While having a wedding in the winter, you’re saving a ton of money and your guests are probably more available. But with that, it definitely comes with a cost here in the Chicago area. Hopefully it won’t be unbearable, but there are some things that you can do to try and combat the cold for your wedding day. We are going to make sure to run through everything you can do to make sure you and your guests can enjoy your wedding day without getting frostbite (just jokes, don’t worry too much!).

Have your Wedding Indoors

The most obvious way to deal with the cold is to host your wedding inside a building that has heat. This will be the easiest on your guests and ensure that everyone is comfortable. If you imagined your wedding outside and can’t imagine skipping it, I would definitely recommend a tent with walls so there is at least something blocking out the wind and cold weather. This will also help to keep the heat inside!

Provide Warm Drinks and Food

It may seem obvious, but this is a perfect time to provide some wintery drinks! Apple cider, hot chocolate, or other fun drinks will be a bit hit for your winter wedding. You also should make sure your dinner and appetizers have some warmth to keep everyone a little more warm.

Rent Heating Units

If you’re having your event outdoors, in a covered space, or in a tent, ask your rental company if they have heating units that will be safe for your wedding. You don’t want to create a fire hazard, but this will guarantee that your guests won’t have a freezing experience.

Provide Blankets

If you’re having your ceremony or reception outdoors, I would recommend providing some blankets. Your guests may not realize how much they will want a little extra coverage until they are sitting still in the cold for anywhere between 15-45 minutes. I would recommend getting large blankets that can cover multiple people if possible, but still providing enough that people may be able to use them to fully wrap themselves up.

Give the Guests some Alcohol

This may seem silly, but alcohol can definitely warm up your guests who partake. It will help your guests feel like it isn’t as bad in the cold, and they will also be more willing to potentially dance the cold away!

Make Sure to Get them Dancing

Along the lines from the last one, you’ll probably want to try keeping your guests moving so they stay warm. I would make sure you have a great DJ or band to ensure that the guests are excited to move around and dance!

As we are coming up on those colder wintery months, it’s probably wise to consider how you should handle the weather for your wedding day. With these tips, you’ll be able to make sure your guests aren’t miserable during your wedding day. You can’t change the weather, but you surely can change these things to help alleviate some frigidness for you and your guests.

If you would like more help to plan your wedding, you can reach out to me at hello@firmlyrootedevents.com. Let me know if you’re planning a winter wedding and how you’re planning on dealing with that!