‘Love all the seasons, because every season has its own treasures’ – Mehmet Murat ildan
Choosing which season to hold your wedding? Here we try and help you by listing some of the pros and cons of holding your wedding in Wales at different times of the year.
An exciting Spring Wedding
As a Spring baby I will always argue for a Spring wedding. One of the main draws is that Spring is a Symbol of Renewal which goes hand in hand with your vows. The newness and expectations from this season bring with it hope and anticipation– as a couple about to embark on your new life together.
Spring is also a top choice for all of the natural beauty that comes with it. Daffodils, peonies, wisteria, tulips and rhododendrons are in abundance especially at Plas
Dinam. These all look fabulous in a wildflower bouquet too! Spring is great for outdoor ceremonies, although it is always advisable to have a backup plan in case of Spring showers.
The nights are beginning to draw out and the natural light is a beautiful backdrop for wedding photographs. Guests’ moods are significantly uplifted from the sunshine and light and the changing of the trees from bare wood to lush, green leaves.
Cons against Spring are that it can also be more difficult to pin down a good date as it is a popular time. It can also be difficult for people with allergies and the weather can be unpredictable.
Pros are that there will be less of your guests on holiday compared to the summer months. Guests are always extra excited to be going to a wedding, probably their first of the year! Pastel flowers are readily available and there are more of these softer hues in dresses and suits. Light and airy dresses are very popular and extremely pretty – pair them with light scarves, soft cardigans or floaty jackets.
An Outdoor Summer Wedding?
Summer is the most popular season for weddings with approximately 40% of weddings taking place then. And it is understandable because there is a better chance of a sunny day and natural beauty is thriving all around.
For flowers we see more roses, clematis, dahlias, salvias and hydrangeas which explode with various colours and sizes making for an impressive bouquet or backdrop flowers. At Plas Dinam the wild flower meadows are in full bloom, boasting ca
rpets of rare wild orchids, a stunning sight.
On sunny days there will be a soft evening light that is perfect for romantic photographs and the warm, dry days will allow your guests to have more space to saunter out in the gardens and mingle around the evening firepit. Summer also provides the perfect opportunity to put on a festival-style wedding with an outdoor ceremony, music on the lawns and outside bars. A shady woodland ceremony is a great option and you may need to use the stretch tent for your drinks reception.
Fashion can be a lot more flexible and you can experiment with big, bold colours or blend in with softer, natural hues. Bohemian dresses also fit in well with the festival themes.
Seasonal drinks are a lot more sparkling and fruity with Pimms, Sangria, Mojitos and Spritzers being amongst the most popular choices. Food is also more adventurous with a rise in charcuterie tables, salads, wood-fired pizzas and burger vans.
The only real cons for a Summer wedding are that it can be the most expensive time of year. In summer you will more likely to have a very hot day (although this is less of a problem and green Mid Wales). It is a busy time of year so securing your date maybe more tricky.
A colourful Autumn Wedding
Autumn provides your big day with a lot more cosy vibes and beautiful rich colours. With the changing leaves, we are blessed with oranges, browns and yellows that will make your outfit choices easier. Colours that blend in well with Autumn hues will make choosing so much simpler.
For photographs, the colours will also play an important role and make it more atmospheric. There are crisp, clear skies and the Harvest moon adds to a dramatic image. You could make it more seasonal by adding in pumpkins and harvest fruits alongside wood elements and Autumn foliage.
Although the weather can be more unpredictable thanSummer or Spring (although, is that truly the case in the UK?), you are likely to have crisp, sunny days with dramatic sunsets that will add depth to your photographs. And the falling leaves provide that sensational backdrop. It is also a lot more comfortable weather-wise than the harsh Summer sun.
Décor is generally more rustic and you can provide a warming atmosphere with candles and lanterns. Hops are great for decorating the Stables. You can lay on a feast and provide more comfort foods such as stews, casseroles, curries and chillis with drinks like ciders and punches being a good option. Flowers can be enhanced with stunning foliage and seasonal flowers such as Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Aster and Coppertips.
Cons for Autumn are that, again, the weather can be rather unpredictable and the dark settles in a lot quicker. Pros are that it tends to be cheaper than summer.
A candlelit cosy Winter wedding
A lot of couples prefer the romanticism that surrounds a Wint
er and Christmas wedding. With its crisp mornings and low sunlight, rolling fog and snowy landscapes you can be spoilt with beautiful photographs.
Colours can focus around whites and silver, with the Groomsmen suited in wool blends and tweeds. Early sunsets will provide photographs earlier on in the d
ay, allowing the evenings to be freed up for partying!we
It is the perfect opportunity to decorate your venue with fairy lights, Christmas trees, reds, greens and velvets. Fashion can be longer-sleeve dresses with thicker, more luxurious materials and accentuated with stoles, capes and robes. Men can dress more elegantly with velvet jack
ets with tails and waistcoats. It’s the perfect opportunity for vintage chic!
Enhance your venue with cosy fireplaces and warm, indoor room
s decorated with soft lighting, candles and winter foliage.
The weather, being always unpredictable in the Winter, will take the stress of having the perfect weather away as you can hold the venue indoors. There are just as many beautiful, atmospheric photographs to be had from a cosy, dark wedding room inside your venue.
Some of the best reasons to hold a Winter wedding include its availability as it is a less popular time of year to get married, the sumptuous comfort food you can provide for your guests (maybe even a Christmas dinner) and it can be significantly cheaper.
The obvious cons are the weather unpredictability and the fact that, in extreme snow, some of your guests may not be able to get there. But how beautiful would it be with some of those warming, seasonal touches?
Whatever season you choose will be significant and special to you and we are here to help you with ideas for your most perfect seasonal day.