THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHOOSING A WINTER WEDDING DRESS
Gemma Thompson
- Lead Designer -
It should take 10 minutes to read this article
Winter is a magical time for a wedding. A bit of snowfall and candlelight can transform any venue into something straight out of a fairytale. But choosing a winter wedding dress can often be a challenge. What if it's cold? What if it rains? Well there's no need to stress, because we’ve created the ultimate guide to choosing a winter wedding dress that'll cope with anything the darker months might have in store...
AVOID FLIMSY MATERIALS AND THIN DRESSES
Many traditional gowns are sheer or thin, designed to be worn in the warmer months. While lovely in the heat, such dresses offer close to zero protection from the cold. Even with a shawl around your shoulders and a jacket on standby, you'll feel the chill. For a winter wedding, avoid any dress you can see through, and any dress that exposes your legs. You want to look beautiful on your wedding day, but you also don't want to freeze.
Instead of a thin wedding dress, look for a gown that uses dense materials. One in a ball gown style may suit, as these often cover your lower half with multiple folds of dense fabric, keeping you toasty.
WEAR WINTER COLOURS
White may be safe and traditional, but during a winter wedding it can often look washed out, dirty, or dull. This is especially the case for a wedding in the snow, when the glistening beauty of the snowy landscape can outclass even the most dazzling white wedding dress.
For a winter wedding, choose a darker colour. Red wedding gowns are a popular choice, as they look striking against a background of snow and winter sunshine. The bravest of brides can choose a black wedding dress for that truly spectacular winter look. Or if you just want a hint of winter colour, pair a muted dress with a deep red scarf for a splash of winter crimson.
MATCH YOUR WINTER DRESS TO YOUR VENUE
When choosing a wedding dress, consider your surroundings. If you're getting married in a church or other traditional location like a temple, you might have to choose a dress that isn’t too 'out there' in terms of colour or style. Because of this, we recommend choosing a non-traditional location for your winter wedding. Think snowy gardens or forests, castle ruins, or mansions overlooking the wild winter ocean.
Once you've settled on a venue, consider the theme. If you're planning to get married in a woodland, perhaps choose a dress with a forest feel. If you're going to tie the knot in the beautiful ruin of an abbey, a wedding gown with historical or Gothic influence may be best.
WEAR TIGHTS UNDER YOUR GOWN
One of the best things about a big ball gown wedding dress is that your legs stay hidden. And that means you can wear a lovely warm set of tights without compromising your look.
When choosing tights for your winter wedding day, thicker is always better. You can always take them off once you've left your venue for your wedding party (assuming that your party is somewhere warmer).
KEEP A SCARF AND JACKET ON STANDBY
Bridesmaids aren't just there to look pretty. Drape their shoulders with a variety of scarves and jackets that you can steal for yourself if your wedding day is a little bit colder than you expected, or if the heavens open. Again, make sure you match these accessories to your wedding dress.
PLAN FOR RAIN AND BAD WEATHER
If your winter wedding is in the United Kingdom, expect rain and wind to gatecrash your big day. Along with those scarves and jackets, it might be worth tooling your bridesmaids up with some umbrellas, just in case. A couple of towels may also come in handy.
As an aside, some outdoor venues will have indoor spaces you can use in the event of bad winter weather. It might be worth checking these indoor locations out too just to make sure that your dress won't clash or look out of place if the worst happens. Furthermore, some outdoor locations may cancel if the weather is going to be awful, so be sure to check their policies before you book.
WEAR SENSIBLE SHOES AND KEEP A SPARE SET
High heels may look fabulous, but if you're getting married in a snow-blanketed forest they may not be the best choice of footwear. Instead go for something more sensible, and more comfortable. If you take our advice and wear a ball gown wedding dress or one that skirts the ground, no-one will be able to see what shoes you're wearing anyway.
And give your bridesmaids a spare set to keep on standby. Puddles, mud, and wet grass can all cause chaos for your footwear. You don't want to be squelching down the aisle after all.
KEEP SPARE GLOVES HANDY (OR WEAR THEM WITH YOUR GOWN)
The final thing with which to burden your bridesmaids. A set of gloves can keep your hands toasty as you're walking towards your future life partner, and they can be quickly taken off as soon as you're ready to say your vows. Your wedding ring will go on a lot easier if your hands are warm, that’s for sure.
Alternatively you can pair your winter wedding dress with a matching set of gloves. Long opera gloves can look wonderful with the right wedding gown (such as the ivory and black dress above), as can faux fur. We'd recommend this look for a wedding in a ruined monastery, or for one in an old manor house.
STILL LOOKING FOR A WINTER WEDDING DRESS?
At Ivory Black we have a fine selection of wedding dresses perfect for winter. Each dress is made by hand to your measurements, and is created from scratch in our British studio by our excellent British designers.
