Vintage Valentine’s Day Wedding Inspiration in Blush and Pink

12 Feb, 2019 | Wedding Inspiration, Weddings

Vintage Valentine’s Day Wedding Inspiration in Blush and Pink

Valentine’s day wedding, what can be more romantic (or sugary) than that? First of Heili Bridal’s wedding inspiration shoot for the year 2019 is inspired by vintage valentines but with of course touch of scandinavian simplicity and plenty of flowers. The blush and pink are the dominating colors for this wedding inspiration. Scroll down to see everything!

Plan your whole wedding outfit with this beautiful easy to use planner!

18 pages going through your whole bridal look from hair to shoes, not to forget your wedding dress.

Vintage Inspired Valentine’s Day Wedding Shoot With Scandinavian Simplicity

This was super fun shoot to make! Not the least because right now we are head over heels for blush tones in everywhere. Also we love the vintage hair and make-up so making and wearing it was pure joy. I got to stand before the camera this time and model all the bridal looks. 

As said, the theme was vintage Valentine’s day and because of that we used plenty of blush and pink with green and white in our colour way. Even with the vintage details we kept the overall look quite simple and even minimalistic in a way. This shows for instance in the bride’s look.

Minimalist Two Piece Wedding Dress With Vintage Touch

The wedding dress is a new Heili Bridal’s two piece crépe dress with little lace sleeves and softly draping mermaid line skirt. The fit of the wedding dress is bit looser and as a result it gives very elegant and classy feel. It’s very 30’s style dress but in an unmistakable modern way. The clean lines have very nordic feel and together with pin-curls, red lips and birdcage veil the combination breathes vintage. Or should we say ‘fintage’ ( as it’s an actual hashtag vintage loving people in finland sometimes use). Right now you can inquire about the dress via our info(at)heilibridal.com email, but it will be listed in the shop during the spring 2019. 

Vintage Inspired Wedding Hair and Makeup

For this vintage inspired Valentine’s day wedding shoot we went all out with hair and make-up. With this in mind we drew inspiration from Lauren Bacall’s heavenly locks and used overnight pin-curls which we then brushed and styled. We built the make-up around the classic red lips and used soft blush toned eye make-up. TIP: Take note on the different brow and cupid bow shapes in different era’s if you want to have an authentic feel in your vintage inspired make-up and look. 

Three Bridesmaid Looks With Infinity Dress

The absolute workhorse for this shoot was the short infinity dress in ‘Old Rose’ which we used to create the bridesmaid looks. (Or why not for the color loving bride!) Sweetheart neckline, dropped shoulder or softly draping butterfly sleeves – bridesmaids can choose any style they like. All of the above styles go well with vintage theme and we finished them with beautiful headwear. With sweetheart dress we used Vesna hair wreath, with dropped shoulders look we combined our new birdcage veil and with butterfly sleeves we used a flower comb. You can find the dress and hair accessories from Heili Bridal’s shop.

Vintage Inspired Valentine’s Wedding Table

In the table setting we used classic pieces like cut crystal glasses and vintage Arabia (one of the oldest finnish ceramics and tableware company) plates with gold trims. Rustic looking white linen napkins are tied with pale pink satin ribbon. Few flowers are tied together with printed name tags. The pink candles give fresh and trendy touch to otherwise classy table setting. The mother of pearl and brass candle holders are a second hand find.

Valentine’s Day Wedding Cake

The trick to add the wow factor to small and essentially simple wedding cake is to raise it up with tall cake stand and give it a stunning cake topper. Decorated with fresh flowers this cake is almost like a table centerpiece on it’s own! The cake is white sponge cake frosted with ermine buttercream (also known as cooked milk frosting or flour buttercream) which is our go to buttercream as it’s not as sweet as American buttercream, but pipes and behaves just as good.

Budget Friendly Blush and Pink Valentine’s Day Wedding Flowers

Flowers we used in the bouquet and cake topper were picked to go with the blush and pink valentine’s day wedding theme. We used very reasonably priced flowers like chrysanthemums and tulips as the filler flowers. Roses act as thriller blooms along the few bigger gerberas. Together with various greenery, snapdragons and texas bluebells you’ll have lush yet budget friendly wedding flowers. If you want to upgrade this bouquet look ask for a few peonies as the thriller blooms.

Little Details for Valentine’s Day Wedding

The blush florals continue in the wedding stationary which was created by Heili Bridal for this particular shoot. It’s printed on heavily structured paper, similar as used with the watercolor paintings. Old garden roses give a little vintage flair in the stationary.

