What is the best season for your wedding photos: winter wedding photos?

In this series of blog posts, I am looking at each season and talk about how it will look in your wedding photos.
My last blog looked at autumn wedding photos. Which, of course, means in this blog we will look at our final season and winter wedding photos. 

And in the next blog, we will have a bit of a round up, just in case you are still unsure what season is the best season for your wedding photos.

Let’s have a look at what winter means for your wedding photos!

What does your perfect winter wedding photo look like?

Do you imagine yourself in a winter wonderland? Surrounded by untouched white fields, trees wearing snowy white caps while the sun makes everything sparkle like a million diamonds?

Well, that is an amazing winter wedding photo, but is that really what your winter wedding photos will look like.

They might! 

But then, if you are getting married in England, it’s less likely.

Reality check: worst and best winter wedding photo scenario

Best case: It does snow the days before your wedding and it stays cold enough for the snow not to melt. On your day the sun is shining without being overly warm, so everything is glistening beautifully without going soggy from melting.

Worst case: There hasn’t been any snow all winter, instead it has been raining for weeks. The trees are bare of leaves and they will just look dead and hopeless. The ground is muddy and… well, brown. 

Of all the dream scenarios of all seasons in England and Wales, this is by far the least likely to actually come off. But if it does, wow! I want to photograph it! 

Why the difference and what you can do to get the best possible winter wedding photos

What can I say, it’s the weather!

But this time it is a bit more than just the weather. In some parts of the UK, you just will not get any snow in years. So your chances of a winter wonderland wedding are just a bit on the slim side.

Most probably, the weather won’t be horrible, but the snowy UK winter wonderland is also an unlikely scenario.

So, what can you do to get fabulous winter wedding photos?

My advice for getting the perfect wedding photo in winter

If your heart is set on winter wonderland wedding photos, there is only one thing you can do: Get married in the Alps. Or somewhere else at a time of year where there is usually snow.

And yes, if you get married in the Alps, I am happy to come! Got broomstick and dual nationality, so can travel and am allowed to work within the EU without costly paperwork or being held up at customs.

Regardless of whether you are getting married in the Alps or whether you are staying in the UK, the most important thing to consider for winter wedding photos is not the weather.
It is the shorter days.

If you get married at 1pm or later in winter, daylight will be gone before you have time to have your group and couple photos taken.
We can take some photos before your ceremony. And please don’t worry, we can still take first look photos, they just won’t be happening at the ceremony.

So what should you look out for when choosing a venue for your winter wedding?

Keep an eye out for any evergreen trees and shrubs that could make a beautiful backdrop if the much desired snow doesn’t show on your wedding day.

Architectural backdrops like a beautiful building or a tall brick wall can also make beautiful backgrounds for your perfect winter wedding photos.

If you like Christmas (or don’t), make sure to ask your venue about their Christmas setup and whether it will be there at the time of your wedding.

You might want to use them in your wedding photos, regardless of whether this is the indoor decorations or a beautiful sparkling tree outdoors.

The reality however is that you will probably not want to spend to much time outdoors during winter. Everyone, including yourselves, will get cold quickly. So have a look around backdrops indoors that you might like for your photos.

So what is the best season for wedding photos

Well, that is a big question. And a very personal one.

We have covered all of the seasons now. If you are undecided yet and would like to have a read of the other seasons, you can find them following the links here:

What do the season mean for your wedding photos series:
Spring,
Summer,
Autumn.

Other than the seasons, there are of course specific dates in the Wheel of the Year that you might want to take into account for their spiritual meaning.
I have talked about this in my blog How to choose a date for your handfasting that is perfect for you. The blog also covers the moon phases.

If you are already set on a particular season or date for your wedding and would like to find out how I can help you capture it, drop me a message via my contact form.

I look forward to hearing about your wedding.

Bright blessings,

Eco-Wedding Photography from the Handfasting And Pagan Wedding Photographer UK and EU