Winter Wedding Decor Ideas

Lisa Gorjestani, the event planner behind Details Event Planning in Los Angeles, shows how to warm up a cold night.

winter wedding reception
White and silver were the only two colors at the reception.

The bride knew she wanted a winter-themed wedding. “The couple held the wedding right after Thanksgiving, to kick off the holiday season,” Lisa says. The look started with a giant wreath of fir boughs, pinecones and holly affixed to the door of the church, which opened to reveal a small forest of fir trees trimmed in fairy lights. The bride’s bouquet of white roses with silver dusty miller played on the silvery theme, as did the crystal-and-pearl snowflake she wore in her hair.

winter wedding reception

Images of wintry branches were projected onto the dance floor, and the huge decorated fir trees marked the perimeter.

But Lisa saved the real drama for the reception. It started with an enormous fir tree, flocked with snow and hung with snowdrop crystals, each bearing a guest’s name and table number. To trim the tree, guests were given squares of white fabric on which to write their names and best wishes. A dozen more snow-flocked fir trees ringed the ballroom, and images of branches flickered on the walls and white dance floor. Gleaming silver candelabra, topped with masses of baby’s breath, graced each table, and a hedge of hydrangea and white branches, dressed with silver glass balls, framed the bandstand. Two lounges were furnished with white couches and low tables set with square mirror boxes filled with hydrangeas.

winter wedding menu card and program
Glass chargers edged with beads made the tables gleam. Programs had a sparkly pinecone motif.

The white table linens were embroidered in silver thread in a hexagon pattern. Cut-crystal goblets echoed the sheen of beaded glass chargers. A silver menu, adorned with an appliqué crystal snowflake, perched atop each setting. At the end of the evening, guests downed hot chocolate shots in mini mugs. “We went for a wintry wonderland look,” says Lisa, “and I think we achieved it!” clockwise from top left:

winter wedding cake
Snowflake shapes were a recurring wedding motif. The cake was a wonder in white and silver, topped off by a silver "ribbon."

Photography by Red Loft Studios. Cake photo by Starla Fortunato.

More décor ideas by season:

Spring
Summer
Fall

Need more ideas? Browse hundreds of photos from real weddings.