The trendy and modern groom chooses the blush colored suit to go with the theme. This particular suit is by New Look but you can look for similar from other menswear brands. The blush silk flower boutonniere and floral patterned handkerchief finishes the style in a trendy way.

 

Plan your whole wedding outfit with this beautiful easy to use planner!

18 pages going through your whole bridal look from hair to shoes, not to forget your wedding dress.

For more wedding inspiration see our wedding inspiration boards: Living Coral Wedding, Fun Pink and Blush Valentine’s Day Wedding, Blush and Olive Wedding and Pink and Copper Wedding. Or follow us in Pinterest and Instagram for day to day inspiration and news <3

P.S Did you notice our free wedding outfit planner? Go and get it! I promise it’s very handy when it comes to keeping up with your dress fitting dates or hair appointments and it even has an own part for honeymoon packing planning. Plus it has tips for the whole wedding outfit starting from undies and shoes etc!

 

Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest for more wedding inspiration! You can also find Heili Bridal from Facebook and Tumblr.

Love,

      Iida

Iida Silvennoinen

Iida Silvennoinen

Designer, author, blogger

Iida is a bridal designer at Heili Bridal and her passion is to help brides feel special in their big day. She grew up in the middle of wedding dresses and has been dressing brides in all shapes and sizes for years. She loves gardening and relaxed evenings at home.

Iida Silvennoinen is the author of The Wedding Dress Book in which she walks the bride through the wedding dress searching and shopping.

Fun Blush and Pink Valentine’s Day Wedding Inspiration

4 Feb, 2019 | Wedding Inspiration

Fun Blush and Pink Valentine’s Day Wedding Inspiration

The Heili Bridal’s wedding inspiration boards were a total hit during the advent time so here we come again! In the spirit of coming Valentine’s Day we created this Fun Pink and Blush Valentine’s Day Wedding Inspiration -board. Get ready for a sweet and fun wedding theme with fresh spring colors and tasty details!

Plan your whole wedding outfit with this beautiful easy to use planner!

18 pages going through your whole bridal look from hair to shoes, not to forget your wedding dress. 100% Free!

Pink and Blush Valentine’s Day Inspiration sources

HEADWEAR: Vesna Wreath in blush by Heili Bridal.

STATIONARY: by Golden Hour Paper.

BRIDE’s BOUQUET: via Susie and Becky Photography, flowers by Petal’s Edge.

ÉCLAIRS: via Camille Styles, photo by Molly Culver (form. Winters).

GROOM: via Magnolia Rouge, photo by Ksenia Milushkina.

TABLE: from Martha Stewart Weddings, photo by Evane Williams.

Blush and Pink Valentine’s Day Wedding is romantic, yet fresh take on this love filled holiday theme. We dropped the traditional heart shapes and red roses and instead used vibrant pink and gentle blush colors. To freshen up the combination we added gentle green color in form of leaves to really make the pink pop! 

Did you notice the quirky little bowtie paired with the blush toned jacket? Such a fun detail! We love that look. The groom’s attire was from Corneliani.

The blush toned flower wreath for bride or bride’s maids in the upper left corner is from our own shop. The Vesna wreath comes also in white, gold and dramatic black.

To keep things fresh and interesting we opted the wedding cake and picked instead these delicious mini éclairs. In the blog of Camille Styles, they decorate the eclairs by themselves after ordering them filled but not frosted from a local bakery. Handy little DIY hack for a wedding I think!  Pink and Blush Valentine’s Day Wedding is a great choice if you would like to have a bit of amongst your modern and classy wedding celebration. 

P.S Follow me in Pinterest and Instagram to see more wedding inspiration! 

Did you catch the FREE WEDDING OUTFIT planner above the post? Go and get it! I promise it’s basically a magical help when it comes to wedding dress planning and organizing. Have a wonderful February! Kisses and hugs <3

Plan your whole wedding outfit with this beautiful easy to use planner!

18 pages going through your whole bridal look from hair to shoes, not to forget your wedding dress.

Check out our other wedding inspiration boards, just click through the pictures down below!

Love,

      Iida

Iida Silvennoinen

Iida Silvennoinen

Designer, author, blogger

Iida is a bridal designer at Heili Bridal and her passion is to help brides feel special in their big day. She grew up in the middle of wedding dresses and has been dressing brides in all shapes and sizes for years. She loves gardening and relaxed evenings at home.

