Seasonal Weddings Guide

Each of Mother Nature's seasons captures a special spirit and style, bringing unique charm and flair to any wedding.   The time of year that you choose to be married will affect every part of your planning process, from dresses to flowers to food to location, but planning according to the season can actually help ease your burden, as nature provides a theme for the colour and décor.   We are here to help you understand the fundamentals of a seasonal affair and teach you how to work with Mother Nature's favourite colours and expressions.  

Spring

Through the months of March, April, and May, weddings are the most popular, and with good reason.  The weather is at an ideal peak, the colours are bright and airy, and the overall feelings of freshness and beauty abound.  Take inspiration from the new bursts of life, such as budding flowers or singing birds.  Look to their colour palette to choose bridesmaid dresses  and/or centrepieces.   Most importantly, keep the feeling of the wedding as light-hearted as the season; it should be fresh and fun, with elements of youth and beauty.

Flowers Choose fresh spring flowers that are lively and colourful.  Use these in centrepieces,  bouquets,  and other decorations.   Flowers in season include bluebells,  calla lilies,  daffodils,  daisies,  gardenia,  lilacs, pansies,  and tulips.	Food and Drink With the weather warming up, you can start to serve your favourite light dishes.  Grilled chicken,  fish,  and spring lamb  are all great choices for an entrée.   Fruits  and vegetables are very popular in the spring months, particularly asparagus,  peas,  and salad greens,  along with strawberries  and apricots.   Use any of these to complement the protein.	The Cake Think sweet and fluffy.  You don't want a heavy cake in the spring, as the moist air can ruin the consistency and finishing touches.  Look for fruits and berries to embellish the cake or icing in pastel colours.  Go with whipped cream  and fondant  over any other kind of icing.	Décor Go with a motif, such as a garden theme or a particular colour palette.  Work with it on table runners  and centrepieces.    Use the theme on everything from your invitations  to your wedding favours.   Mini potted plants,  mini flower vases,  or flower bulbs  make perfect table favours or cute additions to any spring welcome basket.

Summer

Summer weddings come with many advantages as well, including their wide range of flexibility in theme and their large selection of flowers to choose from.  Remember that summer days are long and lazy and your wedding should be laid-back and fun, just like the season.  Using nature for inspiration, go with a beach theme or plan the wedding to be near a body of water.  You can also take inspiration from the lush greenery and bright warm sunshine which produces the lovely wild flowers  of the season.      

Flowers Summer brides are lucky, as they can use pretty much any flowers that they like in the summer months.  Check with a local florist  to see what kind might be available in your area.    Colours inspired by summer's easygoing palette include pale pastels and bright tropical shades.  Fuchsias  and tangerine  shades are abundant, as are colour themes of pale yellow,  blue,  and white.	Food and Drink Give your guests some seasonal flavour with drinks like lemonade,  mojitos,  sweet iced tea,  or chilled white wine.    Look to the sea for entree inspiration, using shellfish  and other seafoods.   Try to stick with light white meats  and avoid red meat, as it is simply too heavy in the warm summer heat.     Incorporate seasonal veggies into your menu with tomatoes,  eggplant,  mushrooms,  peppers,  and squash.	The Cake You absolutely do not want your cake to melt in the heat, so avoid ganache  or any kind of chocolate décor.   Stick to flavours that are light and tart, as you won't want anything too sweet or too dense for your palate.  Use berries and cream and also look into serving fresh and refreshing gelato  as a dessert as well.	Décor Think about those warm summer nights.  You may want to go with an array of floating candles  or paper lanterns  to give off a soft warm light. Wooden fans  will keep guests cool while still giving off that cool summer vibe that we are looking to maintain.  You can complete this aura with seaside décor  or delicate flowers in mini vases.   You can give a beach-themed welcome basket,  complete with flip flops  and sunglasses.

Autumn

Autumn brings changing leaves, golden colours, and earthy smells along with the cosy feeling of this new season.  This is a great season for romantics, so share the warmth of a fireplace through the use of candles at your wedding, and showcase the special flavours of the harvest  with unique seasonal entrées and breathtaking decorations.     

