Wedding planning for different seasons

The United Kingdom offers a stunning backdrop for weddings throughout the year, with each season presenting its own unique charm, challenges, and opportunities. From the blooming gardens of spring to the cosy intimacy of winter celebrations, planning your wedding around a particular season allows you to embrace the natural beauty and distinctive atmosphere that time of year provides. Here’s your guide to wedding planning for different seasons.

Spring: Renewal and possibilities

Spring in the UK (March through May) symbolises new beginnings—a fitting theme for couples starting their married life together. As the countryside awakens from winter, you’ll find an abundance of natural beauty to incorporate into your celebration. When wedding planning for different seasons, Spring is the perfect option.

Weather Considerations: Spring weather in Britain is notoriously changeable. 17 degrees and above is common in March which is a real bonus. While April showers bring May flowers, they can also disrupt outdoor ceremonies. Always have a solid wet-weather contingency plan, particularly for early spring weddings. Consider marquees with solid flooring for garden venues, and keep clear umbrellas on hand for photographs.

Venue Highlights: Historic walled gardens come alive in spring, with venues like Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire offering breathtaking backdrops. Further afield, Camp Katur offers a unique woodland wedding experience in North Yorkshire, blending rustic charm with bohemian spirit. Their geodesic domes and outdoor ceremony spaces create magical settings for couples seeking natural, relaxed celebrations with glamping accommodation.

Seasonal Touches: Embrace the season with delicate floral arrangements featuring native blooms like bluebells, daffodils, tulips, and cherry blossoms. Spring menus can highlight fresh, local produce with dishes like asparagus tarts, spring lamb, and rhubarb desserts. Consider welcome drinks featuring elderflower, which begins blooming in late spring.

Colour Palette: Soft pastels work beautifully for spring celebrations, think blush pinks, gentle blues, and mint greens. Alternatively, vibrant combinations like yellow and cornflower blue capture the energy of the season.

Budget Tip: While not as expensive as summer, spring (especially May) is becoming increasingly popular for UK weddings. Book well in advance, but consider a March or early April date for potential savings, as these fall outside peak wedding season.

Summer: Celebration in full bloom

British summers (June through August) offer the longest days of the year, with evening light perfect for extended celebrations and outdoor photography. This is the UK’s most popular wedding season and for good reason.

Weather Considerations: While summer offers the best chance of sunshine, the British summer can still be unpredictable. Even in July and August, rain remains a possibility, so indoor alternatives are essential. Heat can occasionally be a challenge too so consider how to keep guests comfortable if temperatures soar.

Venue Highlights: The options are endless in summer. Country houses with expansive grounds like Babington House in Somerset shine in this season. Venues with acres of space like Clearwell Castle are perfect for summer days. When wedding planning for different seasons, ask your venue how they manage weather.

Seasonal Touches: Summer allows for abundant British-grown flowers from garden roses and peonies to sweet peas and dahlias. For catering, embrace the season with strawberries and cream, summer pudding, or a Pimm’s reception. Evening celebrations might include outdoor games on the lawn, fire pits as daylight fades, or even a midnight swim if your venue permits.

Colour Palette: Bright, cheerful colours work wonderfully in summer. Consider coral and turquoise, sunflower yellow and navy, or classic white with vibrant green foliage for a timeless look.

Budget Tip: Summer weddings, particularly Saturday celebrations, command premium prices. Consider a Friday or Sunday wedding, or even a Thursday if many guests are travelling anyway. Midweek weddings in peak summer can offer significant savings while still providing the summer experience.

Autumn: Rich, romantic warmth

Autumn (September through November) brings a magical quality to weddings with its rich colours, golden light, and atmosphere of abundance. As tourist crowds diminish, many spectacular venues become more accessible.

Weather Considerations: Early autumn often brings an Indian summer to parts of the UK, particularly in September. By October and November, preparations for cooler, potentially wet weather become necessary. Consider providing elegant wraps for female guests, and ensure heating is adequate in historic venues which can become chilly.

Venue Highlights: Venues with woodland settings or impressive gardens like Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire showcase spectacular foliage. Scottish castles against the backdrop of Highland autumn colours create unforgettable settings. For urban celebrations, consider venues with large windows that frame the autumnal cityscape.

Seasonal Touches: Incorporate seasonal elements like miniature pumpkins, apples, or branches with colourful leaves into your décor. Autumn menus can feature comforting dishes like venison, pheasant, or warming soups served in miniature pumpkins. Consider signature cocktails featuring sloe gin, apple cider, or blackberry liqueurs. Golden hour hits earlier in Autumn so why not co-ordinate your first dance around it. When wedding planning for different seasons, embrace Autumn as an option.

Colour Palette: The natural autumn palette offers rich inspiration: burgundy, amber, forest green, and gold create a luxurious atmosphere. For something less traditional, dusty blue works beautifully with copper accents.

Budget Tip: September remains popular but October and November can offer better value while still catching beautiful autumn colours. Many venues reduce their minimum guest numbers after summer, making intimate celebrations more accessible.

Winter: Atmospheric enchantment

Winter weddings (December through February) in the UK offer a distinctive charm with their potential for magical, light-filled celebrations during the darkest months. While requiring careful planning, they reward with unique atmosphere that other seasons simply cannot match. Book your registrar so your ceremony is no later than 1pm.

Weather Considerations: Embrace rather than fight the season, snow can transform your venue into something magical, though it may impact travel. Always have contingency plans for extreme weather, particularly in Scotland and northern England. Consider how an early sunset (potentially around 3:30-4:00 pm in December) will affect your timeline and photography.

Venue Highlights: Consider hotels with excellent indoor facilities and accommodation on-site to minimise guest travel in potentially challenging conditions. The beautiful Elmore Court is perfect in any season but I particularly love it in Winter.

Seasonal Touches: Create ambiance with abundant candles, fairy lights, and perhaps a subtle nod to Christmas if your wedding falls in December – though avoid turning your celebration into a Christmas party unless that’s specifically your theme. Winter menus might include gin-cured salmon, game dishes, or dramatic flaming desserts. Welcome drinks could feature mulled wine, spiced cider, or hot chocolate stations.

Colour Palette: Deep, rich tones work beautifully, emerald green, navy, or burgundy paired with metallics create luxury without looking festive. For a winter wonderland theme, ice blue with silver and white creates crystalline elegance.

Budget Tip: January and February (excluding Valentine’s Day) often represent the best value for UK weddings, with many venues offering significant discounts or inclusive packages. December can be expensive as it competes with Christmas parties, but early December often offers better rates than summer dates. When wedding planning for different seasons, Winter embraces the best bits of Autumn and adds a whole lot more!

Final thoughts

Whichever season you choose for your wedding, embrace its unique characteristics rather than fighting against them. Work with suppliers who understand the particular challenges and opportunities of your chosen time of year, particularly photographers who know how to capture the distinctive light each season offers. Check out our wide-ranging portfolio covering all seasons.

Remember that while weather plays a significant role in seasonal planning, the atmosphere you create matters more than perfect sunshine or pristine snow. With thoughtful planning and creative touches that honour the season, your wedding will be a beautiful celebration regardless of what the weather decides to do on your special day.