Surrey's Foxhills' ultimate guide to winter weddings

Winter weddings are becoming increasingly popular as couples are drawn to the romantic and festive atmosphere of the season. With its frosty landscapes, roaring fires, and stunning sunsets, winter can be the perfect time of year to tie the knot. There's a magical ambiance throughout winter and a festive warmth and togetherness we've all come to know and love. It can provide couples with a breathtaking backdrop for an intimate wedding celebration like no other. Not only that, but winter weddings often come with cost savings and discounts during the off-peak season. However romantic a winter wedding can be it does come with some unique challenges that you should carefully consider when planning your dream winter wedding.

The team at Foxhills Country Club in Surrey has put together the following guide to help you arrange every last detail of the perfect winter wedding.

Choosing a Winter Wedding Venue
Finding the ideal venue is perhaps the biggest challenge you'll face for your winter wedding. There are so many options, from traditional heritage buildings, golf club wedding venues, luxury hotel venues and many more. You'll want somewhere that's practical, and functional, and offers a full range of wedding facilities that you need. What's more, you'll also want to impress your guests and make them feel comfortable throughout the day. Some of the key points to consider when choosing a winter wedding venue are:

• Capacity: Make sure your chosen venue is large enough to accommodate the number of guests you're expecting for both the wedding day and evening celebration. You don't want invited guests turning up with nowhere to sit. The same consideration should be thought about if you're hosting an intimate wedding, ensure the venue can accommodate this by easily draping off any additional space to keep the feel of the event intimate and romantic.
• Location: Your wedding venue should be easily accessible for your guests. If guests must travel long distances, make sure the venue has enough rooms to accommodate everyone the night before the big day.
• Facilities: Does the venue provide all the facilities you require such as sufficient accommodation, reception rooms, a bar, and cloakroom? You may also want somewhere with spa and leisure facilities to keep guests entertained for the duration of their stay.
• Appearance: You'll want a venue that aligns with the desired aesthetic of your wedding day. Your dream venue may feature landscaped gardens, grand reception halls, and ornate furniture and fittings, so choosing carefully is of utmost importance

Pick a Date and Time
The time and date of your winter wedding are vitally important and should consider the weather conditions and time of sunset during the winter months. This is especially important if your guests are travelling long distances to your wedding as adverse weather conditions could put some people off travelling. It's also sensible to be mindful of Christmas and festive celebration dates, try to avoid these dates to ensure as many of your guests can attend your wedding. Winter days are shorter leaving a lot less natural day light available, so you may want to schedule your ceremony earlier in the day to ensure there's plenty of natural sunlight for capturing those special wedding photos.

Select a Winter Wedding
Theme If you're keen to move away from a traditional wedding and would prefer to pick a theme for the day, there's a multitude of options to choose from:

• Rustic: This incorporates elements of the countryside and rural surroundings to create a warm, inviting, and relaxed atmosphere. Consider natural materials such as wood, stone, and burlap to enhance the rustic aesthetic. Winter wildflowers, wooden signage, and fairylights, could also feature, while a more relaxed dress code could be applied.
• Glamorous: Materials like velvet, crystal, and fur are typical of a glamorous wedding. It's all about opulence, extravagance, and lavish detail combined with elegant décor to create a sense of grandeur. In addition, dramatic lighting, rich floral arrangements, and gourmet cuisine also feature, while guests will be expected to wear formal attire or black tie.
• Fairytale: This is characterised by its enchanting and magic atmosphere inspired by fantasy. Romantic and picturesque venues such as castles, historic buildings, and country club estates with their vast gardens and woodland settings are an ideal choice. Horse-drawn carriages, ballgowns, winter themed floral crowns, mystical lighting, and magical entertainment are also likely to feature at a fairytale wedding.
• Bohemian: 'Boho' weddings move away from tradition and adopt an unconventional style by embracing nature, art, and individual expression. These weddings often take place in outdoor settings so you'll want to ensure patio heaters are in place to keep guests warm. The relaxed atmosphere is reflected in an eclectic dress code, rustic décor, and casual seating where the emphasis is placed on a celebration of love rather than traditional formalities.

Choose Your Winter Wedding Food and Drinks
Along with a wedding ceremony and speeches, one of the most memorable parts of the day is food and drink. Your wedding meal should follow the theme for the day and cater for all guests and specific dietary requirements.

• Seasonality: Use seasonal ingredients to create a menu that encapsulates a winter wedding theme. Turkey, beef, salmon, and winter vegetables accompanied by mulled wine are typical options along with winter salads, butternut squash, and stuffed mushrooms.
• Warmth: On a cold, winter's day, there's nothing more soothing than a warm wedding meal including soups, stews, and other hearty dishes that keep the cold at bay.
• Variation: Give guests plenty of options for food and drink. Consider a range of main dishes to suit all tastes and an assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for guests of all ages.

Winter Wedding Transportation
It's customary to provide guests with transportation to and from the wedding venue following on from the wedding ceremony. Book your bus, taxis, or shuttle service well in advance to avoid disappointment. Additionally, make sure guests who are driving themselves are provided with the address of the wedding venue and directions for getting there. Alternatively, you could hire a venue that accommodates both the wedding ceremony and reception all in one place so that guests won't have to worry about transport once they arrive.

Winter Wedding Photos
You'll want to capture the essence of your winter wedding while you make special memories by selecting a suitable photographer. While it may be tempting to choose the cheapest option, you must ensure the photographer has experience in photographing winter weddings for the best outcome. Winter weddings can be unpredictable due to the changeable weather, so source a photographer who is used to working in all types of conditions.

Make your dream day a life long memory
A winter wedding can be such a magical event, its easy to get swept up in the romance of the season. Following the tips above will help you arrange your dream winter wedding that you and your guests will never forget.