Flowers Nature enthusiasts love the colours available in the autumn months, as they range from deep reds to bright golds.   Look for sunflowers  or tiger lilies  for early autumn weddings, or try chrysanthemums  and deep coloured roses  for the later months.	Food and Drink Incorporate some spice into your autumn dishes.  Look for pumpkin  and butternut squash soup  to start and try wild game for your protein.   Duck,  turkey,  and chicken  can be roasted for a hearty meal, perfect for this time of year.   Your guests will love hot apple cider  or mulled wine,  and don't forget about all of the seasonal ales  and wines  being bottled.	The Cake Though you have your pick on types of cake,  there are a few flavours specific to the harvest season that you may want to think about fusing into your desserts.   With cranberry,  ginger,  pecan,  and maple  being popular tastes of the season, we recommend small tarts or pastry with these flavours.   You can also go with a heavier chocolate wedding cake  during this time, as there won't be any worries about the ganache  melting.	Décor Think about the leaves!  Use their changing colours  to inspire you.   Cornucopias,  gourds,  pumpkins,  dried flowers,  and wheat  all make wonderful accents to the tables or for centre pieces.   You can also incorporate a wine theme with grapes  and vines  accented by voitve candles.    Gourmet caramel apples,  a bottle of wine,  or small jar candles  are all appropriate for wedding favours to give to your guests or to incorporate into a welcome basket for the out of town visitors.

Winter

If the rush of icy winds, the beauty of soft snow, and the rush of winter sleigh rides appeal to your senses, then a winter wedding could be a part of your forecast.  Weddings this season take inspiration from nature's coldest climates, bursting with themes of the outdoors.  Think about crackling fireplaces, rich warm colours, and the festive feelings of the holidays and incorporate these feelings into your plans. 

Flowers Think red or white.  If the wedding will be around the holidays, then poinsettia flowers  are a classic in either colour.   Traditional wedding flowers such as roses  and amaryllis  can be used, incorporating seasonal touches like berries,  pinecones,  evergreen,  or holly.	Food and Drink The chilly months call for rich and hearty meals, even at the wedding.  Think about red meats  with sides like chestnuts or any other seasonal items.   Think about rich winter ales  and strong wines,  or for an intimate celebration consider hot cocoa  or egg nog.   And please don't forget the champagne!	The Cake If you are going for the icy feeling, think about cake decorations in white, blue, and grey shades.  Add snowflakes or sugar icicles for the full effect.   For cosy weddings, think about using rich colours for the icing.  Deep greens, reds, and rich golds are always pretty choices and fillings like raspberry,  mint,  or mocha  are ideal for the season.	Décor Depending on whether you choose to make your wedding a jolly holiday or a winter wonderland, your decorations may vary.  Favourites for the season always include some evergreen  or twig décor, and candles  create a feeling of warmth in all of the cold.  Textures such as velvet  are appropriate for table linens, where you may want to leave your guests a cute favour such as a holiday ornament  or miniature snow globe.

Related Guides

Check out some of our Wedding Planning Guides to help you perfect all of the details! 

Ceremony Decorations	Wedding Themes	Colour Schemes	Planning an Outdoor Wedding	Wedding Gifts & Favours

External Links

• Brides.com: Wedding food and drink ideas, along with articles to help you figure out what type of cuisine works best for you and your guests.
• CakesWedding.co.uk: A guide to selecting a wedding cake, along with ideas for seasonal cakes.
• eCademy.com: Advice for couples considering a winter wedding in the U.K.
• KnotForLife.com: Creative ideas and planning tips for a summer wedding. 
• WeddingsDay.co.uk: Ideas and advice on unique wedding themes, including tips for seasonal weddings.
• WeddingForum.co.uk:  Couples can share and receive ideas on planning and decoration.
• WeddingNetwork.co.uk: A listing of wedding flowers, sorted by season.