Discussion
Why have we all collectively agreed that spring and summer are the only seasons worthy of a wedding?
Who decided that romance only exists when the jacarandas are blooming and the sun doesn't set until eight o'clock?
I'm here to defend the winter wedding.
Because if you've ever stood at the top of the aisle in the middle of Australian summer, you'll know that romance can quickly become survival.
Palms extra clammy, a bead of sweat slowly making its way down your back… Your florist is nervously checking on arrangements that were perfectly happy an hour ago. And someone's aunt has somehow secured the only patch of shade.
But perhaps we've mistaken sunshine for romance.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of marrying a couple in the depths of winter. I live just south of Sydney, where this winter has been unexpectedly kind to us this year. The days have been crisp yet the sunshine warms your face without demanding anything from you.
Guests at this winter wedding arrived wrapped in wool coats. There was no rush to be anywhere else, or to find a piece of shade. There wasn't a fire pit at the venue, but it certainly felt like there should have been, especially as the evening loomed.
I could almost picture everyone gathered around it afterwards, sharing those stories whilst catching up with someone that they hadn’t seen in many years.
It made me wonder if winter has quietly been the most romantic season all along.
Perhaps what I love most about winter weddings is the way they invite texture into every corner of the day. The richness through wool, the linen that falls heavy, the brides with leather boots under their dresses and the velvet ribbons catching the candlelight. It feels warm and welcoming.
Textiles do far more than decorate a space, they shape it. Creating warmth for a space before anyone has entered.
The light? It feels different too. Softer and gentler. It wraps around people rather than glaring. The golden hour at weddings, I think it is at all hours.
Winter weddings feel a little slower, it asks us to gather a little closer as the seasons change. And perhaps that’s what marriage asks of us as well…
Can I just say, I do love a summer wedding as much as the next celebrant. But I do think winter deserves a little more credit, it often gets a bad rap. As Australians, we have a love affair with summer.
As a bonus, I do think your dream venue might even be available (and maybe a little cheaper). Your favourite photographer may have a little more flexibility. And yes, you might even save a few dollars by choosing the quieter season.
So, let's raise a toast to winter weddings.
To the wool coats, to the flickering candles, to slow afternoons, to gathering close…
To love that has never needed ‘perfect’ weather to feel extraordinary
By Bell x
