This week marks 32 years since the ultimate wedding movie, Father of the Bride, came out on screens. Almost three decades later, the Steve Martin classic remains one of the best films out there to portray the insanity of the planning process—the guest list cutting scene rings especially true for anyone who has ever had to do the same. But aside from its realistic and hilarious portrayal of event planning, Father of the Bride is also unforgettable because it features one of the most beautiful winter weddings of all time. Remember her long sleeved lace dress? Or the swans waddling around the snow covered tulip border? And the heaters that had to be brought in at the last minute?
In honor of the hit movie’s anniversary, and because it is the season, after all, we’re looking back at some of our favorite winter weddings. Below, enjoy some of the snowiest, coziest, and most magical ceremonies and receptions.
Savannah Miller and James Whewell’s December Wedding Inspired by Arthurian Legend
Savannah and James selected a December date for their wedding because of their deep adoration for Christmastime. Plus, they knew they could sing carols all day long. The bride’s sister, Sienna Miller, entered the church in a wintry blue velvet dress with a warm oversized jacket and platform heels. She, like all of the other guests, embraced the opportunity to wear festive attire. The bride remembers, “It was just incredible to see all of our loved ones gathered together, singing their hearts out all dressed to the nines for a glamorous Christmas party.”
Camille Charriere and Francois Larpin’s “Roaring 2020s” Wedding Celebration in Paris
December has always been Camille’s favorite time of year in Paris. “We knew COVID might come knocking, but at least keeping it to the town where my family lives meant that worst case it would be just a very small family gathering, and if we got lucky, we could have a big party with all our loved ones,” she tells Vogue. After the private civil ceremony, everyone changed for celebratory cocktails at Maxim’s followed by a seated dinner for 180 guests.
Samantha Grecco and Raúl Hernández’s Manhattan Wedding in the Midst of a Winter Cyclone
Ahead of their January wedding in New York City, the bride and groom wished for a light dusting of snow. Instead, they got a snow bomb cyclone. Miraculously, though, the weather only added to the romantic and brooding aesthetic they wanted and even brought the finishing touch to their outdoor décor: icicles. The Tavern on the Green staff took turns shoveling the courtyard for the bride and groom’s magical wedding photos.
Cora Thomas and Henry Guest’s Winter White Wedding in New York
“We also got the first snowfall of the year that day, which made it even more magical,” the bride says of her wedding. After the reception wrapped up, the newlyweds and their friends headed to the penthouse at the London Hotel and had a “crazy little after party.” “At around 2:00 a.m., two of my closest friends performed a scene from White Christmas called ‘Sisters, Sisters,’” Cora remembers. “Big blue caribou fans emerged along with spot on choreography. If you know the movie, you will understand—it was amazing and hilarious!”
Molly Whitehall and Toby Wilkinson’s Winter English Wedding in Wiltshire
The born and bred Londoners always knew they wanted a winter English wedding. “If you get married in winter in England, you just plan for the weather to be miserable, and nothing relies on it, so then you don’t feel disappointed or have plans scuppered when it’s bad, you just embrace it!” Molly says.
Elisabeth Mersier and Karim Kamareddine’s Intimate Wedding in Manhattan
“Since I was getting married in the winter, [Meredith Stoecklein of Lein] showed me a sample of a short dress with covered buttons and three-quarter sleeves and offered to make it custom with a heavier, more wintery, fabric,” Elisabeth tells. For a “something blue,” they embroidered the wedding date in light blue thread inside the dress with a custom veiled headband by Jane Taylor London.
Walk And Talk Charleston Founder Tyler Wright’s Wedding Dress Code Was “Black Tie, Bring It”
“To winterize the design, we went with velvet tablecloths,” the bride says of her aesthetic. “I knew I was going to wear a pink dress, so we leaned into the pink, and then the cream and greenery were an obvious choice. For the February wedding weekend, Tyler didn’t wear one white dress. Instead, the bride wore pink, pink, and more pink.
Jocie Oppenheim and Graham Dickson’s Outdoor Maine Wedding on New Year’s Eve
The day of the wedding, Jocie and Graham tied the knot outdoors, while it was windy and snowing no less, with her brother officiating the ceremony. “He did an incredible job of keeping it quick. (It was cold!)” During the cocktail hour, guests enjoyed fondue and hot spiked cider to bring back the warmth.
Net-A-Porter Power Buyer Olivia von Christierson’s Christmas Wedding in The Cotswolds
Olivia and Anthony love winter weddings, so it was an easy decision to pick a date right before Christmas to ensure everything was in full festive swing. The ceremony took place in Buford Church, and the reception was hosted in Anthony’s family’s home in the Cotswolds. On the day-of, everyone congregated in the church, which dates back to the 12th century, and were surrounded by candles and Christmas trees.
Wedding photographer Rachel Santos and Larissa Santos exchanged vows and wedding rings privately at sunset by the cliffs in Nice, France. “I’ll never forget the way she looked as she read her vows. In the middle of her reading, I realized that we had both wrote the exact same line, ‘When my body dies, my soul will still be yours.'” Rachel remembers. Once back stateside, the two began planning their large reception for the following year. “Since childhood, I’ve been obsessed with Renaissance art, so we selected Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami because it provided the old world European aesthetic without making our family travel long distances.”
A Bollywood Royalty–Themed Sangeet Kicked Off This Multi-Day Wedding in Udaipur
“I wanted to take the opportunity to discover and showcase designers and fashion houses I hadn’t seen on other brides,” Anisha says of her wedding wardrobe. The first day was the time to go all out. Their sangeet was themed “Bollywood Royalty,” and the mood board was filled with jewel tones.
“I must admit that I had more than 980 pins on my very elaborate Pinterest wedding board,” Ana laughs. “I knew every detail I wanted, from the candles, to the exotic fruit, the colorful glasses, and the blue ribbon holding the napkins together. The vibe for the weekend was to be tropical but elegant, and always with a touch of irony.”
