As one of the most popular wedding themes year over year, there’s virtually no end to the great ideas out there for winter wonderland wedding decor. From Pinterest to Instagram to former brides and expert wedding planners, winter wedding decor ideas are everywhere!
With so many creative options to choose from, you may find yourself understandably overwhelmed. We can help! We’ve narrowed down the wide world of winter wonderland wedding decor ideas to a few of our favorites for ceremonies and receptions.
Ceremony Decor
The weather outside may be stark and cold, but your ceremony decor doesn’t have to be! The perfect winter wedding ceremony will give guests the feeling that they’ve stepped out of the cold and into the warm glow of your love. Try these scene-setting ceremony decor ideas for your winter wonderland ceremony:
A Warm Welcome
Your wedding’s welcome sign is the first thing your guests see, the line of delineation between the real world (boring) and your wedding (magical!) Set the tone for the day with a wintery sign that incorporates elements of the season, like twinkle lights, fake snow, and rustic font choices. Just make sure the font is large and readable enough for all your guests to clearly make out the message!
Cozy Extras
Whether your wedding ceremony is indoors or outdoors (Yes, you can have a winter wedding ceremony outdoors if you’re brave and unafraid of layering!), your guests will appreciate an extra touch of comfort and coziness. Knit or flannel blankets draped over the back of each chair will upgrade your ceremony decor and give your guests something to snuggle up in while you say “I do.”
Festive Aisle
Festive garlands are a simple way to elevate your ceremony aisle, whether you lay them on the ground or elevate them with shepherd hooks or similar. If rich, green garlands aren’t your style, lining the aisle with pillar candles (real or electric) adds an instant touch of intimacy and warmth.
Seasonal Ceremony Arch
Lean into the flora and fauna of the winter season with a beautiful ceremony arch. Consider using lots of greenery, including mistletoe, pine boughs, ivy, and florals like poinsettias, winter roses, baby’s breath, hypericum berries, or even dried flowers. For even more oomph, add some garland, silver ribbon, white tulle or twinkle lights. Your ceremony arch will essentially be the backdrop for all your ceremony photos, so choose decorative elements that you truly love — because they’ll be preserved forever in photographs!
Reception Decor
Your winter wedding reception is an opportunity for your decor to truly shine. From centerpieces to treat stations to photo ops, here are some of our favorite ideas for winter wonderland wedding reception decor:
Centerpieces
It all begins at the table. The winter season revolves around holidays that celebrate gathering near to share special meals with our loved ones. Your wedding reception can be equally as cozy! Create an inviting ambiance by choosing family-style banquet tables and covering them in table runners of velvet or plaid flannel. Add centerpieces that incorporate a variety of textures and colors — think pinecones and berries mixed with evergreen, white roses and mums.
Or, ditch traditional centerpieces altogether and opt for tons of white taper candles of varying heights placed in mismatched antique candle holders. Add some bare branches adorned with tinsel, crystal or twinkle lights and watch your winter wonderland scene come to life!
Seasonal Treats Stations
A winter wedding gives couples the chance to incorporate some delicious seasonal treats into their reception menu! These stations can double as decor, especially when adorned with plenty of wood bark, plaid, evergreen boughs and festive knick-knacks like vintage thermos containers, handmade mittens and mismatched mugs in your wedding colors.
Consider a hot chocolate or hot apple cider drinks station decked out with fresh whipped cream, cinnamon sticks and candy cane spoons. Make it an adults-only affair by offering “warmers” like Irish cream, cinnamon whiskey or Peppermint Schnapps as optional additions to your hot beverage of choice.
You’ll need some snacks to go along with your sips, so why not consider a s’mores bar? For an outdoor reception, guests can gather around a fire pit and roast marshmallows on skewers. If your reception is indoors, try a DIY s’mores bar stocked with graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows, and custom fillings.
Picture-Perfect Photo Op
With winter-themed weddings, there’s no need to spring for a snowy photo backdrop: Mother Nature herself will provide all the festive photo ops you need! Set up a selfie spot or photo corner at your venue by choosing an area with windows that look out on the snowy scenery. Add a decorated Christmas tree or roaring fireplace, a white faux-fur rug and some soft lighting, and you’ve got yourself a White Christmas moment worth capturing! Consider keeping some mistletoe and jingle bells on hand as fun props for impromptu posing.
Winter Weddings at the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center
The decor possibilities for a stunning winter wonderland wedding are vast, but these ideas provide a solid jumping-off-point for your creative brainstorming. If you’re still looking for the perfect venue for your winter wedding, we hope you’ll consider the Heritage Center! We are experts at planning and executing magical weddings in all seasons. Contact us today to connect with one of our wedding planners. We’d love to help you make your winter wonderland wedding truly wonderful!