Iida Silvennoinen is the author of The Wedding Dress Book in which she walks the bride through the wedding dress searching and shopping.

START THE JOURNEY TOWARDS THE PERFECT WEDDING DRESS!

The only wedding dress guide you need is here.

Take the first step

How To Design A Wedding Theme -Example: fantasy wedding with Lord of the Rings Woodland Elves aesthetic

25 Jan, 2019 | Fantasy Wedding, Wedding Inspiration

How To Design A Wedding Theme -Example: fantasy wedding with Lord of the Rings Woodland Elves aesthetic

Have you ever thought about designing your own wedding theme? A wedding theme is what ties everything together: your dress, the venue, cake and all the other little things. We get asked a lot about how can you design your wedding by yourself without going crazy or losing the point.  Inspired by Coryleigh’s ask we are going to walk you through the design process. As a case study we have Lord of the Rings themed Woodland Elves wedding. Get your learning pants on!

Okay guys! I know this post will be filled to the brim with information. It’s great! But I also know that it can be bit exhausting to digest and understand everything from a first go. If you want to make it easier for you I advice you to download the Wedding Theme Planner I have made. It doesn’t cost you a penny and you get a link into your email where you can download the planner. Everything I go over in this blog post will be in there in the form of checklists, ready to fill moodboard sheets and so on. Anyways, let’s start this lesson about wedding themes and designing! – Iida

Start With a Wedding Theme Idea

 

First steps with a wedding theme planning is to make the idea into a plan. This starts with putting down your own ideas about the theme, then gathering some data and later making an inspiration board for your wedding theme. That’s the whole thing in a nutshell.

The inspiration board process is divided in three sections: key elements, fine tuning and small details. Starting from bigger picture and getting to smaller details you have a good hold of what goes into your theme and you don’t get overwhelmed with the details.

When you put all the elements together after a careful design process you will have a beautiful wedding theme that you can easily work into reality.

Let’s start, shall we?

1. Think about the first impression when you design a wedding theme

What comes to your mind when you think about a certain theme? Those can be colors, materials, shapes or just an overall feeling. The first impression of a theme is important because it will guide you through everything else. Using a pen and paper or our handy wedding theme planner are great tools when getting started. When you are putting together a design you can always come back to your first impression and double check if all the elements are aligned with it.

Example: I’m making a theme for a Woodland elves wedding I will put down what first comes to my mind. I have watched Peter Jackson’s Hobbit movies many times so the visual inspiration of Mirkwood is strongly colored by the movies itself. Elements that pop into my mind are amber decorations, vines and art deco inspired shapes, lanterns, brown and green color, and antlers.

2. Back up your ideas with some data

When I have my own ideas put down I usually go to Pinterest to see if what I remember about the theme is correct. I also gather some more ideas to make the theme a little bit more whole. Seeing if others are picturing the wedding theme similarly is a good sign that I’m on the right track. This assures that the wedding guests will also recognize the wedding theme.

I always make sure that the theme is recognizable but I also think that it is important to allow room for your own creativity. If you have a certain feeling about things then by all means add it to the theme. That is what makes wedding themes personal and more interesting.

Example: When I do a Pinterest search for “woodland elves” first thing I notice is that “Mirkwood elves” is much better search term. Yep, always make sure that you search ideas with the right keywords.

Now that I’ve got my search terms right I notice that there are lots of brown, and amber, stone and wooden elements with decorative ornaments. The overall feel is warm and strong. Shapes are long and very natural and earthy. As the Mirkwood elves live under the forest as well as in the forest, the design elements could be the trees and nature.

Screencap from the Hobbit: The Battle Of Five Armies (Jackson 2014)

Concept Art for The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug (Jackson 2013) by John Howe

Screencap from the movie The Hobbit: Desolation by Smaug (Jackson 2013) 

 3. Make an inspiration or aesthetic board

We love to make picture collages! It is a great way to capture the overall feeling of something specific and it also helps to put the ideas together. Images and visuals are essential for designing a wedding theme and putting them on an inspiration board really helps keeping everything together. I recommend to look at many images when putting together a wedding theme. When you go through lots of images you are automatically editing the elements and the mood.

I usually use Canva for inspiration boards because it makes visually appealing designs but also saves me the trouble of resizing and cropping images. It’s really great but you can use any picture editing software you are familiar with. 

