Are you planning a winter wedding? You don’t have to get married to a Christmas theme! Just follow Oaks Manor Events’ tips and ideas for the perfect wintery wedding day.
Choose Your Colors
Many brides choose reds, greens, and winter whites for their seasonal weddings. That certainly doesn’t mean you have to! Choose your own palette of colors — even pastels work with frosty undertones. Jewel-toned colors are also a huge hit for this season.
This is the time to break out that fur — real or fake — or a dramatic cape to wear over your gown. It will look amazing in your outdoor pictures!
Make Your Own Wonderland
Just because you’re getting married in the winter doesn’t mean you have to have a winter wonderland theme. Choose small accents — one of our favorites is a hot chocolate bar — to complement the season, but you don’t have to plan everything around the winter theme. It’s your day. Embrace as much or as little of the season as you want.
Foods and Florals
The availability of certain foods and flowers will change in the winter months. Work with your caterer to craft a seasonal menu. Your florist may recommend wintery flowers such as white roses, calla lilies, and poinsettias, but the decision is all yours.
Wear What You Want
Don’t feel that you and your bridesmaids have to wear long-sleeved gowns. Wear the dresses you want! A thoughtful attendant gift is a soft pashmina or shawl to keep warm during and between outdoor pictures.
Schedule Your Photos Carefully
If you will be taking outdoor photos, remember that it gets dark quite early in the winter. Make sure everyone knows the schedule and is available for the photos before evening hits.
Coat Check
Your guests will likely be wearing winter coats to your event, so a thoughtful addition to any reception is a coat check.
Inclement Weather
Be prepared for inclement weather. Talk to both the ceremony and reception venues about what to do if poor weather prevents your wedding from taking place.
Receiving Lines
Rather than having your receiving line in a place where guests will have to wait in the cold, like on the way into the reception, plan ahead. Receive your guests where they can stay inside to congratulate you.
Wedding Favors
Instead of the usual wedding favors, consider a soft, light blanket that your guests can use throughout the day when there’s a chill in the air.
How to Create a Vendor List from Scratch
To start building your vendor list, begin with a list of wedding vendors that are most essential to your vision. At Oaks Manor, couples often bring in their own:
- Caterers and bartenders
- Florists and decorators
- Musicians or DJs
- Photographers and videographers
- Officiants
- Hair and makeup teams
- Rental companies for furniture, tents, or décor
You can use a vendor list template, a spreadsheet, a wedding planning app, or even a shared Google Document to track key details. Be sure to include names, contact info, arrival/setup times, and payment deadlines. Your event vendor list doesn’t need to be fancy; it just needs to be clear, accessible, and shared with the people who need it.
Choosing the Right Vendors for an Estate Wedding
Since Oaks Manor is only a host location, we don’t lock you into a preferred vendor list. That means you’re free to work with the professionals you love most and build a day that reflects your style, priorities, and budget.
Still, the best vendors are those who understand you, your style, your pace, and your goals. Set up calls, read reviews, and don’t be afraid to ask, “Have you worked at an event venue like this before?” The right team will be just as excited as you are to bring your ideas to life.
Best Practices for a Vendor List
As you finalize your list of vendors for an event, consider the following tips.
- Keep everything in one place. Whether it’s digital or on paper, your vendor list should include full names, phone numbers, email addresses, contracts, and notes regarding responsibilities.
- Share your timeline. Your vendors should know when they can arrive, when they need to be finished, and where they will be setting up. Oaks Manor’s flexibility makes this easy; we offer extended access for setup and breakdown.
- Confirm details in writing. A well-organized vendor contact list is your insurance against miscommunication.
- Stay in touch. A quick check-in with each vendor a week before your wedding helps avoid last-minute surprises.
Maintaining clear communication and records of conversations will help you keep track of your plans and ensure everything is clear for you and your vendors.
FAQ’s
Seeking more information on creating a vendor list? See the frequently asked questions below or contact our team, and we will be happy to help!
Why is a vendor list important?
A vendor list helps you stay organized, ensures vendors know where and when to appear, and provides everyone with a clear point of contact.
When you’re managing an event as unique as a wedding at a private estate, that level of coordination can make all the difference.
What is a Vendor List?
A document that keeps track of all the professionals and services involved in your event. Including how to contact them, dates, prices, arrival and departure times, legal information, important details or conversations, and any other relevant information you need to keep track of for your event.
How to Create a Vendor List?
This is your all-in-one organizer. Your vendor list should include each vendor’s business name, contact person, phone number & email, arrival/setup times, contract status, remaining balance due, important conversations, legal agreements, and any other relevant details you want to remember. Keep it somewhere accessible, such as a shared Google Sheet, a wedding planning app, or a printed folder that you bring to the venue.
Plan Your Event at Oaks Manor
At Oaks Manor, we offer space for up to 180 guests, provide outdoor ceremonies, and feature a brand-new carriage house that is perfect for cocktail hour. Please get in touch with our team, and we will arrange a time for you to take a tour.
