Due to the current financial climate, more and more couples are planning winter weddings – this can be a significantly cheaper option. The summer season is peak time for wedding ceremonies, and if you plan to marry in Britain the weather can be very unpredictable. Summer Saturdays can get booked out at popular wedding venues up tothree years in advance.

To get your fairytale destination wedding at a wedding castlea bargain price in these difficult financial times think last minute and off season.

Beat the credit crunch and plan a winter wedding, what could be more romantic than getting married against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, followed by a luxury drinks reception around a warm log fire? Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy and Iceland make excellent wedding locations in winter – as they are destinations that not only encompass a magical atmosphere but also places that are guaranteed to leave you with stunning memories.

If the thought of a snowy winter wedding leaves you with a chill then don’t despair – you can still get married in winter and enjoy hot weather. Set you sights on exotic destinations such as the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India. All offer spectacular locations and sizzling temperatures.

So, if your loved one has asked for your hand in marriage, instead of opting for a summer wedding, consider the benefits of a winter ceremony and maybe a wedding castle – it is likely to be cheaper and it will give your guests something to look forward to during the long winter months.

Aside from wedding venues being more readily available (Christmas and Valentine dates not withstanding), other benefits to winter weddings include a more luxurious palette of colors and fabrics to choose from such as varying shades of red, royal blue, deep purple and hunter green. Other benefits include the ability to plan on short notice, without being told time and time again that your vendor, disc jockey, photographer or caterer of choice is booked solid.

Other bonuses include flowers that don’t wilt in the heat (as long as you take care not to let them freeze in the cold), cakes that don’t sag, and a bride that is not melting. There is a better chance that more of your invited guests will not be on holidays and therefore able to attend your wedding. Add to that the special quality that comes across in photographs.

A rustic mountain lodge with roaring fireplaces, sleigh rides, and a host of other winter-loving amenities add to the enchanting cozy ambience. For that winter wonderland effect, choose a grand ballroom with draped fabric walls filled with white, silver and crystal twinkling lights.

For wedding accessories, decorations, and favors, winter weddings offer a host of snowflake themed items in various shades of blue, white and silver.

Alternatively you could go for a wedding castle with a baroque theme with champagne and burgundy colours, velvets and chandeliers and cherubs and church candles.

Tiny candy holding mittens for favors, snowflake embossed napkins or stationary, or faux ice-sculptured cake toppers, all add to a fantasy themed setting.