The Winter Bride Photo Guide
If you are having a winter wedding, things will be a little different than the summer-time weddings you see all over Pinterest! Here’s some things to keep in mind as you plan your dreamy day!
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I’ve said this before and I’ll probably say it again: Un-met expectations are what make unhappy people. Winter weddings are so beautiful, but they are different than what I think a lot of brides have in their head. This comes from the fact that there just aren’t as many winter weddings as there are during the wedding season (spring-summer), so most of your friend’s weddings and the photos you see on pinterest and instagram are of weddings shot during warmer months, not to mention that you’re probably planning your winter wedding during summer months, so those images and experiences are what build your expections and vision for your own wedding. These expectations and vision are generally greatly apparent from the photo-side of things. As you are planning your winter wedding, just know to expect these factors, and you won’t have any disconnect between your expectations/vision and reality for how photo shoots will go, what outdoor locations will be like, and how to schedule photo shoots in the winter.
LIGHT
The first thing to know about the winter is it get’s dark FAST. The main thing this will affect is scheduling for photos. For engagements and bridals shot during winter months, you’ll have to shoot fairly early in the afternoon (at the latest). Which means, unlike summer-time photo shoots which can often be scheduled in the evening (after work) hours, winter photo shoots will probably require some time off from your 9-5.
For Wedding Days, keep this in mind as well, if you have any photos that will be taken outside, you’ll want to plan for them to take place before the light is gone (if it’s dark, flash photography is just a little bit of a different look, still beautiful, but just be informed and make a choice that works best for you and your wedding vision!).
PRO TIP: Think “Flash after 5” because sunset is around 5:00pm during the winter months, so anything being photographed after 5:00 pm will likely be exposed using artificial light! (i.e. If your reception or ceremony will begin at 6, and you want photos of the group before things start, you’ll want to plan those photos for 4:00pm or earlier if you want them in natural light, which will add an extra amount of time booking for your venue, photographer, videographer, etc. or, if you are a temple bride, and your sealing time is 4:00, you will be exiting in the dark).
**Also note that mountain locations up canyons will be dark about an hour earlier than locations in the foothills and valley. For mountain places, it will be dark by about 4.
TEMPERATURE
The second thing may seem like a no-brainer, but it just sometimes gets overlooked in plans. Anything you do outdoors in the winter is going to be COLD. Plan accordingly.
If you are taking engagements or bridals in the winter, you’ll want to bring hand warmers and coats and if you can do it without ruining your overall look, wear warm shoes and socks.
PRO TIP: get some nude or white colored leggings to wear under your gown to help keep your legs warm while shooting outdoors in the freezing cold. You can bring a coat to wear for moving between shots, but the reality is you’ll probably be without it for the majority of the time, unless you want the coat in the photos. (Usually during a shoot, I’m shooting and capturing moments the whole time, even between poses and shooting “spots” so if you bundle up in between you’ll miss those candid in-between moments). Definitely bring warm clothes even though you’ll likely not wear them during the shoot, you’ll want them to change into after shooting, and of course in case we have to walk far for the location, or in case of emergency (car breaks down, etc). You’ll want to be prepared.
The cold can also be a major factor on your wedding day. It’s really hard for a lot of people to be happy and fun when they are cold, so as the bride, be prepared to have a good attitude for freezing cold photos (and tell your groom and your friends and fam to be able to be happy and cooperative too). I have had so many winter weddings where it’s freezing cold, and there is little to no patience for photos— which I absolutely understand, because no one wants to be cold! BUT. It makes it a lot harder to enjoy the day when the groom is being impatient with his bride wanting photos— for real, before the big day, you should make sure everyone knows they should be happy and nice no matter what the weather. It’s a winter wedding, expect it to be cold! The truth is, most brides are so tough and un-affected by the cold during shoots and on their wedding day, but a lot of grooms a family members are not. It makes me sad when the bride is basically begging her new husband to take pictures on their wedding day. This day of all days, grooms should be extremely sweet and cooperative right?! You can’t go back and re-do it! So if your fiancee or family members are not up for photos in the cold, you may want to tell them the wedding is going to have to wait until spring if they won’t be in good happy moods despite the cold temperatures;)
ATTIRE
Ok so you know it’s going to be cold and dark….
but do you know what you should wear? For engagement photos in the winter, consider cozy outfits that go with the season, and will make photos a little bit more fun because you’ll be a little bit less cold! I genuinely love warm snuggly sweaters and jackets for cute snuggly photos!
For your gown, if you’ve been dreaming of something showing lots of skin, you may want to add a fur coat, or something that you are ok wearing in photos that can also keep you warm. Keep your bridesmaids in mind too, you may want to include a warm coat in their wedding day ensemble as well. For groomsman, you’ll likely want to have them all in full suits instead of the common alternative of slacks with white shirts and matching ties but no coats.
PRO TIP: pick a long-sleeve gown—It’s fairly common for brides go dress shopping when it’s warm out, and forget to envision themselves several months down the road on their winter-y wedding day. If you’re picking out short sleeves in August, just keep in mind that you’ll be wearing those short sleeves in December and make sure you’re good with that. (I’m personally a fan of long sleeves year-round for their timeless-ness and flattering look BUT ESPECIALLY when it’s cold, long sleeves are an amazing option). If you don’t want long sleeves, and you don’t want your dress covered up in a coat, and you don’t want to freeze, you may want to consider a warmer-weather time of year for the wedding.
AESTHETIC
Ok this is a big one where the expectations get off track from the reality. I can’t tell you how many brides planning a winter wedding (so we are shooting engagements in fall-winter months) will send me inspo pics of locations with flower-filled mountain meadows. Unless you live in Arizona or California where there are flowers during fall and winter, you have to adjust with the knowledge that the outdoor aesthetic is not the same in the winter as it is in the summer.
Consider this info as you are dreaming up locations for your photo sessions, so you can pick a location that you love, and one that looks the way you are anticipating at the time of year you are shooting.
Mountains will likely be deep in snow, with the only color coming from dark green pines.
Rocky locations are good winter options, since their aesthetic is not dependent on blooming plant life
Some outdoor places in the foothills will not have snow yet during early winter months, look for long grassy places, the grass will die—which means it is a beautiful golden color after the summer months, and a good option for colder-weather shoots.
Urban locations (buildings, walls, etc.) are awesome in the winter, because the architecture looks the same year round.
Greenhouses are a good option during the winter if you want some foliage in your photos
For grand, outdoor landscapes, you could take a little trip somewhere warmer for your photos, just remember to factor in time, travel, and travel fees for your vendors if this is the route you want to go!
Consider studio portraits for a nice, warm, photo location.
IN CONCLUSION
If you are a winter bride, your wedding and photos will be so magical! Now you know what to expect as you are planning so you aren’t surprised by the time you need to schedule photo sessions, the places available to shoot, or the experience you and everyone will be having when it’s cold outside! Happy planning winter-brides!!!
*** disclaimer***
There are plenty of winter bride’s who know all of these things and their grooms and families are all on board, and they have the winter vision in their head, but I’ve encountered many who didn’t have the winter vision when they planned their winter wedding and had some disappointments throughout the process. So the purpose
