40 Elegant winter wedding ideas on a budget

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Written By Olivia Miller

Author at Montessori Expert.

Hey there, planning your winter wedding? You’re in for a treat. I’ve got winter wedding ideas that’ll make your big day absolutely unforgettable.

From a cozy December wedding to a crisp January wedding, winter celebrations hit different. Your winter wedding ideas elegant touches can transform any venue into something magical, while winter wedding ideas snow elements add that extra sparkle you can’t get any other season. 

Looking for winter wedding ideas arch inspiration? Got you covered. Maybe you’re planning winter wedding ideas march or winter wedding ideas november – each month brings its own special charm.

The best part? Winter themed wedding vibes work perfectly for both a fancy winter wonderland wedding ideas setup or a simple winter wedding that feels like home.

And if you’re dreaming of winter wedding ideas green accents or home winter wedding ideas, you’re in for some serious inspiration that’ll make your winter wedding ceremony feel uniquely yours.

Unique Winter Wedding Ideas

1. HOT COCOA BAR
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Since you are planning a winter wedding, you can bet it’s going to be freezing outside and maybe even inside.

I mean does anyone else have a problem heating their homes when it’s really cold outside or is that just me?

Anyway, setting up a hot cocoa bar is a great way for the guests to warm up and it will make sitting in the cold a little more tolerable.

Include hot cocoa mix already made or in packets, and lots of toppings. I love marshmallows, whipped cream, wafers, and candy canes.

2. TO HAVE + TO HOLD
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Every winter wedding needs to include a blanket station. No one wants to sit outside in the cold wearing a thin dress. Maybe not thin but you get the idea.

Set up a blanket station using wicker baskets and a chalkboard sign. On the sign just write ” To Have + To Hold In Case You Get Cold”.

It’s super cute and will let guests know they can take one. Plus, this can also serve as your wedding favor.

3. BURGUNDY WEDDING BOUQUET
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First of all, can we discuss how insanely beautiful this bouquet is?

The rich colors will look stunning against the bride’s white dress and will really stand out, especially if It’s a snowy winter.

Make this bouquet using burgundy roses, holly berries, baby’s breath, and lots of greenery.

4. WARM CENTERPIECE IDEA
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Every table needs a gorgeous centerpiece that’ll set the mood. Recreate this one using wood slices, greenery, and lots of candles.

You can also add pops of color here and there by incorporating holly berries.

If your wedding is going to have dimmer lights and a more romantic/warm feel to it, this is definitely a great option.

5. NAKED WEDDING CAKE
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You cannot tell me this doesn’t give off major winter and Christmas vibes. Naked cakes have become super popular in recent years.

If you don’t know what naked cakes are, they are basically regular cakes that don’t have a lot of frosting. Some say it looks unfinished while others love it, It all depends on your preference.

But this is definitely great for those who don’t love a lot of frosting (me, haha). You’ll notice that almost all cakes are packed with frosting.

I usually just scrape everything off and just eat the spongy part and it is still very delicious and sweet.

If you love those great, if not, this is another option you can consider.

6. LET IT SNOW
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If you’re looking for some fun send-off ideas, this is a great one! Set up a station where guests can pick up a cone to use during the send-off.

Fill the cones with fake snow and get a chalkboard sign that includes the send-off time along with a cute saying.

Add a picture or two and some beautiful flowers and get ready to celebrate!

7. SEATING CHART
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This is another gorgeous addition to your winter wedding. Buy a wooden pallet and spray paint it white with hints of grey and black to give it a kind of rustic/old look.

You can either make the seating charts yourself or have them custom-made. You’ll find lots of great designs on Etsy so definitely check that out.

Hang up the charts using clothespins and add fairy lights for the perfect illumination. Also, add a eucalyptus garland to brighten it up a bit.

8. WEDDING AISLE DECOR
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The most common wedding aisle decor that people swear by is the classic flowers and greenery combination.

Try something a little different and much more festive this winter by recreating this instead. Buy lots of glass cylinder candles and pair them with lots of greenery.

You can place the candles on wood slices for a more rustic approach or just place them on the ground by themselves.

You can stop here but if you want to go a step further, buy a few Christmas trees and place them at the front. It adds a lot of festive cheer and the pictures will turn out great!

9. DON’T GET COLD FEET
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Haha, how cute is this?! If you’re planning on having your wedding outdoors, it’s going to be cold obviously.

