How I became a {reluctant} winter bride

My mother and I had been throwing dates around trying to decide when Nick and I might be able to get married. With his pilot training not to be completed for at least the next two years, we really had no choice but to look at holiday weekends and winter breaks. We knew for sure he would have Memorial Day and Labor Day off and a break during December after the completion of this first phase.

The holiday weekends ideas kind of scared me. They were so close and we hadn't started planning at all, no prospective guest lists, hadn't looked into reception sites. With me being in Mississippi during the planning, neither time seemed like a good idea. However, we didn't completely scrap the idea.

Then there was December. While I adore Christmastime and all of the joy and fun the holidays bring, I did not envision myself a winter bride. For starters, I despise the cold. Second, I love Christmas decorations, but did not want my wedding to be a red and white Christmasy affair. I'm not really the biggest fan of red, much less red roses. My floral and color tastes run a lot less traditional.

Then during my daily blog run, I happened upon this inspiration board on Style Me Pretty:

I was almost sold. The colors were winter appropriate without a hint of the bright red I'd been dreading. The board was modern, unique and featured green, my favorite color. Green was my ideal choice, but until I saw this board I wasn't positive it would work for a winter wedding. Two other ideas I found shortly after sealed the deal.

Erin and Michael's wedding featured on enjoy : {the blog}. The use of the branches and the dangling crystals is wintry without being over the top. This entire wedding is gorgeous–a very, sexy winter feel.

The third inspiration to seal the deal is wearing a vintage fur coat!  I first saw this on TarHeels&Rebels knottie bio and I fell in love. I don't even know if it will go with the dress I ultimately choose, but now I am desperate to have find a vintage fur! {Faux or real, honestly since I'd try to find a vintage one real fur doesn't bother me.}

So there you have it – the inspiration that made me like a winter wedding. I know I might change it half a dozen times by then, but I am hopeful that I won't veer too far from my original ideas. I'm planning to take my own spin on these inspirations of course, no chocolate cake or apples in my centerpieces for starters, but I  adore the color scheme and I'm excited about the new ideas this board and real wedding brings to mind.

Inspiration board/top image: Style Me Pretty. Bottom image: Leigh Miller Photography via enjoy {the blog} arrangement designed by White Lilac Inc.

Comments

[enjoy celebrations and occasions]

I love a winter white theme. No need for red, no need for holiday references. Use a clean, cool color like chartreuse as an accent, if you like. I love the direction your taking it!

[Inspired Events]

Yes this inspiration board is fabulous, I agree!! A WINTER WEDDING SO MUCH FUN!!! Looks like you are going for something very fresh and elegant, what a great idea for a winter wedding..

[tina]

Hi! Your blog is so charming. I also started a new blog at the end of January. I'm still trying to figure out my schtick, but it's been fun. Check it out when you have time:

http://with-this-ring-i-thee-obsess.blogspot.com/

I look forward to reading about your planning! Good luck!

[Elizabeth @ Elizabeth Anne Designs]

welcome to the blog-osphere! it's so great when new brides to be start blogs - we get such inspiration from each other!

[Elizabeth]

My husband (fiance then) started a blog when we became engaged as well back in September. Our family and friends really enjoyed keeping up with us as we went through all the wedding planning details, the wedding and honeymoon. Our wedding was January 26 and we plan on keeping up with the blog.
As for the winter wedding, I totally understand. I always wanted a fall wedding but because we didn't want to wait a whole year before getting married we went with January. It actually turned out to be more like a spring day than anything. I love your colors...green is my favorite! I think this will look fabulous.
I look forward to keeping up with your story.

[Erin]

I love a new wedding blog! And I love a gorgeous winter wedding. All the best wishes in your fun planning process. I'm blogging, too, but go back and forth between wedding and other random fun! Thanks for letting us read!

[ashley]

saw the link to your blog on style me pretty and absolutely love it - you have a great eye for style! i'm from indiana as well (live in nyc with my fiance) and am getting married there in june 2009. will definitely keep checking back to see how your planning is going!

[A Belle Abroad]

Hummm, Air Force, Mississippi? There's only one place you can be! I'm actually from the university town in that neck of the woods.

I love these colors and I think that they will look amazing for your winter wedding! I look forward to seeing it all come together!

- Belle Abroad

[perfect bound]

Welcome to the blogging community. I instantly fell in love with you style when I saw your inspiration board on Style Me Pretty. I can't wait for more!

[Hasel Bride aka Allison]

Thank you all for the kind words!

Ashely – You lucky duck! If it weren't for my fiance and the Air Force, I probably would have tried my hand at NYC.

A Belle Abroad – You found me out! :) You are Miss Donut on Weddingbee, yes? I was thrilled when you joined because of your international and Mississippi perspective!

[emily]

A woman after my own heart!! I am in the midst of planning a December 2008 wedding, and we don't want a single hint of Christmas--no red poinsettias, no Christmas tree centerpeices, no Christmas lights strung up decorating our reception space. Instead, we're going for either a deep purple and cream, or gray and cream palette. I look forward to seeing how your day comes together!!

[katie]

hey there, I used birch tubes at my wedding so if you are looking to purchase them to use for vases please drop me a line I have over 100 to sell in assorted sizes.

[Janet]

we are planning a winter wedding as well! i love the idea of a cozy interior with fireplaces and candle lighting. the inspiration board you shared is fantastic as well. i just recently started a wedding planning blog for our dec 08 wedding. i am excited about all the idea exchanging and inspiration sharing.

[antique wedding bands]

Wedding in winter season is awesome. Dark colors in witners like red, blue acts as catalyst and adds charm to it. Great jewellery like this makes the environment romantic.