How To Stay Warm During Your Winter Photoshoot
Winter wedding photos can be absolutely beautiful—but they can also be freezing. I originally wrote this post while photographing weddings in Northern Utah, where winter sessions often meant standing in snow at the top of ski resorts. Since moving, I’ve learned that winter in Alabama or Washington can be surprisingly cold too, even though they’re considered more temperate areas.
My husband and I were married in February in Utah, and while we lucked out with sunshine, it was still ridiculously cold at both our engagement session and the actual wedding day. These are the tips I wish I had known — simple, practical ways to stay warm during winter wedding photos (and engagements!) without sacrificing your look.
(You can also find outfit inspiration for winter engagement sessions here!)
How Brides Can Stay Warm During Winter Wedding Photos
When it comes to winter wedding photos, brides are often the most exposed to the cold — especially during portraits.
- Pick shoes that will keep you warm and dry. The longer your feet stay warm, the happier you’ll be during winter wedding photos! (fun fact: you can get away with wearing your snow boots without anyone ever knowing depending on the kind of dress you get!)
- Fleece-lined or wool leggings or tights. You can get them to match your skin tone if your dress is at all sheer, and they will keep your legs warm the whole shoot without messing up your look.
- Consider warmth when choosing your dress. Some ideas to consider are: longer sleeves, longer dress, fewer sheer/open parts of the dress (open backs get cold quickly in the winter!), pockets that you can keep hand warmers in, or picking a dress that you can stylishly wear warmer layers with.
- Speaking of wearing layers with your dress, wear layers with your dress!! Whether you opt for a wool coat, a fur wrap, a custom jacket or a shawl, I highly recommend at least bringing them along and wearing them between poses. But I have also seen plenty of fashionable brides who have managed the balance between being warm and looking nice still! If you need some ideas or inspiration, check out this Pinterest board 🙂
- Bring gloves or mittens – again, even if you only wear them between poses, it will help keep your fingers from turning bright red so quickly!
- Along those same lines: HAND WARMERS. Keep them in your gloves or your coat pockets and use them frequently. Also, did you know toe warmers are a thing?? Stick them in the bottom of your shoes to keep your toes from freezing off
- Snuggle up! Couples shoots are awesome during the winter because your partner is always somehow warmer than you and because those cuddled up shots are the best ones. Be penguins.
How Grooms Can Stay Warm During Winter Wedding Photos
Grooms usually have an easier time staying warm during winter wedding photos, but the right base layers make a big difference.
- Wear a thermal shirt as your base layer! You can get them in white or gray if you’re worried about it showing through your dress shirt, but it will help keep you much warmer than a thin suit will. You might even be able to get away with long johns under your pants as well, depending on their fit.
- Bring hand warmers. Put them in as many of your pockets as you can get away with without them showing! You can also get toe/foot warmers and put them in the bottom of your shoes – which I highly recommend, since your fancy wedding shoes probably won’t keep your feet very warm.
- Ski socks. They’re a ton warmer than normal dress socks and are way more fun to wear anyway!
- Blankets. You can sit on them (instead of in the mud/snow), put your stuff on them to keep it dry, or wrap it around the two of you for some fun snuggled up photos.
- Surprise your partner with a warm treat at the end! A thermos of hot chocolate or a trip to your favorite (warm!) restaurant for dinner will always go over well after a cold day.
Winter Wedding Photos FAQ
How cold is too cold for wedding photos or engagement photos?
This is something I talk through with every winter couple during planning. Exact temperatures can be difficult to gauge, especially because sun, wind, and rain all can change things significantly. A sunny, windless 27°F day is going to be a completely different from a rainy, windy 41°F day. Besides being uncomfortable, painful, and even dangerous to be out in for too long, cold weather can also affect the outcome of your engagement or wedding photos: around 50°F is when you’ll start turning red as your blood vessels narrow. Below 45°F, your nose will start to run. Anything below 20°F (with windchill) is too cold for it to be safe for extended periods of time. My general rule of thumb for sessions is that if it’s above 50°F there’s no reason to be concerned. If it’s supposed to be below 50°F, we’ll get together and make a plan to either keep you warm or reschedule.
What should brides wear under a wedding dress in winter?
Fleece-lined tights, wool leggings, and thermal base layers can all be worn discreetly under most dresses without affecting the overall look. I also recommend snow boots!
Are winter wedding photos worth it?
Winter photos can be absolutely magical. There’s genuinely nothing like the way a calm winter morning sparkles in the sunlight after snow. Locations that are normally busy can be almost empty, which is so nice as well. Winter sessions can also be pretty brutal if we get unlucky with the weather or are careless. All that being said: with proper planning and preparation, winter photos are absolutely worth it.
Winter wedding photos don’t have to feel miserable to be beautiful. With a little planning, they can be some of the most intimate and meaningful images of your day. If you’re planning a winter wedding and want a photographer who prioritizes both comfort and connection during cold-weather wedding days, I’d love to connect.
Learn about Washington engagement sessions with me here