Make sure your guests stay warm during the harsh weather by creating a station where guests can take a pair of fuzzy socks to wear.

I know some people worry about the pictures not turning out great because of the socks or any other warm weather gear you may out out but, there is a simple solution to all your problems.

Simply remove them beforehand, lol! It’s easy enough right? This way your guests will stay warm and the pictures will look amazing as well.

10. CARAMEL APPLE BAR
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Who doesn’t love caramel apples right? I absolutely love the idea of having a caramel apple bar at your wedding. It’s a great way to add a bit of fun to serving food and it tastes delicious.

You can serve your apples whole or cut them into slices. I suggest slices since they are easier to eat and less messy but it’s totally up to you.

Include plenty of dippings like Nutella, caramel, and melted chocolate. For toppings think peanuts, chocolate chips, and toffee.

Make sure to include a variety of options for both because your guests will like different things. Take a look at the tutorial here.

11. CHOCOLATE DIPPED STRAWBERRIES
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I’m pretty sure all of us have had chocolate-covered strawberries at least once. So, you know firsthand how delightfully delicious these treats are.

Creating a chocolate-dipped station or display is actually a fantastic idea.

Not only does it give your guests something sweet to snack on but, chocolate-covered strawberries are often a sign of romance.

They are a symbol of love and devotion so why wouldn’t you want them at your wedding?

12. COOKIES AND MILK
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If you’re looking for snack/food ideas for your winter wedding, this is a great one. Get a shelf ladder and place cups of milk and cookies on there.

They are a great snack idea and if you’re worried about the milk getting warm, don’t be because the winter breeze will keep it cool.

13. PINE CONE AND CEDAR CENTERPIECE
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If you are planning on having a long rectangular table at your wedding, then this idea is perfect for you. Grab a few cedar garlands, cylinder glass candles, and some pine cones.

You’ll want to first place the garlands along the length of the table and then place the candles in between. Don’t forget to incorporate a few pine cones here and there.

You can use artificial cedar garlands to recreate this look but I highly recommend real cedar. They look a lot fresher and they smell absolutely divine!

14. S’MORES TABLE
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S’mores are a classic treat. I used to have them all the time when I was at camp. Guests will love this treat and will have lots of fun assembling it themselves.

Get a large tray and add your graham crackers, Hershey’s chocolates, marshmallows, and of course a skewers.

You can also include mini portable fireplaces on the tray so people can roast the marshmallows or opt for a big bonfire outdoors instead.

I recommend the second because it just feels much more nostalgic and guests can sit around and chat while they snack.

15. FROSTED MASON JAR

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Have you seen a mason jar so beautiful? These look so incredibly magical and are honestly a great addition to your winter wedding.

You may think this is hard to recreate but it only takes 5 minutes and is super easy. You’ll need mason jars, hemp twine, Mod Podge, and fairy lights. You can check out the tutorial here.

The very last step would be to add a couple of natural elements to these mason jars. Think pine cones, berries, and conifer cutting.

16. FROSTED WINE BOTTLE CENTERPIECE

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We’ve got another DIY centerpiece idea you’ll love. If you have some empty wine bottles lying around, recreate this gorgeous idea instead of throwing them out.

You’ll need three clear wine bottles, frosted glass spray paint, painter’s tape, jute twine, faux greenery, and some fairy lights for that magical effect.

Take a look at the full tutorial here.

17. GEOMETRIC CENTERPIECE

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You can never have too many centerpieces at your wedding. Instead of going the usual route and using plain vases, try out geometrical ones instead.

In my opinion, these look much better than if you were to have regular vases with flowers. You can buy gold-rimmed geometric vases from Amazon or Etsy for really cheap.

Buy some LED fairy lights and place them inside and also add a few faux greenery to brighten things up.

18. DONUT STATION
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I think we can all agree that weddings are our cheat days. There are just way too many good food options that you cannot help but try.

Donuts especially, are my number one fave. I’m fairly certain almost everyone loves them as well.

Create a little donut station and include a variety of different flavors that guests can choose from.

The most popular options are glazed and chocolate but definitely include others as well. You can place them on a table or on tiered trays.

If your wedding will have a rustic theme to it, I suggest you place the donuts on wood slice tiered trays.

