The Sunday Mail
Sharon Ngomani
Winter is upon us. It is a beautiful season where people get to enjoy indoor activities due to low temperatures.
It may seem like the oddest of times to wed but there are advantages associated with the season. For instance, due to the unpopularity of winter, venues are not usually hard to find and prices are lower.
Yes, brides and grooms walking to the altar during the period in question can be faced with a number of challenges due to unfriendly weather. However, if carefully planned, these weddings can be more fun and unforgettable.
When choosing location for the venue, the bride and groom should be familiar with the weather patterns of the area. If not, fully research so that you get acquainted with the behaviour of the weather so as to make informed decisions.
For example, Nyanga and Gweru experience most of the lowest temperatures every winter. As such, this means an indoor wedding is a better option or you can take chances and have a garden wedding but with the provision of a tent.
With regards to garments, the bride and her bridesmaids need to have winter dressing in mind when choosing their outfits.
Munyaradzi Sean Dzepete of Munya Bridal explains: “Without playing down the gown, the bride needs to think of comfort in terms of warmth during this season. It is not wise to opt for a sleeveless or strapless gown and thin material gowns.
“There are trendy wedding gowns with sleeves and heavy, warm materials.”
A scene of a sneezing bride with goose bumps all over desperately covering herself with her hands is not a pleasant one.
If it is inevitable to choose a strapless gown then there is need for a back up detachable and equally fashionable jacket. This works well especially if it turns out to be sunny on your wedding day.
Where resources permit, it’s wise to have a braai party after the ceremony so that people can be comfortable around fires, chit-chatting.
Also a winter wedding can be spiced up with fancy bite sized comfort food. These may include cookies and chocolates instead of cooler desserts such as ice creams and yoghurts.
Favourable drinks like wines, vodka and whiskies which tend to warm the body should be served.
Furthermore, winter wedding décor should be lively with bright colours that tend to lift up souls of those in attendance. Finally, the music should be danceable so that guests and the bridal party can warm up showing off their foot work.
With careful planning weddings in the winter can be very enjoyable and may cast a long lasting memory.
