save a bundle.
Summer
• Summer’s heat takes extra planning, especially for an outdoor ceremony and reception, Grus cautions.
• Choose bridesmaid dresses that are tea-length and lightweight. Heavy satins and silks are a bad choice for the bridal gown.
• Break out of the familiar, and dress groomsmen in neckties and lightweight suits made of linen, rather than stuffy tuxes, especially in summer’s swelter.
• Choose open-toed shoes or sandals for the bride and bridesmaids.
• Tempting as it may be to cocoa fanatics, forget about the chocolate fountain for an outdoor reception. Nobody likes sharing that precious confection with pesky flies.
• Select food that is light and less filling, such as fruits, fish, salads and citrus sauces.
• Consider summery frozen drinks, pink lemonade or raspberry tea. Go with light white and rosé wines instead of heavy red vintages.
• Avoid the de rigueur ice sculpture, or prepare for its soupy end in the scorching St. Louis sun and humidity.
• Give the wedding party sunglasses as gifts, especially if photos will be taken outside. Their corneas will thank you.
• Rent ceiling fans for the ceremony’s tents.
• Offer guests paper or folding fans to brush away the heat, even indoors. One possible variation on this theme: Print the wedding program on paper fans. Alternately, offer tiny battery-operated fans in neon colors as a favor, coordinating them with the wedding’s hues.
• Book a backup photo location in case rain overtakes your outdoor spot. City Hall Rotunda is a lovely spot downtown, Grus says.
• Make sure to anchor menus or place cards for outdoor receptions.
• Pack an emergency kit of baby wipes for sticky wedding-party members, plus hairspray, spray deodorant (no one wants to share a stick), baby powder, tissues and makeup for touch-ups.
Fall
• Many of the same cautions for early-spring weddings apply in the fall.
• Choose lighter fabrics for the warm early fall and heavier ones for cool late fall.
• Let nature guide you: Gourds, pumpkins and berries, along with seasonal plants like mums, are fine additions to the décor.
• Fall color palettes are a good choice, but don’t go too dark or too brown. Focus on richer tones such as orange, burgundy, plum and bronze.
• In a tent reception, beware of tall centerpieces, which can become projectiles in a fall wind gust.
• Rent coat racks for late-season receptions held in tents.
• Choose heavier foods for late fall, lighter ones for early in the season.
• Offer hearty red wines and a warm drink like cider or flavored teas. Maybe try out a pumpkin-spice martini, beer or coffee.
• Ask your hairstylist if he or she is available for a post–outdoor photo touch-up.
• Avoid conflicts, especially dietary, with holidays such as Yom Kippur and Ramadan.
• Anchor menus and place cards at airy venues.
• Prepare for mud from fall rain by asking the venue to have floor mats ready.
Winter
• Weddings in the coldest season can be especially beautiful; despite its challenges, the season offers some particular delights.
• Snow planning is essential. Make sure your venue will clear and salt sidewalks and parking lots. Ask who pays for that expense. If no snow removal is offered, have shovels and shovelers in reserve.
• Book valet parking if you have elderly guests who might be at risk for falling in icy conditions.
• Horse-drawn carriage rides are romantic but chilly. Ask the carriage owner whether blankets are provided. Buy hand-warmers to stay toasty, and book a short ride—10 minutes or so—unless Tilles Park’s Christmas display is your destination.
• Ask the venue, DJ and caterer about backup power in case of winter power outages.
• Winter may not be the best time for elderly guests or those from snowy climes to travel.
• Consider the week of Christmas, when poinsettias and other seasonal flowers are already in churches and guests may already be coming to town. But carefully check venue availability, as some houses of worship (not unpredictably) will be hosting their
own events.
• Rent coat racks for wedding and reception sites if they’re not already available, especially for a home wedding.
• Dress in heavier fabrics such as satin, velvet and weighty silk, plus maybe a fluffy muff or sleek winter cape for women. Closed-toe shoes are a must, unless you’re going for the frostbitten look.
• As winter days are short, make sure evening events have adequate lighting in case of black ice.
• Offer guests warming drinks such as a gourmet hot chocolate spiked with Baileys, Kahlúa and other liqueurs. Spice things up with a seasonal wassail or drinks infused with yummy peppermint or cinnamon.
• Bring on the ice sculptures, especially the ultrapopular luge, which brings arctic-cold drinks flowing to guests’ waiting glasses.
• This is the time for the roasted entrée, heavy steak and other selections that will stick to guests’ ribs.
• Light your sweetheart’s fire by asking whether the reception site has a fireplace that can be used. Cheery lighting with warm pink and gold tones will also help welcome guests. Go heavy on the candles.
• New Year’s Eve is the ultimate party night, but also a great time for a wedding and kickin’ reception. Book your venue early and consider having a cocktail reception with substantial hors d’oeuvres. Champagne is a must to toast the happy couple and ring in the new year. Cheers!.