When I do a board I start with few elements I think are essential for the theme. Like a general image of the venue or a dress. Then I keep collecting more images for different elements, like cake, table decoration… 

Honestly, inspiration boards are so useful! Planning a wedding theme? Make an inspiration board! Designing a collection? Do that again. If you aren’t sure what an inspiration board looks then here are some ideas that we at Heili Bridal have made:

Blush and Olive Wedding Inspiration

Living Coral Wedding Inspiration

Elegant Seaside Wedding

Colorful Autumn Wedding Inspiration and how we used it in Real Wedding in Jewel tones

Step by Step – what elements to use in an inspiration board

Don’t get stuck on what our board concept is. You can design your own! Next I will walk you through different elements and tell which aspects of wedding design fall under those. 

Example: When I make an inspiration board for a wedding there are few elements I always want to include. Those are:

  • table setting
  • invitations or stationary
  • cake
  • bridal look
  • flower bouquet.

I have noticed that these things summarize the overall wedding look quite well.

I follow the same pattern when designing a Mirkwood elven wedding. Because I have determined the theme quite well I can jump into looking for inspiration images with a quite clear image in my head. I look for a simple layered wedding cake decorated with vines, leaves and flowers; a table setting with wooden table, linen and glass and candles; bridal look with long, sleek lines; and elegant stationary.

I have included an example board in our free wedding theme planner so you can dig deeper in the process. Download it from below!

The key elements to create a wedding theme

 

Gathering the right elements for a wedding theme is what makes the magic work. I know what you are thinking. How do you know what elements are the right ones? There are few guidelines we use to make the choosing and editing process easier but I’m happy to say that a lot has to do with what feels right for you.

1. Main Elements

“I loved the Fantasy Wedding blog post but I have one question: How do you choose the main element for the wedding theme?” -Coryleigh

We feel you, Coryleigh! Deciding the main element for a wedding theme can be a tricky task especially if you have very little or a huge amount of inspiration material. 

But what is a main element in the first place? Well it’s the number one key element you basically put everywhere in your wedding theme design. It goes to the venue decoration, stationary, cake, flowers, even the outfits.

How to find the main element is different for every theme. Sometimes the main element is very clear but often you have to think a little bit more about what the theme is all about. It’s not rare that you just have to decide on something, maybe more abstract element, like a color, and then to start gathering the other elements to beef it up a little. The point is to have something recognizable to set the mood all over the design. Think about what determines the feel of a certain theme.

Example – A Tree for Woodland Elves

Example: In Lord of The Rings the main design element could naturally be The Ring. On the other hand it would fit the wedding very nicely as wedding rings are a big deal, but on then again it’s also the evil thing in the book. And you’ll anyways have a ring at a wedding so I would actually choose something else.

Because we’re talking about Woodland Elves and Mirkwood, my number one pick would be a tree. Think about gnarly tree roots, branches and leaves and trunk. A tree element goes really well for other themes too, like Hobbiton, Rivendell or Lothlorien, so we need to define it a little bit better and maybe add some other elements to the main element. 

So what kind of tree? Think about the elves and their design language: long lines and natural shapes. So maybe a tall and ornamental tree with vines different to Hobbiton with wider, more rustic trees. Then add a color to separate Mirkwood from other elven kingdoms; perhaps earthy brown with amber and green. Starts to sound like Mirkwood elves, right?

A tree motive can be used as a design element in one form or the other in every aspect of the wedding design. Tolkien himself was a big tree lover and hugger too and he uses trees often in important parts of his books. 

Photographed by Chris Bailey Photography

Woodland Wedding invitation (Brides), photographed by
Allyson Magda Photography

Photographed by Jerry Yoon Photography

2. Fine tuning

You have the main element pinned down so now it’s time to start fine tuning it. This means planning where and how you are going to use it in your wedding. This can be anything from the whole venue styling to the little details in your gown. I recommend using the main element as widely as possible in order to create a coherent theme that flows seamlessly through your whole wedding.

I have created a handy pdf list for you to get started with where you can use the main element. It can be so much more than just the venue decoration and invitation! Download the list from below!

Example: Pinterest has tons of woodland wedding ideas but the trick is to figure out how to bring the fantasy and elves into it. In my mind the elegance and lightness is the main difference between mere woodland theme and Tolkien’s Woodland Elves.

Instead of tree trunks as cake stands, think about carved wood or glass mimicking the tree shape. In the books elves are brilliant craftsmen so keep things beautiful and elegant instead of shabby chick. No sticks but branches or beautifully crafted wooden items.