19. END OF TABLE DECOR
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We generally focus the table decorations on top of the surface but what about the end? They deserve some love too.

Place a table runner along the length. This can be a plain white cloth or something with more designs, the decision is totally up to you.

Now place garlands along the length of the table on top as well and make sure it drops until it reaches the floor. Add a little warmth to the decor and place a candle lantern beside it.

20. POLAROID GUEST BOOK
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Instead of having people simply write down their names in a guest book, have them take cute pictures instead.

There are so many people at weddings and some you don’t even know. Especially if you’re allowing plus ones.

Having a Polaroid guest book will make it so much easier to remember who was present on your special day. You can just set up a little table by the entrance with a Polaroid camera.

You can also add some props like glasses and headbands if you want it to be a bit more fun.

I definitely recommend setting up a photo backdrop nearby so guests don’t get other people in their shot and, the pictures will turn out much better.

21. CUPCAKE STAND
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Who doesn’t love cupcakes? I think serving cupcakes instead of cakes at your winter wedding is an excellent idea.

They are just as delicious as cakes but they are a lot less cheaper. Depending on the size of your wedding and the guests, your wedding cake can range from $300 to $2000.

That’s not including any special designs or add-ons. While you can get a dozen cupcakes for about $30. I think the cupcakes get a win on this for sure.

Plus each guest can get their own individual so you don’t have to worry about people touching the cake.

22. CHAIR SASHES
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Instead of leaving the chairs plain, add a gorgeous chair sash instead. Leaving the chairs with nothing on them is totally fine and in most cases, what people prefer.

But in my opinion, adding chair sashes makes them look one hundred times more elegant and classy. I found a pretty similar one to the one above on Amazon if you would like to buy it.

23. GREENERY AND FAIRY LIGHTS
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Greenery and fairy lights are two of the most wonderful things to add to your winter wedding.

Not only do the fairy lights add some much-needed warmth, but combining them with the greenery makes everything look a lot brighter.

You can incorporate these elements practically anywhere. You can use them for centerpieces, for lighting, or you can add them to wooden poles like above.

24. PHOTO BACKDROP
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Does this not look magical, wonderful, and all things beautiful? This is honestly amazing for your wedding.

The bride and groom can take the most stunning pictures here as well as the guests. You can use a wooden pallet to recreate this idea.

Incorporate lots of greenery to make the frame-like outline, weave in some red roses, add fairy lights above to add warmth and illumination, and lastly place a bunch of lanterns on the ground.

25. WINTER WEDDING PROGRAM
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Another simple yet amazing winter wedding idea is attaching springs of evergreen to the wedding programs. This will give it a much-needed pop of color and it’ll smell incredible.

Since it looks incredible, guests may even take it home and keep it. If you want to take it a step further, you can also add a cute little ornament as well.

26. WEDDING WREATH
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Do you have an awkward corner that you don’t know how to decorate? Then this is the perfect idea for you. Grab a stand and place a large, gorgeous wreath on it.

You can add some roses, pine cones, and holly berries in between to make it a more winter/Christmas decor but whatever wreath you choose will look just as beautiful.

You can also get a custom banner that says “The adventure begins”. This would look fantastic at the entrance as well.

27. BLUE TABLE DECOR

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This may just be my absolute favorite table decor. Blue is a winter color so why not incorporate it into your wedding?

There are so many shades to choose from and so many different elements you can add. You can incorporate blue roses, artificial plants, and natural elements like pine cones.

You can place these on top of a light/pastel blue table runner cloth. To make sure everything is cohesive and complements each other, I suggest you use blue plates and glasses as well.

28. GIFT STATION
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I know most people just use a simple table for guests to place their gifts on but, If you want to add a more festive touch to your winter wedding, this is the idea you need to recreate.

Buy a large Christmas tree and decorate it how you want. I suggest lots of gold, blue, and white to keep in theme with “winter”.

This can serve as your gift station. Guests can place all of the gifts they brought underneath the tree. It’ll make it feel like Christmas!

29. GLITTERING TABLE DECOR
AD 4nXdSdx1TME orXW oZZ6e0hYBBKcU Ts4w WRTZ0FilYw4t7CbNfvy4OQZkmGSnxYwURe tZvlo0FyIDemtCFGbH4i3XCDdocba7fUUWHAiILCbFXaQsRcjaBJV9XZZN7rHJKmGnhpol

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Here is another magical table decor idea that’ll grab everyone’s attention. Place garlands on the length of the table.

