Winter weddings are quickly becoming a bride’s first seasonal choice for a quietly elegant backdrop to your perfect day. Winter provides boundless opportunities for personalized accessories, sparkling receptions and, let’s be honest, it’s so much easier to be comfortable in the yards of glorious fabric that is the Bridal Gown.

While winter is an alluring setting, the challenge of entertaining the diverse bridal party during the brisker months can be as daunting as how to convince your soon-to-be mother-in-law not to wear fuchsia, even though it sets off her eyes.

Fret no more.  Keep your bridal party warm and toasty with fun winter inspired activities.

Warming Winter Weekend Getaways

Jaunt off with the ladies for a weekend to pre-charge batteries and create bonds before the hurried relay race of the wedding week. A variety of local accommodations offer special packages to bridal parties featuring activities designed to relax, engage and fortify you and your entourage. A weekend featuring activities with spa amenities or a fun city walk-about can be just what your group needs to connect to their chakra and peel back unneeded stress.

Two local spots that will bring your party together and make all feel pampered and indulged are the Historic Inns of Annapolis and Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa.

Check for special group rates on both accommodations and the in-house spa, or view our accommodations page and plan your own weekend retreat.

Bundle up the Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids gifts can remind your ladies how much they warm your heart.  Make them feel cozy inside and out. Shawls, robes and scarves are great winter updates to the list of bridesmaid favors.

More unconventional gifts can include monogramed make-up kits, personalized water bottles or wine tumblers, cocktail flavored candies and a mini-bar in a jar, because is that really just for the groomsmen?

DIY Party Projects

Common goals are great ways to inspire Team Bride and break the ice between unacquainted bridesmaids. Projects that double as bridesmaid’s gifts or help the bride with wedding tasks will create a lasting bond for all. Hazzah! Fun and Function! 

Try personalizing ceramic coffee mugs with ceramic pens. Can someone say ART PARTY? Even the most unartistic will love this, especially when you think about stuffing them with baked goods, hot chocolate pouches or a mini bottle of brandy and apple cider.  Who’s warmed up now?

Other projects are individualized hangers, creating Spa kits or tiny tissue boxes for your guests and their happy tears.

Keep it Classy, My Friends

Bring old and new friends together by learning something new to everyone. Many local restaurants will give cooking classes or Painting with a Twist is an art class with BYOB and BYOS (Bring You Own Snacks). Yes, please!

But the piéce de résistance: a craft cocktail class.  More and more local bars are opening their doors a little early for parties that want to learn to mix just a little bit more than a martini (shaken, not stirred) or who Tom Collins might be.  Check out The Bluebird Cocktail Room, a speakeasy in Baltimore’s Hampden neighborhood, but make sure you call ahead to reserve your desk at the bar. Lesson plans are made to order, then stay on to swing into the night with the locals.

Reindeer Games

Spend the evening remembering the fun of your youth with an adult spin.  New bars are popping up all over that specialize in board games, or vintage video games that will bring out competitive spirits and light hearts. Connect 4, Monopoly, Shuffleboard, and Giant Jenga are just a few of the games keeping bar goers playing well into the night. We here at WalktheAisle have partied as bachelorettes at Penn Social in DC. Pen Social boasts 2 floors, 3 bars, 30+ draught beers and games galore so not one guest could possibly get bored.

Mustang Alley’s in Baltimore, not your average night of bowling, has upscale American comfort food and classic cocktails.  Friends and family will enjoy a night chasing the pins and running the lanes.  Socks are the only must.

**Featured Photography by Hamilton Photography