Water Goblet Color Crown Gold (Honey) by COLONY (x)

Wooden Lantern Centerpiece With Moss Stand (The Knot), Photographed by Danny K Photography

Natural Fall Tree-Inspired Centerpieces (The Knot), Photographed by Cappy Hotchkiss Photography

To fine tune the tree and woodland design I would use things like:

1. Raise the decorations up.

Make the ceiling and upward lines the main focus. Think living under the treetops or inside the caves and how often eyes search the branches and cave ceilings. Try to create an idea of pillars or tree trunks and use plenty of organic materials like wood and living plants. Decorate the ceiling with vines, lanterns or fairy lights, draping, chandeliers, ribbons or anything that catches the eye.

2. Depending the season, keep the color palette in browns, greens, whites and amber.

Remember, real amber comes in plenty of tones from milky honeys to dark greens. Pick the tone that suits best the season

3. Mimic the amber in details.

The amber itself can be almost clear like glass or flecked or milky and not see through. Think about glassware, lanterns, jewels, see through paper details like place cards, hard candies (salted caramel, anyone?).

4. Lanterns.

That would be one of my main decoration element with amber and greenery. I would put lanterns everywhere. Hang them from the ceiling, use them instead of bouquets for bridesmaids, on or above the tables, on the ceremony spot and by the aisle, on the entrance etc.

5. Greenery, vines and branches with few well picked blooms.

I would forgo big flowery things and keep the bouquets and table centerpieces very green and trailing downwards or creeping up. Different vines and creepers would be my pick for the main element. If the wedding would be in the spring I would pick light, white and small blooms to go with. Something similar that grows in the woodland areas. In summer maybe just few bigger blooms like orchids or very old fashioned cabbage roses or lillies, in the autumn berries and grasses would be the main decor elements. In winter time bare branches with something silvery like lamb’s ears.

 Photographed by Alexandra Elise Photography

 Photographed by Amy Arrington Photography

Photographed by Shea Christine Photography

3. Small details

You can also pick few things that come straight from your source material. The small details are just that, small. They might not be very visible but they are nice little touches that your guests can find and enjoy. As the small things are not very dominating in over all look you don’t have to match them so exactly to your colors or motives. The small details are meant to finish things off. They can also be included into entertainment like music etc. 

Example:  For Mirkwood theme the small details could be a wine bar with barrels and cheese platter with apples. The guests who have read the book could have a good laugh.

Also a classic detail in more general LoTR themed weddings is the ”No admittance except on party business” sign which almost anyone who have watched the movies or read the books will recognize.

 

You’re Ready To Go!

That’s it! This is my main thinking process when I plan a wedding theme. Everything starts with the big picture and then you just continue to the smaller elements and ways to use them in your wedding. Defining the main element is always really important because it sets the tone or all the other design elements. Of course you can always get deeper and deeper into details but this is how things have been working for us. 

I hope you enjoyed my take on Woodland Elves and Mirkwood wedding inspiration as much as I did! Hopefully this also helped you to see the design steps to figure out how to visualise your wedding theme into well working and beautiful ensemble. Once more in short bullet points:

first impression

data

moodboard

main elements

fine tuning

small details

If you feel like needing some clearing up, download the Wedding Theme Planner down below to get all the fillable worksheets, checklists and moodboard examples. Keep the discussion alive on the comments below! Drop me some questions to keep me busy in the afternoon. Also if you have an idea about a wedding theme but just can’t pin it down, let me help you. Comment below and I will make it for you!

Pin it for later!

Love,

      Iida

Iida Silvennoinen

Iida Silvennoinen

Designer, author, blogger

Iida is a bridal designer at Heili Bridal and her passion is to help brides feel special in their big day. She grew up in the middle of wedding dresses and has been dressing brides in all shapes and sizes for years. She loves gardening and relaxed evenings at home.

Iida Silvennoinen is the author of The Wedding Dress Book in which she walks the bride through the wedding dress searching and shopping.

START THE JOURNEY TOWARDS THE PERFECT WEDDING DRESS!

The only wedding dress guide you need is here.