Buy some glass tea light holders and place tea lights inside, haha! I bet you already knew that.

Now incorporate fairy lights for the perfect amount of illumination and add gold ribbons here and there.

For the very last element, you’ll have to make glittering snowflakes. This entire table is just *chef’s kiss*. Here is the tutorial.

30. FLOATING CANDLES CENTERPIECE
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I think we’ve all seen the viral floating candles idea on TikTok a few years back right? It was actually made for Christmas with holly berries and mini trees inside.

You can still recreate this exact same one for your wedding or go with something a little more simpler like above.

DIY the floating candles and then place them in the middle of the table. Now grab lots of faux greenery and make a circle around the candle.

You can layer the greenery on top of each other to give it a more fluffy look.

You can leave it at that but if you want, you can also incorporate pine cones and spray on some faux snow to give it a winter wonderland look.

Here is the tutorial.

31. STAIR DECORATIONS
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In some weddings, the bride only walks down the aisle but in others, they also walk down the stairs and then down the aisle to meet the groom.

If your wedding is the second, then you’ll need to decorate the steps. You can go all out or create something more subtle.

For example, you can place garlands all the way down the steps and then add in candles.

It’s not over the top to the point where it will take the focus away from the bride but, it is still beautiful.

32. WINTER WEDDING TABLESCAPE
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Looking for the best winter wedding ideas for your big day? This is a great one to add. This tablescape is the perfect mix between moody and romantic.

If that’s your vibe, then you should definitely recreate this. The green of the garlands and the dark red are truly a match made in heaven.

If you want your winter wedding to lean a bit more toward Christmas, this tablescape is great for that too.

33. KEEP THE FIRE BURNING
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Thank your guests for showing up and celebrating this big day with you by sending them home with cute wedding favors.

Get a chalkboard sign and write down “Keep the fire burning”. Buy however many candles you need for your guests and create a little station where they can just take one as they exit.

34. JENGA GUESTBOOK
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How fun is this? As I said before, instead of having your guests simply write down their names in a book, you can tell them to take pictures instead.

But if you want to go a different route, then this is perfect! Guests will have fun playing this fun game and it serves as a guestbook as well.

You can actually have these jenga pieces framed after everyone’s signed them and make a gorgeous display.

You hang it up in your living room so you can remember all the fun you’ve had on the happiest day of your life.

35. LET LOVE SPARKLE
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If you’re holding your ceremony later in the evening, this is the perfect send-off idea you can use.

Tell guests to each take one sparkler and light the way for the bride and groom in time for their send-off. Imagine how beautiful the pictures will look!

36. COFFEE BAR
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While most people love hot chocolate and can’t get enough, others may not be a fan. Which is why you should have more than just one type of drink being served.

You can set up a coffee bar outside or inside for guests to make themselves.

I suggest including styrofoam cups instead of real ones because they can just throw it away. But if you want to add a more luxe and elegant feel, real cups would be the better choice.

Make sure to add sugar, cream, and flavoring. Caramel and vanilla are the most popular choices but you can also include hazelnut and mocha as well.

37. KIDS TABLE
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If you are allowing kids to join the celebration, you will obviously need a kids’ table. Some are very rowdy and like to run around all the time, which is not good at a wedding.

So I recommend including fun activities for them to do and keep them entertained. Think coloring books, board games, or even including a tablet for them to use.

38. SWEETHEART TABLE
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Debating on whether you should set up a head table or a sweetheart table? If you want to conversate with friends and family, go with the head.

But if you want to share an intimate moment with your partner and enjoy all the romantic feels with just the two of you, I suggest the sweetheart table.

Personally, I would choose the sweetheart table and if you would too, this is an excellent idea for you to recreate. Place lots of greenery, roses, and candles on and around your table.

Not only does it look mesmerizing but it also adds to the romantic atmosphere. You can also include fairy lights and pine cones if you want to add more illumination and natural elements.

39. WEDDING FAVORS
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Last but definitely not least, we’ve got thoughtful wedding favors for guests. Most people enjoy hot chocolate, especially in the winter.

So they would obviously make for the perfect wedding favor and guests will actually use them.

Include hot cocoa mix and all the toppings in a mason jar for guests to make themselves and drink.

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