10 Benefits of Winter Weddings - The Kirkbrae Team Weighs In

Many people associate weddings with the warmer months, like May and June. But spring and summer aren’t the only times you can walk down the aisle. Winter weddings are incredibly underrated – and you can use that to your full advantage.
Are winter weddings a good idea?
In our book, 100% yes. While not everyone has a vision of a wedding day surrounded by snow and ice, they offer unique opportunities for magical themes, low-competition wedding venue bookings, more affordable travel fare, and a low-stress wedding planning experience.
The benefits of choosing a winter wedding
1. Beat the crowds at your wedding venue
Winter is one of the least popular wedding seasons, with only 3% of 2023 weddings occurring in January and February, according to The Knot’s Real Weddings study. You can use this lack of popularity to your advantage while wedding planning.
Since so few weddings take place during the colder months, you’ll have a wide variety of winter wedding dates to choose from. That’s extra handy if you’re planning a last-minute wedding: You might not need to get on a waiting list or put your name down months in advance, like you would in the summer or fall. That translates into more relaxed wedding planning.
2. Save money on winter wedding costs
Bridal brands and wedding decor companies are getting ready to roll out their newest lines for spring. That means they’ll likely put last year’s inventory on sale – a fact that you can take full advantage of. This is your chance to fill your special day with brand-new wedding attire and decorations at a discount.
Beyond scoring discounts on winter wedding decorations, you can also take advantage of lower venue and travel costs. You can book hotel rooms for out-of-town guests without the premiums associated with summer travel. Plus, your venue may lower their prices to encourage bookings during their off-season. This can allow you to invite more people and stretch your budget further than you could during prime “wedding season.”
3. Less weather worries
In the summer, you can’t guarantee that the weather will cooperate with your vision, especially when you have to book so far in advance. The fear of getting “rained out” can bring you stress and worry
Meanwhile, during the winter, you’ll already have a good idea of what the weather will be like on your big day: Cold. You’ll know what you’re getting and can plan a cozy indoor ceremony that doesn’t require a weather backup plan. (Although, you’ll still need to keep an eye out for any extreme winter storms.)

4. Avoid “wedding fatigue”
“Wedding fatigue” can be a serious concern for guests. After all, when everyone picks the same dates, attending multiple weddings back-to-back can get exhausting. You can even risk some guests having to choose between commitments, if another family member or friend picked the same date.
Luckily, getting married in the off-season minimizes the chances of scheduling conflicts and keeps your guests open to spend the day with you. Plus, if you pick a month without other major holidays, like January, your wedding can be a ray of fun and excitement in an otherwise quiet season.
5. Embrace winter bridal fashion
Winter is a chance to elevate your bridal fashion with fur stoles, cloaks, capes, and other elegant accessories. It’s also a great opportunity to experiment with vintage wedding fashion styles, like Victorian themes, since they often feature warm designs, like long sleeves and floor-length skirts.
6. Make the ultimate cozy wedding
If you want your wedding day to feel cozy and intimate, there’s no better time than when it’s frosty outside. You can exchange vows by a garland-draped fireplace or eat your wedding dinner surrounded by soft candlelight. When it’s dark outside before 5 pm, you have every opportunity to make your indoor venue feel welcoming and warm.
7. Go for an elegant look
On the flipside, winter is also an ideal season to embrace elegance. After all, sparkling ice can look like jewels in the right light. If you enjoy more upscale vibes, this is your chance to host an upscale, formal ceremony beneath chandeliers or fill your reception venue with sparkling silver and blue for a winter ball straight out of a fairy tale. Winter wedding apparel can be fun, classy, elegant, and functional, all in one!
8. Use the snow in your winter wedding photos
If you live in an area with regular snowfall, like New England, you can take full advantage of all the lovely snow and ice in your winter wedding photos. You’ll look like a snow queen as you venture out to snap gorgeous and glamorous wedding portraits in the frigid air. It’s like the entire world is veiled in white just for you.
9. Get festive with holiday weddings
If you want to experience the magic of a holiday wedding, winter is one of the best seasons to make it happen. For example, you can capture the Christmas spirit with a December wedding. Use evergreen garlands and boughs to make your floral arrangements feel festive, with sparkling red or gold accents for the perfect dose of holiday cheer.
If you prefer February, you can theme your wedding around one of the most romantic days of the year: Valentine’s Day. Take full advantage of all the love in the air with a heartwarming ceremony full of roses, chocolate, and passionate pink and red tones. Cliché? Only in the best way.
10. Pick a warm honeymoon destination
Planning a winter wedding is a fantastic excuse to honeymoon in a warmer destination. You can take full advantage of all the lovely snow and ice in your winter wedding photos, then hop on a plane to a tropical paradise. It’s a one-of-a-kind way to get the best of both worlds on your wedding day.
Find your winter wedding venue in New England.
If you’re ready to create a wedding wonderland, Kirkbrae Country Club is here to make your vision a reality.
Our grounds give you full access to dramatic views of Rhode Island’s Blackstone Valley, which looks radiant in the snow. Choose from several different event spaces, from cozy and intimate settings for winter weddings to our newly remodeled ballroom that can host hundreds of people.
No matter your vision for your winter wedding, our planners can work with you to make it perfect. Contact us today to tour the grounds of one of the best Rhode Island wedding venues or learn about available dates.