Take the first step

Scandinavian Winter Wedding Inspiration: Photoshoot By Heili Bridal

9 Jan, 2019 | Wedding Inspiration, Weddings

Scandinavian Winter Wedding Inspiration: Photoshoot By Heili Bridal

White snow, evergreens, ornaments and touch of 20’s flapper aesthetic. Heili Bridal’s scandinavian winter wedding photoshoot was cold but joyous. Scroll down to see all the pictures and learn how we did them. Don’t forget to pin the images for others to find! We have plenty of winter wedding inspiration, find all the links at the end of the post.

Plan your whole wedding outfit with this beautiful easy to use planner!

18 pages going through your whole bridal look from hair to shoes, not to forget your wedding dress.

Winter wedding bouquet

Winter wedding is not fully ready without seasonal greenery. For this shoot we created a bridal bouquet with evergreen spruce and eucalyptus. As a filler we used dried sea lavender in white, pine cones and handmade wax buds.

Instead of real blooms the thriller was created with round glass christmas ornaments. The ornaments and pine cones were wired for the arrangement. All in all this bridal bouquet is hardy and stands well frost and time without water.

Hair And Make-Up For Winter Wedding

This winter wedding shoot looks into the beginning of 20th century in make-up and style wise. Dark red lips and light smokey eyes have a touch of flapper aesthetic. The hairpieces, especially white hand embroidered Elaine headband has a similar vintage feel. You can find more wedding accessories from Heili Bridal’s shop. The dress is Heili Bridal’s bespoke wedding gown, available at inquiry.

Seasonal decoration

Holiday decoration is beautiful and readily available during winter. Make use of all the little baubles and ornaments you can find. The hinged glass pear was found at mall from Christmas ornament section and it works beautifully as a ring box or pillow alternative. Read about Hygge Weddings to get further inspiration about how to utilise low key items for great impact.

If you liked our winter wedding shoot and are in mood for more winter wedding inspiration, see our advent calendar posts Gingerbread Winter Wedding, Red and Gold Winter Wedding, Woodland Christmas Wedding, Blue and White Scandinavian Winter Wedding and Cinderella Winter Wedding! You can also head to the Heili Bridal’s Winter Wedding Pinterest board. 

 

Plan your whole wedding outfit with this beautiful easy to use planner!

18 pages going through your whole bridal look from hair to shoes, not to forget your wedding dress. It’s free!

Pin it for later!

Love,

      Iida

Iida Silvennoinen

Iida Silvennoinen

Designer, author, blogger

Iida is a bridal designer at Heili Bridal and her passion is to help brides feel special in their big day. She grew up in the middle of wedding dresses and has been dressing brides in all shapes and sizes for years. She loves gardening and relaxed evenings at home.

Iida Silvennoinen is the author of The Wedding Dress Book in which she walks the bride through the wedding dress searching and shopping.

START THE JOURNEY TOWARDS THE PERFECT WEDDING DRESS!

The only wedding dress guide you need is here.

Take the first step

10 Reasons to Have a Winter Wedding

28 Dec, 2018 | Wedding Inspiration, Wedding Tips

10 Reasons to Have a Winter Wedding

Winter – the time of slower and darker days – can be an ideal wedding seasons. We are in love with the romantic and ambient time: There’s special kind of magic in the air that you can’t find in summer or spring. If you are in the spot of figuring out your wedding date it’s a good time to think also the other half of the year. It can really save you some money and make the most unforgettable wedding party!

Winter wedding can be a really versatile option

Why to have a winter wedding might be the question that many brides are asking. Yes, we are very used to the idea of getting married in the heart of summer – even spring and autumn – but many people forget all the unexpected perks that come when you get married in winter.

1. You can pick the venue and vendors you want

Winter is slow wedding season so there’s lots of venues and vendors available even in short notice. If you have tried planning a wedding for summer you might have noticed that many churches and popular venues are booked for years to come. With a winter wedding you have much wider range of venues to choose from. As winter is a slower time for wedding vendors also you get better flexibility for dress fittings and your dream graphic designer probably has a free spot. 

 

2. Seasonal pricing

It’s a well known fact that demand affects prices which means that in winter time you might get a beautiful but costly venue for a much better price. Many vendors also start handing out discounts to fill the quiet time of the year so keep your eyes open for those “Get January for 30% off” deals. Also with now world wide events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great times to make wedding investments. 

Plan your whole wedding outfit with this beautiful easy to use planner!

18 pages going through your whole bridal look from hair to shoes, not to forget your wedding dress. 100% FREE!

