Fall and winter weddings play by different rules. The sun sets before dinner, and an evening that felt mild at noon can turn cold long before the first dance. At our End-of-Summer Soirée at Wanderment Farms, we asked some of California’s top wedding professionals what couples should know before choosing a cooler-season date. Their answers covered everything from the comfort details most couples forget to the month they consider the most underrated of the year. Here’s their forecast for the season, plus a round of quick-fire answers on its biggest style debates.
Photo: Jacie Marguerite, La Dichosa
The Detail Couples Always Forget
Comfort. “Most couples make sure there’s heating, but forget the in-between moments and the need for a chic coat that still looks great in photos,” says photographer Emily Magers. Melanie Levin of Luck Eleven Events recommends more heaters than you think you need, shawls for guests and an early coffee or tea station. Tessa Brand of Tessa Lyn Events swears by “cozy blankets at the lounge setups, pashminas at the ceremony and a spiked hot chocolate station.”
Emily Gaikowski of Heartthrob Events adds a timing reminder: “Never forget about Daylight Saving Time, or you’ll lose light and it’ll get cold.” And Ashley Chanel of Ashley Chanel Events tells couples to “slow down and enjoy this season of planning. It is such a special time.”
Making Winter Light Work
“I start with the sunset, not the ceremony time,” says Jess Kuipers, founder of Onyx & Redwood. “Winter weddings can be incredibly romantic if you embrace the season instead of forcing a summer schedule.” Photographers John and Joseph see winter as an advantage: “In Southern California, golden and blue hours are prettier in the winter.”
Content: Thor Van Damme, Olivia Rae James (Planner: Alexandra Kolendrianos), Emily Magers, Caitlin Miyako
After dark, lean in. “There’s nothing sexier or more chic than a ceremony after sunset with gorgeous ambient lighting,” says Kristin Banta of Kristin Banta Events. Ashley Chanel’s formula is simple: “Candles, candles, candles. And a beautifully designed lantern is always a winner.”
Photo: Miles Leavitt, Khalifa Ababacar, Heather Kincaid, (Planner: Tessa Lyn Events), Felix Feygin
Colors & Textures of the Season
Rich and warm leads the forecast. “Color and velvet are always a yes,” says Ashley Chanel. Kristin Banta loves velvet and textured tweed in “aubergine, forest green or cappuccino.” Tessa Brand is drawn to burgundy, Kirsten VanBrunt of Rosewood Miramar Beach to olive crème and caramel, and Emily Magers keeps it short: “Chocolate brown forever.”
The Most Underrated Month
February came out on top. “In Santa Barbara it’s one of my favorite months,” says Jess Kuipers. “The light is beautiful, venues have more breathing room, and couples often get much more value.” Melanie Levin and Kristin Banta make the case for January, with “some of the most dramatic, saturated sunsets of the year” and guests ready to celebrate after the holidays.
Quick Fire
Candlelight or string lights? Candlelight, almost unanimously. “Everything looks richer and warmer in its glow,” says Kristin Banta.
Bold palette or moody neutrals? Moody neutrals, with a twist. “The most memorable weddings usually aren’t loud. They’re layered,” says Jess Kuipers.
Long sleeves or a dramatic cape? Long sleeves, though Ashley Chanel and Emily Magers chose “Drama. Always.”
First look or the aisle? First look for most. “You’ll be racing the sunset,” says Emily Gaikowski.
Hot toddy or champagne? Champagne. “Nothing says winter elegance like bubbly in a chic coupe,” says Melanie Levin.
Photo: Rodolfo Santos, Jillian Blanc, Salt Atelier, Andrew Bayda
The Superpower Every Couple Needs. One Word Only
Flexibility: Tessa Lyn Events
Decisiveness: Kristin Banta Events
Communication: Alexandra Kolendrianos
Legacy: Emily Magers
Positivity: Heartthrob Events
Perspective: Onyx & Redwood. “At the end of the day, nobody remembers whether the napkins were folded perfectly. They remember how they felt.
“Ashley Chanel – 2 words, but 1 name.” Ashley Chanel Events.
In the conclusion: plan for the light, keep your guests warm, and choose what feels true to you. As Jess Kuipers puts it, “My job is helping couples choose what feels most authentic to them, not what social media says they should do.”
