Samantha’s Essentials for Fall and Winter
by Samantha Talora – September 24, 2009
Ahhh, the crisp, cool breezes of Autumn are here! And with them, comes the endless possibilities for beautiful fall and winter weddings!
First of all, candlelight, candlelight, candlelight! Candles are beautiful in any season, but there is something special about the glow of candles in a room with a warm autumn and winter sky as the backdrop and the added intensity and warmth that candlelight can bring to an otherwise cool and chilly atmosphere...it's absolutely magical!
Fireplaces! Who doesn't love a roaring fire on a cold winter night? My winter brides LOVE the idea of their guests being able to gather around the grand fireplace in the Mansion's lobby (at Cranwell Resort in the Berkshires) during the cocktail reception or before they gather for the ceremony. As guests arrive our servers pass hot cocoa and hot mulled cider (or hot toddies!) which is a "cool weather spin" on the fun trend of offering specialty or signature cocktails to your guests during the cocktail reception.
Certainly the location can greatly affect the success of a winter wedding. Are there ski areas nearby to entertain your guests? Ease of travel? An understandable concern for winter brides is - "will my guests be able to travel to the location with ease should the weather be inclement?" An ideal setting for seasons where travel may prove to be a challenge, is to find a place with all main roads, but still with the feeling of being "tucked away" in a wintery retreat.
As a bride who was married in the winter, I can attest to the fact that there is not an abundance of floral options; however there are those special flowers that are not available otherwise, such as amaryllis and paperwhites...and the greenery! Beautiful greens that are lush and full and very fragrant...which would not be appropriate in a summer or fall setting. With Autumn and Winter weddings alike, there is a wonderful opportunity to really take advantage of what nature has to offer...especially in our beautiful New England region! Let mother nature do the decorating for you!
Regarding attire - certainly the rich, darker tones are more prevalent during this season. And always long bridesmaids dresses as opposed to T-length or even shorter which are trendy for summer bridesmaids. I still find that in terms of bridal gowns....anything goes...the most important detail with a wedding gown is that it flatters the bride! And I love the idea of a fur stole and muff for winter wedding pictures!!
And of course, one of the most important details behind winter wedding trends is the idea that, for the most part, brides are going to find much more flexibility in pricing not only at the venue but with all of her vendors as well! This is not the case for all regions, but for the most part, the winter season is a quieter time for wedding planning and vendors and venues alike are able and willing to offer some specially priced packages to suit each individual wedding's needs! And we all know how important that is in these times we live in!
No matter what you decide, remember to get the planning done in advance so when the big day arrives, you are actually able to be a guest at your own wedding! Relax and enjoy!
Samantha Talora is Wedding Sales Manager for Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club