This month we have a guest post from the brilliant fashion blogger Jen Lou Meredith, you can find out more about Jen at http://www.jenloumeredith.com/
Winter weddings can be wonderful: the delectable seasonal food, the festive décor, the fact that everyone’s in a merry mood in anticipation of Christmas – all these elements come together to form an atmosphere that just can’t be replicated at any other time of year.
However, winter weddings can also be cold, and although the beer jackets are likely to come out during the reception, low temperatures can cause havoc for more sober activities earlier in the day if you’re not prepared.
Staying Warm as a Bride
Besides the ‘I dos’, some brides might say that the most important part of a wedding is the dress. After all, if your wedding is the happiest day of your life, you’ll want to look and feel great in what you’re wearing. It might seem counter-intuitive to cover up your dress with something that will keep you warm during your winter wedding but, trust me, you’ll need it.
There are plenty of options to choose from which will both keep you warm and complement your dress. If you have a simple dress, opt for a full bridal coat – this is ideal for outdoor weddings, as nobody wants to be shivering whilst they’re saying their vows! If your dress has a train or a fishtail, a tailored blazer is the best option for making the most of this dramatic silhouette. Lots of detailing or an open back? Try a shawl which can easily be taken off for photos. Finally, if you’ve opted for a suit, play around with edgier leather or fur jackets.
Staying Warm as a Groom
As a groom, you might think that a suit will be enough to keep you warm – think again. With all the inevitable standing around, you’re not going to generate enough heat to avoid freezing, which is why you should plan in advance.
When it comes to your suit, look for thicker fabrics such as tweed, flannel or herringbone. These are sure to keep the heat in throughout the day. However, if you’ll be in and out of the venue a lot, try picking a ‘broken suit’. This is a suit with two different textures, materials or colours for the suit and trousers. If you want to try this out for your wedding day, experiment with a heavier fabric for the jacket and lighter fabric for the trousers, in order to avoid sweating buckets.
Grooms can also get away with wearing a scarf – match it to the colour of your tie, or go a shade lighter or darker than your suit so as not to compromise on style.
Follow these guidelines and you should be as toasty as a teacake on your winter wedding day!