Barn at Willow Brook Wedding

The Barn at Willow Brook in the Winter is breathtaking! Truly it’s gorgeous year-round but Kylie and John’s wedding day stands out! The pops of burgundy, navy blue, and creamy whites paired with the fur shaw were perfect! Winter weddings aren’t as popular in Virginia as Spring and Fall, but this wedding may change your mind.

Winter weddings add many layers of complexity with the weather alone. Between the possibility of inclement weather, rain, sleet, hail or snow and low temperatures planning accordingly is important. As wedding photographers we do our best to plan for the worst and hope for the best. We bring umbrellas, offer up options, but sometimes you just have to step outside for those outdoor photos. We do our best to make it quick and enjoyable but we can not control Mother Nature. Man, if I could, everyone would book me!

The best way to plan for a Winter wedding, really any wedding is to plan for the worst. In February, your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception should be indoors with climate control. Obviously pick a venue with great outdoor space if the weather is nice as an option. But truly plan for everything to be indoors. You don’t want guests getting muddy, cold, or sick due to the conditions. Offer warm beverages at arrival, cocktail hour and after dinner, whether it’s coffee, hot chocolate or cider. Ensure your guests are as comfortable as possible to enjoy the night of food and dancing!

As for you and your wedding party, extra care should be taken since you will be outdoors for a period of time during photos. Consider the attire for the women and consider including a shaw or scarf for coverage and warmth. Shoes are important as well, consider a long dress and any desired shoe to keep feet warm. In order to combat wind, an updo hair style may be best to avoid wind gusts. Lastly, plan for multiple breaks to go back inside and warm up for quick spurts of photos!

These are just a few tips, for more tips speak to your photographer and hire a wedding planner as they are seasoned in these areas. Above all, they strive to make everyone happy and have the best time which is hands down priceless!