Winter Wedding Décor Inspiration

10th October 2025

There’s something truly special about a Winter wedding; the crisp air outside, the cosy glow inside and the way candlelight and rich seasonal colour combine to create an atmosphere of warmth and romance. At our beautiful Essex wedding venue Layer Marney Tower, we love helping couples embrace the beauty of the Winter season, transforming our historic spaces into enchanting scenes complete with luxurious floral arrangements and flickering candle light.

We are blessed with the luxury of some beautiful interior spaces for weddings, offering the perfect setting when the weather isn’t on your side…something every couple planning a Winter wedding know to expect!

Both of our wedding reception rooms are kept comfortably warm thanks to our eco-friendly, carbon neutral biomass heating system, ensuring your guests feel cosy from the moment they arrive. The Barn also features luxurious underfloor heating, creating a wonderfully inviting ambience that perfectly complements the romance of a winter wedding celebration.

While gathering previous wedding photos photos that capture perfect Winter season inspiration, I came across the gorgeous November wedding of Charles and Dawn, who chose the talented team from Butterfly Flowers to create their floral arrangements. I spoke to Karina from Butterfly Flowers, asking for her thoughts on dressing a Winter wedding:

“For a Winter wedding, I always suggest leaning into the season’s natural richness. For this wedding we used deep red roses paired with lots of lush greenery to create instant warmth and romance. Adding berries or trailing textures like amaranthus brings depth and movement, perfect for this time of year. Tall arrangements on gold stands add drama without blocking the view, while garlands with fairy lights and candles give that magical, glowing atmosphere. Together, it feels both elegant and inviting, everything a Winter celebration should be.”

Florals and Foliage

Winter florals are all about depth and texture; think rich reds, deep burgundies, soft creams and winter greenery. All of which bring warmth and contrast to the season’s cooler tones.

Roses, amaryllis, ranunculus and hellebores are classic choices, while trailing amaranthus or springs of hypercium berries add a touch of drama and festive charm. Incorporating seasonal foliage such as eucalyptus, ivy and pine not only enhances the colour palette but also brings that unmistakable winter fragrance to the room.

Your florist will be able to advise on which seasonal flowers and foliage you can incorporate into your arrangements, which will be more budget friendly and eco-conscious too.

Candelight and Ambience

Candlelight plays a starring role in Winter weddings. Rows of glowing candles, tall candelabras and clusters of lanterns can transform any space into something magical.

We are happy for you to use real candles on any table arrangement in both the Long Gallery and the Barn, whereas any placed on the fireplace or staircase must be artificial LED candles.

Soft fairy lights woven through garlands of greenery can be used either on our fireplace, on the upright wooden beams in the Barn or interwoven into the staircase of the Long Gallery.

Oversized lanterns with large pillar candles can be placed strategically on the sweeping staircase to create impact and a beautiful entrance to the main reception room of the Long Gallery.

The Warmth of the Fire

Nothing says Winter wedding quite like a roaring fire. Our magnificent Jacobean fireplace in the Long Gallery becomes a natural focal point to dress for the ceremony or reception, offering both literal and visual warmth.

Dressed with garlands of evergreens, pinecones, lanterns and twinkling lights, it provides another breath taking backdrop for photos and adds a welcoming glow.

Elegant Tablescapes

Our wedding reception spaces both feature tall ceilings and by adding height to the table décor, whether through elegant candelabras, tall glass vases, or dramatic floral stands, it draws the eye upward, creating a sense of grandeur and making the entire room feel even more sophisticated and spacious.

We love to see low garlands running the length of the tables, filled with lush foliage and berries. Texture and luxury can be added with accents of gold or silver, deep coloured linens, velvet ribbons and table runners. Why not consider incorporating icy blues and whites for a frosty touch?

If you are thinking of a Winter wedding and need some further inspiration, we are excited to be joined by the team from Butterfly Flowers and W Flowers at our next Wedding Open Day on Sunday 9th November from 11am to 2pm. Both of these florists know Layer Marney Tower well, as they have worked here on many occasions. With their expertise, they can interpret your ideas and colour scheme for a wedding in the Winter months, or in fact during any season of the year.

by Karen Brand – Wedding Manager

Featured image – Photo credit Tom Halliday and flowers by Butterfly Flowers