A winter wedding photographs well if you plan around one thing: the light is gone by four o'clock. I'm Paul Hickey of Once in a Lifetime Photography, a Worcestershire wedding photographer. I have photographed more than 150 weddings since 2014, many of them between November and February. This is what I tell every winter couple.
How much daylight will we have?
Between about eight and nine and a half hours, and the useful part ends earlier than you expect. These are mid-month sunset times for Worcester.
November: sunset 4:15pm. The light is fading from 3:30pm.
December: sunset 3:55pm. The light is fading from 3:15pm.
January: sunset 4:25pm. The light is fading from 3:45pm.
February: sunset 5:20pm. The light is fading from 4:40pm.
On an overcast day the light drops sooner. I plan as if we lose half an hour.
What time should a winter ceremony start?
Between 11:30am and 12:30pm. After the ceremony you need about 90 minutes for confetti, family groups and a few portraits. A noon ceremony gives you that in daylight. A 2pm ceremony in December does not.
If your ceremony time is already fixed and it is late, there are two fixes.
Do the family groups before the ceremony. Everyone is dressed and the light is at its best.
See each other beforehand. A short "first look" lets us take your portraits in daylight.
My wedding day photography timeline has a full sample day for a December wedding.
Winter light is better than you think
Low winter sun is a gift. It sits near the horizon all day, so the light is soft and directional from noon onwards. In July I wait until evening for that.
At Kirsty and Sam's late November wedding at Bredenbury Court Barns, the morning was frosty and clear. Strong sunshine came through the orangery windows during their 2pm ceremony. Their confetti photographs on the steps had that same low, warm light.
Grey days work too. Cloud gives even, flattering light for family groups, and nobody squints.
After dark is where winter weddings win
Creative night portraits are a large part of what I do. In summer it is not dark until after ten. In winter it is dark by five, so there is time for them before your evening guests arrive.
They take 10 to 15 minutes. I use off-camera flash, and sometimes coloured light, smoke or sparklers.
Katherine and Ian married at Arley House and Gardens on 1 November. We used amber light on the tower and smoke against the castle ruins.
At Bredenbury Court Barns, blue light picked out a brick archway and the gazebo.
At Natalie and Rhys's winter wedding at Curradine Barns, guests made a sparkler tunnel in the courtyard.
Ask your venue early whether sparklers and smoke are allowed. Many have rules.
What if it rains, or it is freezing?
Then we work around it, and the photographs are often better for it. Rain is rarely constant. Wet ground reflects light, which is why some of my favourite night portraits were made in the rain.
Four things help.
Ask your venue where a group of thirty can stand indoors. Stairs, a hall or a covered terrace all work.
Have umbrellas ready. Clear or white ones photograph best. Avoid logos.
Bring something warm for outdoor portraits. A wrap, a jacket or a coat you are happy to be photographed in.
Keep outdoor sessions short. Ten minutes at a time is plenty in January.
I watch the sky all day. If there is a dry quarter of an hour, we use it.
What to wear, from a photographer's side
I'm not a stylist, so this is only what I see through the camera.
Sleeves, wraps and capes photograph well and keep you outside for longer.
Sensible shoes for the grass. Nobody sees them under a long dress. Change indoors.
Deep colours suit winter light. Dark green, burgundy and navy all hold their colour on a grey day.
Hand warmers in a pocket make a real difference to how relaxed you look.
Choosing a venue for a winter wedding
When you view a venue, look at it as it will be in December, not June.
Is there an attractive indoor space for groups and portraits? A staircase, a panelled room or a large window.
Is the ceremony room bright? Dark rooms are fine, but tell your photographer.
Is there covered outdoor space? A porch, a cloister or a barn doorway lets us work in rain.
What is lit after dark? Lit buildings, trees and paths make strong backgrounds for night portraits.
Are sparklers, smoke and confetti allowed?
I have photographed winter and late autumn weddings at Curradine Barns, Arley House and Gardens and Bredenbury Court Barns. Hampton Manor is another.
Winter weddings: common questions
Is winter a good time for wedding photos?
Yes, if the ceremony is early enough. You get soft low light during the day and a long evening for night portraits.
What time does it get dark at a December wedding?
Sunset in Worcestershire is around 3:55pm in mid-December. The light is fading from about 3:15pm.
Can we still have confetti in winter?
Yes. It works well in low sun. Check your venue's rules first. Here is my guide to confetti photographs.
Do we need to do a first look?
Only if your ceremony is after about 1pm. Before that, there is enough daylight afterwards.
What happens if it snows?
We go outside for ten minutes and enjoy it. Snow is rare here, so treat it as a bonus and not a plan.
Planning your winter wedding
If you have a date and a venue, send me your ceremony time. I'll tell you how much daylight you have to work with.
If you are still choosing a photographer, my wedding photography packages set out what full-day coverage includes. Once in a Lifetime Photography covers Worcestershire, the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Warwickshire and Shropshire. My work has earned several Wedisson Awards and a Flashmasters Gold Award.
Paul Hickey, Once in a Lifetime Photography · paul@onceinalifetimephotography.co.uk · 01905 900911