3. Take advantage of already decorated venues

Many brides say that the decoration is what keeps sucking up the money and also takes more time than you planned for it. Well, you lucky bride, in winter time holiday decorations is done in most of the hotels, churches etc. That means free wedding decor for you which means more savings, yay! If you love a certain venue for it’s overall style chances are that you will also love their seasonal decoration. Nowadays many places also really invest in their holiday decoration so you might get an exclusive venue styling by accident. All you have to do is to make sure that the decoration matches your wedding style and add some carefully planned details.

 

4. Not all the weekends are booked

Winter is an off season for weddings which means that you don’t have to be afraid that your favorite guests might have another wedding on the same date – probably not even the same month. In summer time it is not exceptional that most of the weekends are filled with different weddings in different cities so people are definitely going to appreciate that you decided to get married off season. After the holidays are over people are going to want something nice to put on their calendars before spring finally approaches. 

 

5. Recycle your holiday decoration

Lots of possibilities to use lights and holiday decor in your wedding (you might own lots of nice things already or you can reuse them afterwards). Ask around if you can borrow decorations from your family and friends. Lanterns, fake trees, garlands, fairy lights and glittering ornaments are all great when it comes to wedding decorating. 

6. Stay cooler in a big dress

Did you know that wedding gowns can make you really sweaty? Think about all that tulle and fabric creating a big air pocket for your legs. That’s how down jackets work. Good thing is, in winter you can get as a big dress as you want and you still can dance without melting into puddle. 

7. Get decoration for better price

There’s great deals for candles and light fixtures, especially after the holidays. Holiday ornaments are also available in every possible color and price range so you’ll most likely find a style suitable for you. Scout the things you would like to have when they come to the shops and hit the stores just before or after holiday days. Most of them are 20 to 50% off just before holidays and even 70 to 80% off afterwards. Don’t forget to check web stores also!

8. Great time to really dress up

Winter weddings are a perfect time to wear capes and shawls and they make great keepsakes and you can wear them afterwards too. Also what a better time to wear a colored wedding dress? For an ambient winter wedding why not try black, red or gold wedding gown that you can also wear later.

 

9. You don’t have to worry about your makeup

With cooler weather your makeup will stay on place much better than in the summer heat and that means you won’t be sweating it off first thing before ceremony. In the summer time people usually prefer to wear lighter makeup therefore in a winter wedding you can pull off a really beautiful and dramatic look.  Also when it gets darker you don’t have to worry about smudging eyeliner – no one’s going to see that anyway in the candle light!

 

10. Your curls will hold up

Summer might be the time for updos because of the heat and sweaty neck. On the contrary winter is the time that you can let your hair down without a worry about getting too hot.  And if you do get hot then just a visit outside will cool you down immediately. Curls will hold up nicely in a dry, brisk air. But if your wedding is in a climate where winters are wet rather than gold then maybe check out those updos just in case.

Tackling the winter wedding blues

Of course there are some downsides to winter wedding but if you really think, that happens with every season. So here are some of the biggest blues and how to turn them to your advantage.

Busy holidays!

Winter months might not be crowded byt weddings but there are other events and holidays that are really important to people. In November and December there is the countdown with holiday preparations but when the yearly wheel has turned to a new year people might actually love to have something nice in their calendars.

Send out the save the dates early enough and prepare mentally that some people won’t make it in any case (which is true for any party). Also be considerate about people’s holidays. Different religions have their own sacred times so if you know that some people on your guest list have a different practice than you do it is polite to think when it really is possible for them to attend your wedding. Don’t make people choose between their holidays and your party, that’s just not nice!

 

The Weather

In the winter months you really can’t be sure what you wake up to. In a way it is the beauty of these slower months but I totally understand if you want to be well prepared when it comes to your wedding day. Well, in winter it can obviously get really gold or then it’s raining. You probably want to opt out from outside photography if it’s rainy and muddy. Also make sure that you have well enough time to move from place A to B because you don’t want to be in a hurry on icy roads!

Weather and temperature also plays to your bridal look. To make the best of the gold days consider a gown with long sleeves (that would look awesome!) or get a cape or a shawl that will match your outfit. Winter weather offers so many options to dress up your look! Also if the reception is in a chilly building then why not to offer your guests blankets and warm drinks?

 

Unexpected light conditions

If you live in the north, the light can get really low even during the day. Or it can be super bright as the sun rays will be jumping back and forth on the snow. Either way it is best to discuss with your photographer about the best time to take your photos or get them taken in the studio. If you have a reception in – let’s say – a mansion, remember to ask if the photographer is familiar with the light in the location and if they will be able to bring extra flash and lighting supplies for the portraits.

