Which wedding dress should you choose for a winter wedding? The simplest option: a long-sleeved lace wedding dress, or a sleeveless dress completed with detachable sleeves or long gloves. For the journey and outdoor photos, add a white stole, a cape or a bolero, which can be removed indoors. As for fabrics, opt for satin, lined lace and layered tulle. And order early: custom-made production and delivery generally take 5 to 8 weeks.
A winter wedding means soft golden light, candles everywhere, guests bundled up and huddling together for the group photo… and one question that keeps coming up: how to look beautiful without shivering?
Good news: winter is probably the most elegant season for a bride. Long sleeves, high collars, long veils and white stoles are perfectly suited to it. Here is how to put together your winter bridal outfit, from the dress to the accessories.
Why get married in winter?
Getting married between November and March has real advantages. Reception venues and service providers are often more available than in June or September, and some offer lower prices out of season. Your guests, for their part, have less busy schedules than during the wedding season.
And then there is the atmosphere: a lit-up church, an estate with a large fireplace, a candlelit dinner, tables decorated with dried branches and pampas grass. Bohemian style, with its natural materials and ivory tones, pairs perfectly with it.
Which wedding dress for winter?
In winter, the dress does not need to be heavy to be warm. What matters is what covers the arms and shoulders, and how the dress is lined. Here are the options that work best.
The long-sleeved lace wedding dress
It is the big winner of winter. A long-sleeved wedding dress in lace covers the arms without weighing down the silhouette: lace on tulle lets the skin show through, stays light indoors, and brings that romantic, almost vintage feel that suits winter weddings so well. With a high collar or a boat neck, it becomes perfect for a church ceremony.
Vintage Mermaid, Long Sleeves & Lace
Victorian-inspired high collar, sheer lace long sleeves and a mermaid silhouette: the ultimate winter dress, ideal for church.
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Romantic Bohemian, Long Sleeves Lace & Tulle
An illusion floral lace bodice, long embroidered sleeves and a tulle princess skirt: for a winter wedding in an estate or castle.
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Long Sleeves Lace, Boat Neck
The boat neck covers the shoulders in front, the back is revealed behind: a beautiful balance between modesty and elegance for a winter ceremony.
View this dressYou will find all our styles in our long-sleeved wedding dress collection, from the high collar to the Bardot neck.
A backless dress in winter? Yes, with a trick
Did you fall in love with a backless dress or a strapless dress? No need to give it up. Indoors, the reception hall is heated, and it is mainly outside that you will be cold. The solution: a stole or a cape for the journeys and outdoor photos, and detachable sleeves for the ceremony, which you remove to dance. Two looks, one dress.
What fabrics for a winter wedding dress?
- Satin: thick, luminous, it has a beautiful drape and retains heat well. Perfect for a sleek silhouette.
- Lined lace: the lining makes all the difference. Lace placed on a nude or ivory base is warmer than lace alone.
- Layered tulle: a princess skirt with several layers of tulle and a petticoat keeps surprisingly warm around the legs.
- Avoid alone: very fine and unlined chiffon, beautiful in summer, but quickly freezing in December.
Our dresses are mainly made of quality polyester (satin, lace, tulle, crepe); the exact composition is indicated on each product page.
Stole, cape or bolero: stay warm without hiding your dress
It is the accessory that changes everything for a winter bride. A white bridal stole is placed over the shoulders upon leaving the town hall or church, for photos in the park, or during the cocktail reception on the terrace, then removed indoors. Three main families:
| Accessory | What it covers | For whom? |
|---|---|---|
| Stole (faux fur, knit, chiffon) | The shoulders and upper arms | The bride who wants to keep her dress well visible, especially the neckline |
| Cape (long or short, with or without a hood) | The shoulders, the back, sometimes the entire bust | Outdoor photos, mountain weddings, a very romantic look |
| Bolero (lace or faux fur, often with sleeves) | The shoulders and arms | A strapless or thin-strapped dress for church, or the bride who wants to keep her arms covered all day |
Discover our bridal stole, cape and bolero collection: faux fur, lace or knit, in white and ivory.
Church or town hall: the rules for a winter ceremony
At church: covered shoulders and long veil
Many parishes appreciate covered shoulders and arms during the mass. In winter, it is an advantage: a long-sleeved dress, a lace bolero or detachable sleeves meet both the customs and the cold of churches, which are often poorly heated. A long lace veil, like a cathedral veil, completes this very elegant look, all the more so that churches offer long aisles where the train unfolds.
At the town hall: a short passage, but often outdoors
The civil ceremony rarely lasts more than 30 minutes, but we often wait in front of the town hall, then go out under the petals and rice. Plan a coat or a cape for the wait and the exit. For a short dress or a simpler outfit for the town hall, read our guide short bohemian wedding dress for the civil wedding.
Winter bride accessories
- Long gloves or glove-sleeves: elegant at church, they cover the arms and protect the hands from the cold during photos. Remove the one on the left hand for the exchange of rings. See our bridal gloves.
- The long veil: a 3-meter veil gives a spectacular silhouette in a church. To choose the length well, read our bridal veil guide.
- Tights: a very thin nude tights (15 to 20 deniers) is not visible under a long dress and makes a real difference.
- Shoes: closed pumps or pretty white ankle boots under a long dress, and a second pair of flats for the evening.
- Hair: a low bun or a crown of fabric flowers holds better than a loose hairstyle in damp weather.
Detachable Long Sleeves in Beaded Lace
They transform a strapless or thin-strapped dress into a long-sleeved winter dress for the ceremony.
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"Simplicity" Lace Glove-Sleeves, 60 cm
From the top of the arm to the tips of the fingers: a piece between the opera glove and the detachable sleeve, very chic for a winter wedding.
View the glove-sleevesOur practical tips for the big day
- Time the photos with the light: in December, the sun sets around 5 p.m. Plan the couple photos outdoors in the early afternoon, or take advantage of the "golden hour" around 4 p.m.
- Have an indoor plan B: a staircase, a library, a large window make superb backdrops if rain visits.
- Protect the bottom of your dress: on a wet floor, lift the train with a train loop and get help for the journeys.
- Think of the guests: blankets on the chairs, hot drinks at the cocktail reception, white umbrellas… and a coat check.
- Order early: for a wedding in December or January, order your custom-made dress at least 3 months before, to keep time for possible alterations.
Your questions about the winter wedding dress
Which wedding dress should you choose for a winter wedding?
A long-sleeved lace wedding dress is the simplest and most elegant choice. A sleeveless dress also works very well with detachable sleeves, long gloves or a bolero, and a stole or a cape for outdoors.
Can you wear a backless wedding dress in winter?
Yes. The halls are heated: it is mainly outside that you will be cold. Plan a cape or a stole for the journeys and outdoor photos, and possibly detachable sleeves for a church ceremony.
How not to be cold in a wedding dress?
Layer without it showing: very thin nude tights, lined dress, stole or cape for outdoors, and closed shoes. Limit the time spent outside and keep a hot drink at hand between two sets of photos.
What color stole with an ivory dress?
Choose an ivory or off-white stole, the same tone or slightly lighter than the dress. A pure white next to an ivory dress makes the dress look yellowed or grey in photos.
When to order your wedding dress for a winter wedding?
With us, custom-made production and delivery generally take 5 to 8 weeks; the exact time is indicated on each dress page, above the "Add to cart" button. Ordering 3 to 4 months before the wedding leaves you time to receive the photos and the video of your dress before shipping and to ask for alterations if needed.