March 28, 2024

Winter wonderland

Tips to have the perfect winter wedding

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Imagine fluffy white snowflakes glittering against a bright blue sky and a smile plastered on your loved one’s face as he or she stands next to you as you pose for a candid shot for your wedding album.

A January wedding may not be as popular as those in June, but there are just as many ideas out there to plan the perfect romantic wonderland.

Decorations

While some bright greens and tropical corals fit well in the summer, many people opt for a more rich color scheme for their wedding during the winter months. According to the popular photo-sharing app Pinterest, common winter wedding themes include rich, deep colors such as plum, burgundy and emerald.

Also, pastels are a good go-to for weddings in the winter.

“There’s more pastels being used,” said Jacque Greene, owner of Kelly’s Flowers and Garden Cafe. “There are more pastel colors that are in different flowers than there are in brighter colors. I would say pastel weddings are becoming more and more the ‘in’ thing.”

Some popular pastel colors in style include champagne, dusky rose and even sparkling silver.

To assist in the decorating, Pam and Kenny Jensen, owners of Jensen Rentals, have tables and chairs available for rent for weddings.

The couple opened the business about six years ago, and since then have expanded the available rentals to include cocktail tables, stage and lighted backdrop.

“What we’re seeing a lot of now is a lot of these farmers have a big machine shed and they’re using that for their own reception halls,” Kenny said. “We bring in the tables and chairs and a stage and backdrop, that way people who live out in the country have access to that.”

Jensen Rentals, which has already started to book for 2017, also has an arbor, as well as other things, available for the wedding ceremony and reception.

For more information, call 641-743-2230 or email jenseneventrentals@hotmail.com.

Flowers

When it comes to flowers, Pinterest brings about a variety of ideas for decorations involving them or ways to decorate the bridal bouquet.

Most flowers you find in the summer are also available in the winter, Greene said, but may cost about 25 percent more. But, winter weddings in the southern Iowa area are not very common because of weather.

“They might make up 5 percent of my wedding business,” Greene said. “I think it’s all to do with the way the weather goes.”

When someone does have a winter wedding, popular plants in the decorations and bouquets include sprigs of evergreen, crimson berries and snow-white roses. But, sometimes, artificial flowers are the way to go.

“The things that I did this year were more artificial because they wanted poinsettias. Spider mums are popular because they look wintry, and evergreens,” Greene said. “A lot of people do red and white because it’s around Christmastime.”

For more information, contact Greene at 641-782-2171.

Photography

As for photography, the coldest part of a commitment ceremony such as a wedding in the winter months, the tips are consistent between photographers.

Mandy Breheny, photographer of AMBiance Photography in Greenfield, suggested bringing clothes to keep warm when out in the frosty air.

“If I was prepping for it (wedding photos), I would try to do some checks around the location they’re at, see if there’s going to be any acceptable locations,” Breheny said.

Breheny suggested bringing a coat to easily put on and take off between shots, as well as a vehicle to warm up in if at a park or other similar location.

“Definitely try to keep limited on outfit changes and things like that just so you don’t have to find somewhere to change,” Breheny said. “I usually try to get somewhat of an idea of what they’re looking for beforehand, if they want to do a few formal pose pictures or a candid, having-fun session.”

For Vicki Jess of Norwalk and her sister, Denna Mitchell of Greenfield, owners of Two Sisters Photography, the same tips apply to winter wedding photography as Breheny suggested.

“If we’re going to get them outside, bring gloves or a sweater to keep warm,” Jess said. “My sister (Mitchell) just did one last weekend or the weekend before and luckily the weather was decent so she could get some pictures outside. That’s what we really prefer to do is outside wedding shots.”

While the lighting is better outside, and the possibility of snow adds a magical twist to the traditional post-ceremony photos, the temperature is still a risk for newlyweds.

If outside photos are not possible, inside photos can be taken.

“We just like the better lighting you can get outside. We feel you get more beautiful pictures outside,” Jess said. “We have regular flashes so we can get some inside.”

Jess said she and her sister use windows to provide the natural light the sun spills down to brighten the photos naturally, if inside photos are taken. Where photos are taken, and who is in the photos, is planned ahead of time if possible with a generic list. Couples can then add and remove photos from there.

“Be fun, be creative,” Jess said. “Think outside the box. That’s what we try to do.”

For more information on photography, contact Breheny at 641-221-0705 or check out Two Sisters Photography’s Facebook page at Two Sisters Photography, Iowa.