Weddings are great in the summer as we all know – most of us spent a few days celebrating various nuptials in the warmer months this year. But did you know that more and more people are choosing to get married in the winter?
There are a few reasons for organising a winter wedding. There’s less competition for venues, so the happy couple is more likely to end up with their dream venue, and also prices are cheaper as well because it’s not peak season. Whilst this is all hunky dory for whoever’s paying for the wedding, it does leave us guests in a bit of a quandary. What to wear to a winter wedding?
It’s easy enough to plan an outfit for a summer wedding, whether you’re lucky enough to be wearing a mother of the bride outfit or just a simple sundress and smart hat. The good news is that, really, it’s just as simple to find a delicious outfit to wear to a winter wedding.
First up, mother of the bride outfits. Some of the basic rules that you’d follow for summer weddings still apply. Aim for smart and sophisticated rather than trying to dress too young. You need to strike that delicate balance between gorgeous mother of the bride and trying to upstage her daughter mother of the bride (not that we’re suggesting that you would, but we’ve all seen it happen, haven’t we?).
You don’t have to be too structured when it comes to mother of the bride outfits, but a little structure definitely helps. For example, you may not feel comfortable wearing a suit jacket and suit skirt. Should you choose to do so, that makes for a fine winter wedding outfit, but if that’s not you, fret not. A smart evening dress paired with a jacket – even a winter bolero – is just the ticket. Fascinators are the must-have head accessory this season, so don’t forget yours.
As for the rest of us, a well-chosen evening dress or cocktail dress with great accessories is a good choice for a winter wedding. Don’t be afraid to wear a dress with sleeves, or made of a heavier material – remember, it’s winter we’re talking about here! Lace is a key material this winter so why not incorporate some into your outfit – a velvet dress with lace sleeves, for example.
When choosing your evening dress or cocktail dress, think classy and elegant rather than showgirl. Sounds obvious, but again, we’ve all seen it happen… One thing to remember for winter weddings is that most people will wear black, simply because that’s the safe colour most of us choose to wear during the season. Really don’t feel as though you have to. There are other rich winter hues to consider and ones that might complement your skin tone better, such as dark browns, rich navy blues and warm maroons.
As for accessories to accompany your evening dress or cocktail dress, feathers are really on-trend this season, so try some feathered earrings for colour and texture. For a little added glitz and glam, choose shoes with some diamante detailing on them – and make sure that they’re not too high so that you can dance the night away.