Hi! My name is Payton. My husband, Drake, and I were married at the Amazing Graze Barn on December 19, 2020. I had an incredible experience working with Tay to create our dream wedding. A Winter Wedding was never my first vision, but God worked out the timing and I ended up loving that we got married in December!
As with any season, there are a few challenges to overcome. Here are my favorite tips to planning a Winter Wedding, some I learned along the way, some after my wedding was over…
Plan Your Wedding Date Around Holiday Dates
When planning a Winter wedding, keep in mind traditional holidays. Know that picking a date close to Christmas or New Years might impact your guest count. Choose a Winter date that does not conflict with other holiday events.
We were married exactly 1 week before Christmas. This did take a few guests away from us on our day, but because we were able to skip the “save the dates” and just send out our invitiations way in advance, we still had great attendance.
Consider Having an Earlier Ceremony to Avoid Too Dark of an Event
My December wedding ceremony started at 2pm. After, the reception went until about 7pm. It was just dark enough for our exit with glow sticks, but not too dark as Winter nights often get.
Keep the Ceremony and Reception Indoors
It’s helpful to make your Plan A indoors. My husband and I originally thought we would try to make an outdoor ceremony work, but loved the cross window in the upstairs of the barn too much not to include that in our ceremony. Getting married indoors ended up being the best option for us as it elimitated stress and the need to create several plans on account of a potential winter storm or an especially chilly day.
Account for Inclement Weather - Especially Family Traveling from out of Town
While you never know if it will snow or be 75 degrees here in NC on a Winter day, if you have family traveling from up North to attend your wedding, try to make accomodations for them. Utilize the Farm Stay on First Fruits Farm to ensure your family arrives safely and in plenty of time to make the wedding.
Decide on a Theme
Don’t be afraid to use a holiday as your theme - Christmas or New Years. Every year after your wedding, when the holiday comes around, you will be graced with wedding memories too. My husband and I had a “Christmas Wedding” but without the red. I focused on the Christmas tree green color. Now, each year at Christmas, bringing a tree into our home reminds us of both Christ’s birth, and our wedding day- basically the two happiest things ever!
If you are not fond of a holiday theme, feel free to go for a general “Winter” theme or even a “Rustic” or “Wooded” theme. Make sure you talk with Tay about general holiday barn decor. The majority of the greenery and Christmas trees at our wedding were provided and set up by Tay and her team ahead of time (it was there for Christmas anyways). I loved this! My mom and I attended a December Open House prior to our wedding date so I was able to see and confirm everything that was already set up. Really, a huge help.
Use the Heaters and Patio Walls that the Amazing Graze Barn Provides
On my wedding day, we had the DJ set up outside on the covered patio. Truly, with the heaters and plastic walls the Amazing Graze Barn provided, the patio was very comfortable, not cold at all- especially for those of us that were dancing.
Image by Bridal Party
Pack Leggings to Wear Under Your Dress and Slippers or Fuzzy Socks for the Reception
My bridesmaids wore black leggings while getting ready. When it came time to put on their bridesmaid’s dresses, they decided to keep their leggings on for an extra layer of warmth. This worked as they were in flowy dresses and they rolled the leggings up a bit so you could not see them at their ankles. Guests never even knew, and my girls were comfortable the whole night.
Additionally, my bridesmaid’s and I packed matching fuzzy slippers to wear whilte getting ready and during the reception. We bought plain grey slippers with non-slip grip on the bottom at Target for less than $6 a piece. The original idea behind this was to just be comfortable, but it turned out to be a welcome extra layer. My girls even took turns “heating” their slippers by the Amazing Graze Barn heaters (pictured)!
Offer Coffee / Hot Cocoa at the Reception
One of my guest’s favorite extras at my wedding was our Hot Cocoa Bar (we offered coffee too). All the littles loved getting a cup of hot cocoa and adding their own toppings, and the adults appreciated the warm beverage to sip on as they socialized and enjoyed the wedding.
Take Advantage of the Outdoor Spaces - the Farm and Fire Pit
Image by Wedding Guest
I was surprised by the number of guests who spent part of the reception taking walks around First Fruits Farm. My guests loved getting close to nature, seeing the animals, and taking in the beauty of the farm. Many of them told me they took time during their walks to pray over our marriage.
I also noticed that several of my guests were huddled around the fire pit almost the entire time of the reception. Don’t forget to ask your caterer to have s’mores ingredients on stand by. S’mores double as an activity and tasty treat.
I loved that my guests took walks around the farm and stayed by the fire pit, it gave them the option to spend the evening in a way that was most enjoyable for them. Plus, I felt like we truly got to use the entire facility.
Discounts Galore!
One pleasant thing I noticed as I was planning our wedding were the discounts we received. Especially at the Amazing Graze Barn! To me, it was a super conveniet way to help my budget.