— Creative decoration ideas for a snow-themed celebration
— Is your daughter getting married in the winter? Are you helping her plan and decorate for her wedding? You both can save a lot of money by using some of these economical winter wedding ideas.
Decorating, for me, is the funnest part of preparing for the wedding. As soon as a daughter gets engaged, sometimes it’s the first things that creative well-intentioned mothers want to start helping with. But certain things need to happen first.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
FIRST THINGS FIRST:
1. Has your venue been booked?
- Once you have chosen the location for the ceremony and reception, you will know what kind of decor is already included and what areas will need decorating.
- Go to the venue and take pictures and measurements of the areas needing decorating.
2. Has the bride chosen her dress?
- Some brides like pure white, others prefer ivory or champagne tones. This may have an impact on the shade of white you use in your decorations.
3. What is the color of the bridesmaid dresses?
- It’s important to know the color scheme of the wedding before purchasing or making decorations.
- Get color swatches or photos of the dresses to keep the colors in mind.
My eldest daughter had a winter wedding. Her dress was a champagne color, and she wore a white fur cape and muff. The bridesmaids wore sage green dresses. The wedding was held at a chapel that had been converted into a lodge at a park. It has beautiful gothic arches and a fireplace to decorate. Her wedding was 3 days after Christmas, so we were able to take advantage of the Christmas sales to purchase decorations. We also used many things from nature that were free. I learned some tips along the way that I’d like to share with you.
TIPS FOR BEING THE DECORATOR FOR YOUR DAUGHTER
1. Be sensitive
First of all, be sensitive to your daughter’s wishes regarding the decorations. Listen to her vision and see what you can do together to make it happen. My daughter and I did a lot of sending pictures back and forth as we found things while shopping or ideas online.
2. Be organized
Secondly, have a notebook where you can keep your plans and lists. You can also include photos or magazine clippings of your decoration inspiration. Pinterest is also a great place to gather ideas. You can have a shared Pinterest board with your daughter.To get some tips on how to set up a wedding planning notebook, go to my article here.
3. Be willing to ask for help
Third, don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you and your daughter doesn’t have a creative bone in your body, you may want to consider hiring a decorator to take on the job for you. Even if you enjoy decorating, it can be overwhelming, especially if you have a short period of time to get it done. So, engage your sisters, your aunts, your friends, anyone that comes to mind that may be interested in helping. Women often love to get together to assemble centerpieces, wedding favors, or name cards holders.1.
DIY IDEAS FOR WINTER WEDDING DECOR
If you don’t know where to begin, or need some decorating ideas for your daughter’s winter wedding, here are a few suggestions. (Click on any of the highlighted words to see an example of that item on Amazon.)
1. Pine branches
- Pine branches have a wonderful grounding fragrance that will enhance everyone’s mood, and are classic in winter decor.
- Pine branches can be used to decorate fireplaces, put in vases, or surround candles for centerpieces, or added to bouquet or boutonnieres.
- You can also make wreaths or swags out of them with some wreath forms, wire, and a little patience. (Click here to see a tutorial)
- If you get a live Christmas tree, save the branches you end up cutting off the bottom to fit it into the tree stand. (Ask friends to do the same and save them for you if you have a lot of areas to decorate.) Put the ends of the branches in water in a bucket or storage bin, and keep them in your garage or a cool place until the wedding.
- Sometimes you can also gather leftover branches from Boyscout Christmas tree sales, or ask at a local Christmas tree farm.
- You will need some strong clippers to cut the branches to size, and I highly recommend wearing some leather gardening gloves to protect your hands from the needles and the sap. It’s a good idea to cover your table with a vinyl tablecloth first. If you do get sap on your hands, lemon essential oil is great for getting it off.
- If you prefer to use artificial pine branches, swags, or wreaths, you can watch for sales on those at any store that sells seasonal decorations, or purchase them online.
2. Pinecones
- Pinecones are abundant in certain areas of the country and make a lovely complement to the pine branches.
- The round kind of pinecone works better for decorating than the long thin kind.
- Take a walk in your neighborhood and bring a bag to collect any you find.
- You can also ask your friends and neighbors if they have any you can use. They will be more than happy to oblige.
- Pinecones are also available at craft stores, often coated with cinnamon. You may like that aroma permeating the wedding.
3. Candles
- Days are short in the winter, so at least part of the wedding celebration will most likely be after dark. Candles bring a welcome glow to any winter wedding.
- Be sure to take safety precautions, keep candles out of reach of young children and away from tulle or other flammables. Make sure there is a fire extinguisher nearby.
- Use a variety of candles to adorn the fireplace or altar area. Weave pine branches, lights, and tulle around them for an ethereal effect.
- Incorporate candles in your centerpieces. Put some Epsom salt inside a jar or dish, then nestle a candle into the “snow” for a simple candle holder.
- Add some candles to your serving tables, but be careful to place them out of the way of hands and sleeves.
- Use unscented candles. Many people are allergic or sensitive to fragrances. So in consideration of your guests, keep the candles unscented. I found a box of 24 unscented votives at Big Lots. They are also available online.
4. Slices of logs
- If you have a friend that has access to some logs and a chainsaw, maybe they would be willing to slice some chunks for you. My brother-in-law did this for us, but you can also purchase log slices on Amazon.
- Use the log slices to make the candles and decor different heights on a fireplace mantle.
- They can be a base for centerpieces.
- Many people like to use them as pedestals for displaying desserts as well. They add a rustic but beautiful element to the wintry scene.
5. Snowflake ornaments
- Nothing says winter more than snowflakes, and they just happen to be beautiful works of art.
- Check the dollar store for snowflake ornaments. We were able to score a bunch there.
- Use them to decorate tables, hang on windows, hang from the ceiling, etc.
6. Doilies
- A packet of a variety of sizes and shapes of doilies are a must for the food table. Used as a lining for the plates or underneath pedestals, doilies will give the food display a delicate lacy touch, complementing the snowflakes.
7. Strings of white lights
- Delicate strings of white lights woven throughout the decorations will make any venue seem special. They come in many different styles, sizes, and lengths.
- Short strings of lights on batteries are perfect for centerpieces or altar arrangements. Wait to turn them on until needed to save the battery.
- Stock up on lights when they are marked down right before or after Christmas if possible. If it’s off season you can always purchase them online.
- You might want to borrow Christmas lights from friends to save money. If they are used, make sure you test them to make sure they are working before hanging them anywhere. Be sure to label the lights with some tape, so you know who to return them to.
8. Curtain lights
- I recently discovered curtain lights and they make a beautiful background for behind the sweetheart table or head table, especially if they are covered with some sheer curtains.
9. Command hooks
- These are a bit of an investment and hardly ever go on sale, but command hooks are worth every penny. They make life so much easier when you are decorating. Plus they are perfectly removable without leaving any damage after the wedding.
- Larger command hooks can hold garlands and wreaths. The smaller ones are perfect for hanging snowflake ornaments or holding curtain lights or sheers on a wall.
As you can see, there are many inexpensive ways to make a winter wedding beautifully decorated. Your own backyard may hold a wealth of resources for you.
I hope these ideas have inspired you. Please feel free to share more ideas in the comments below.
Happy wedding planning!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
