A winter wedding used to mean celebrations spent shivering in a pashmina, but now outfits that are both wedding – and weather – appropriate are beginning to appear on the high street. The fashion world has woken up to the fact that increasing numbers us are choosing to get married in the colder months.
Google searches for “winter wedding” have increased every year since 2004, with a spike last year likely to be topped in 2018. One reason is that making your vows midweek in November or December can mean savings of £7,895, according to wedding website Hitched.co.uk.
“It’s not just the cost saving that has given winter weddings a boost,” says Sarah Allard, the website’s editor. “Thanks to Pinterest and Instagram, couples are aware how beautiful a winter wedding can be – we’ve seen a 900% increase in searches for winter wedding ideas.”
Faux fur is the most obvious alternative to a cashmere wrap (or your everyday coat, shrugged on and off between photos). With Burberry, Gucci and Versace among designers banning real fur from their collections, faux is the way to go, with colourful cropped bombers, shearling jackets and teddy-bear coats.
“Our shearling pieces have been hugely popular this season,” says Clare Hornby of London stores Me + Em. “They’re practical because they keep you warm, but they’re glamorous enough for a dressed-up affair.”
Athleisure – having seeped into the rest of our wardrobes – is working its way into wedding wear in coat form. Puffas and other padded jackets are acceptable for brides and guests after luxe versions from Versace, Chanel and Mary Katrantzou appeared on this season’s catwalks. Outdoor label Regatta has seen a 115% increase in searches for “puffer” in the past year, while net sales of women’s insulated jackets are up 28%.
From sparklers to mulled wine and crimson flowers, winter nuptials are perfect Insta-bait, but there has also been trickle-down from that other great influencer: the royal wedding. Despite getting hitched at the height of summer, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, opted for a long-sleeve Givenchy dress, sparking copycat versions ideal for a winter ceremony. Designers including Self Portrait and Stella McCartney currently feature long-sleeve bridal gowns and, on the high street, H&M’s wedding collection, launched in October, includes two long-sleeve dresses.
Princess Eugenie opted for long sleeves for her October wedding, but arguably the real trendsetter that day was model Cara Delevingne, who broke the royal dress code by attending in top hat and tails. For guests not that brave, tuxedo dresses, as worn by Meghan to a performance of Hamilton, are proving just as popular. Versions by Alexander McQueen, Zara, Victoria Beckham and Missguided are currently in greatest demand, according to global fashion search platform Lyst, which also saw searches for women’s tuxedo dresses rise 85% during the last week of November.
The final hurdle? Footwear. Those dreaming of a snow-white wedding may take (literal) comfort in the popularity of the hiking boot. Brides hitching up their dresses to flash chunky boots in the snow are becoming a #winterwedding Instagram trope. For guests reluctant to team a posh frock with ranger boots, flats are proving popular. Last month, Manolo Blahnik’s Decade of Love limited collection included not only a re-release of the Hangisi high heel – as worn by Carrie Bradshaw on the wedding day that never was – but also flat versions of the iconic shoe.
Millennials are also reportedly driving a trend for bejewelled, embroidered and sequinned bridal trainers suitable for wet weather and post-wedding wear. Either way, cold feet can certainly be avoided.