How To Throw a Winter Wedding in London

There’s something about the city of London that really lends itself to a gorgeous winter wedding, and while looking back through C&F’s cosy city celebrations I realised something: all the best December weddings have a few things in common. I want to share my best pieces of advice on how to throw a winter wedding in London, helping you embrace the season and create that sumptuous celebratory atmosphere while avoiding cliches and still making it feel like yours. 

Choosing a venue for a winter wedding in London

London has so many incredible wedding venues; here is what you should look out for when choosing one for your winter wedding. 

• It might sound obvious, but remember to focus on whether you love the inside spaces and interiors; it’s unlikely you’ll spend much time outdoors so, if you’re falling for a venue because it’s got great gardens or a cute courtyard, it might be time to reconsider

• What’s the vibe you’re looking to create? Do you want to give your guests a cosy, candlelit celebration that feels intimate and homely, or are you leaning towards a minimalist, modern or monochrome look? Keep this in mind when venue searching, thinking about whether that atmosphere will be easy to create within their rooms and with their decor

• If you’re getting married across two sites (for example, a church and then a reception venue like C&F), how will you and your guests travel between them? This should always be a consideration at any time of year, but it’s likely you’ll be dealing with cooler temperatures and possibly some coat-less guests!

• What will the lighting be like in your venue in the winter? If you visit in the summer and find a space flooded with natural light and huge windows, remember that when the sun sets at 3pm it won’t look or feel the same. Does the space have its own lovely lighting options, or do you need to consider that within your styling?

• Do they allow candles? Some venues sadly don’t and even though battery operated ones are getting better, we personally feel nothing beats a real candle, especially in the winter. So if, like us, you picture your winter wedding with an abundance of candles then make sure you pick a venue that permits them!

C&F’s winter wedding in London took place in St Mary Le Strand church before moving to Two Temple Place for dinner and dancing; this venue works beautifully for a winter wedding because of its gorgeous wood panelled interiors and chandeliers, making it really easy to create warmth and cosiness. Their church celebration was beautiful and soundtracked by live musicians playing show tunes, blending the classic essence of a religious ceremony with contemporary, personal touches.

Top tips for throwing a winter wedding in London

Embrace the season

Throwing a winter wedding in London, you can’t escape the fact that the city is sparkling with Christmas cheer – and you can work with the spirit of the season and use it to your advantage at your wedding. I’m by no means saying you have to go for an all-out Christmas wedding, and you can choose any colour scheme or theme that feels true to you – but, let’s be honest, trying to celebrate with a tropical beach vibe (like S&B’s wonderful Bermuda-meets-Australia extravaganza at Wilderness Reserve link) just doesn’t have the same effect when the streets are glowing with Christmas lights and carol singers. 

C&F’s wedding styling really embraced the season, and the florals were absolutely stunning with rich red tones and winter berries. Two Temple Place was decorated with a Christmas tree, and opting to work with this and style with it in mind gave the most beautiful  results – just look at the pair of them shining as brightly as the Christmas lights on that gorgeous staircase! 

We styled this wedding in a way that was sympathetic to the season but not overtly wedding-y; just elegant, warming and absolutely beautiful, which matched Caroline’s personality to perfection. In my opinion it’s the perfect mix of soft and pretty wedding, paired with a cosy touch of winter joy, topped off with a lil pop of personality too.

Consider the lighting

As I mentioned before, thinking carefully about your lighting is one of the keys to throwing an epic winter wedding in London. As well as looking at what lighting is available to you in your venue, it’s important to think about what you can add that will enhance the space. Candlelight is always a lovely choice in the winter, and we can really amp it up – if you feel like you’re going overboard with the candles, it’s probably just enough! Nothing says ‘cosy’ like candle-glow, and I love how C&F’s centrepieces reached up to meet the twinkle from the ceiling chandeliers for an intimate atmosphere.

Food & drink

If you’ve been here a while you’ll know that amazing food and drink experiences are right up my street, something I share with many of my couples. At a winter wedding, I believe giving your guests a great menu and some lovely beverages can really elevate the whole experience. It’s the perfect time of year for a little indulgence, so spend some time choosing the perfect caterer and developing a menu that’ll blow your loved ones away. C&F’s wedding food was wonderful, and their bespoke rum cocktail was both the perfect winter warmer and reminded them of their cherished holidays in Barbados.

Ditch the expectations

Finally, something that will really change the game when planning a winter wedding in London is letting go of all the expectations this time of year brings. There can be a lot of pressure on as Christmas draws near, but don’t let it creep into your wedding plans. Remember, everyone is primed for fun at this time of year so they’ll be delighted to celebrate with you – extra festivities? Yes please! Take a leaf out of C&F’s wedding book and invest in great music to create a super fun wedding party; you won’t regret it. Ready to get in touch about your own winter wedding? Let’s add your own special sparkle to the city at London’s most vibrant time of year. Contact me to begin.

Two Temple Place which features in this blog has also made it onto my list of the coolest wedding venues in London – take a look!

Images by Barker Evans