So as the photography might be a concern (don’t worry too much, it’ll be alright!) the atmosphere is definitely on your side! What a better time to create ambient and intimate spaces than winter. Think about old time charm and light the venue with candles and fairy lights. Maybe read about hygge for some inspiration. Dark winter days are perfect time to create an unforgettable set for your wedding.

 

Expensive flowers

Flowers are seasonal and so are the prices. You might have guessed that during the winter time some flowers are much expensive than in summer when they are in season. But if you don’t have your heart set on a full peony bouquet then you really don’t have to worry! You can get greenery for reasonable price all around the year and why not to take advantage on holiday flowers like amaryllis, hyacinths, roses, tulips and hellebores. It really is all about the design when it comes to decorating with seasonal stuff.

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So if you can handle the cold, don’t mind the darker atmosphere and peonies are not a must in your bouquet, you can have a wonderful, ambient wedding with a smaller budget. People will certainly remember your wedding! For more winter wedding inspiration check my inspiration boards: Minimalist Wedding Inspiration With Mint, Gingerbread Christmas Wedding, Cinderella Winter Wedding, Blue and White Scandinavian Winter Wedding and Woodland Christmas Wedding.

P.S For more inspiration and tips follow me at FB, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr.  You can also find Heili Bridal at Pinterest!

 

Love,

      Iida

Iida Silvennoinen

Iida Silvennoinen

Designer, author, blogger

Iida is a bridal designer at Heili Bridal and her passion is to help brides feel special in their big day. She grew up in the middle of wedding dresses and has been dressing brides in all shapes and sizes for years. She loves gardening and relaxed evenings at home.

Iida Silvennoinen is the author of The Wedding Dress Book in which she walks the bride through the wedding dress searching and shopping.

START THE JOURNEY TOWARDS THE PERFECT WEDDING DRESS!

The only wedding dress guide you need is here.

Take the first step

All White Wedding Inspiration

24 Dec, 2018 | Advent Calendar 2018, Wedding Inspiration, Weddings

All White Wedding Inspiration

Welcome to Heili Bridal Advent calendar 2018! For 24 days we will reveal a new wedding aesthetic board for your wedding inspiration. For the 24th of December we put together a true wedding classic: all white wedding. White is perfect for every season, it’s bright and pure and easy to match for any theme.

Plan your whole wedding outfit with this beautiful easy to use planner!

18 pages, plan your whole bridal look from hair to shoes, not to forget your wedding dress. Free download!

All White Wedding Inspiration sources

BRIDE: bridal look by Bespoke by Heili Bridal with Venus Headband.

STATIONARY: Zarah Ribbon Wedding Invitations by Shine Wedding Invitations.

CAKE: via Style Me Pretty, photographed by Brett Hickman Photographers.

BOUQUET: via Style Me Pretty,  by Honeycomb Affair and photographed by Koman Photography.

 TABLE: via Snippet & Ink photographed by Britt Chudeligh.

GROOM: via Style Me Pretty and photographed by Elizabeth Messina.

All white is a real wedding classic that works year after year. It can be styled in many different ways and this time our take is all white wedding with a hint of blush and lots of greenery.

The bride is wearing a classic white lace dress in a 1950’s style and a simple headband while the groom’s tuxedo compliments the the era. The couple is sophisticated and simple just like the whole wedding theme. The wedding flowers are a combination of white, blush and green with roses, peonies and olive branches. 

Wedding invitations are a simple style with a luxurious blush silk ribbon. Cake has been designed to a classic four tier style with cream frosting and real flowers.  

Don’t forget to come and see all the rest advent calendar wedding inspirations! Share your own great ideas at Heili Bridal’s FB, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr or down in comments. 

Don’t forget to tell on the comments what kind of wedding aesthetics you would like to see next!

Love,

      Iida

Iida Silvennoinen

Iida Silvennoinen

Designer, author, blogger

Iida is a bridal designer at Heili Bridal and her passion is to help brides feel special in their big day. She grew up in the middle of wedding dresses and has been dressing brides in all shapes and sizes for years. She loves gardening and relaxed evenings at home.

Iida Silvennoinen is the author of The Wedding Dress Book in which she walks the bride through the wedding dress searching and shopping.

START THE JOURNEY TOWARDS THE PERFECT WEDDING DRESS!

The only wedding dress guide you need is here.

Take the first step

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