5 Tips for a Flawless Winter Wedding

Thinking about eloping in winter?! This is the post for you! Winter is absolutely beautiful, but comes with it’s own set of challenges when planning a wedding. If you’re not sure if winter is the season for you, read through these pros & cons before you set a date.

Pros & Cons of a Winter Elopement in North Carolina

Pro: No tourists.

For most places on the east coast, tourist season is during the summer and fall months. Once it starts getting colder, less people are visiting which means you won’t run into as many tourists on trails.

Con: Limited Location Options.

A lot of locations are less accessible in the winter due to snow and ice. Parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway are closed from Nov-March due to dangerous conditions, so that limits the amount of locations you have to choose from.

Pro: Beautiful Scenery.

Although Charlotte gets barely any snow, the mountains will get some snow in the winter!! So if you’re dreaming of a snowy elopement in NC, it’s totally possible.

Con: It’s COLD.

This one seems obvious, but you’ll need to bring lots of layers and things to keep your warm throughout the day.

Pro: Vendors are less booked.

Busy season for wedding vendors is in the summer/fall, and by December, most of us have less on our calendar, which means more availability for you!!

Now let’s get into my Top 5 tips for planning your winter elopement!!

1. Plan for the worst.

Make sure you’re fully prepared for any type of weather mother nature may throw your way. If you’re planning on doing any kind of hiking on your elopement day, make sure you have the right gear to keep you warm and safe in freezing conditions.

2. Have a backup location plan.

Unpredictable weather could cause your original location to be too dangerous or hard to get to. You’ll want to have a backup location just in case!! (Pro Tip: Parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway are closed Nov-March, so it’s best to choose a location that isn’t off the parkway if you’re eloping in NC)

3. Buy a Long Sleeve Wedding Dress & Winter Accessories.

When you’re shopping for a wedding dress, keep the weather and temperature in mind!! Most wedding dresses are made for warm/summer weather, so look for something a little thicker with long sleeves to help keep you warm. The photo below is a great example, long sleeve dress with a fur coat!! Very wintery and stylish.

4. Plan according to the sunset time.

Here in NC, the sun sets SUPER early during the winter months, so I would suggest a morning ceremony to leave plenty of time for portraits in the afternoon.

5. Prepare your guests.

If you have guests attending your wedding or elopement, make sure you tell them to come prepared as well. Obviously it’s not your fault if they don’t come prepared, but it’ll ease a lot of stress knowing that everyone at the ceremony is comfortable.

 

Photos by Elopements by Erin

Couple: @beautybyhaleygarber
Dress: @juniperjamesbridal
Flowers: @merakiblommor

 

Thanks for reading!! If you’re dreaming of the perfect winter wedding, I’m here to help!! Click here to reach out so we can start planning your dream elopement!!