Winter is such a beautiful time of year to tie the knot. Not only is it a less popular season for weddings — instantly making yours stand out — but there are so many décor elements and fashion ideas that just wouldn't work during any other season. We checked in with Emily Reifel, Senior Social Sales Manager for CPS Events at The Plaza Hotel, to see what's hot for cold-weather weddings right now.

Birch Trees and Branches 

Birch branches are a cost-effective and elegant way to decorate a winter wedding ceremony space. Add even more romance by conducting your ceremony by candlelight. 

White Fur

Keeping warm doesn't have to mean throwing your regular winter coat over your gown. Try an elegant fur stole instead, which will perfectly complement your gorgeous gown. "I would get married in the winter just to be able to wear one!" said Reifel.

Warm Sips

Just because you're getting ready for your big day does not mean the whole month or two before has to be boring and restrictive. After all, it’s more about the journey than the destination. And sometimes, we just need a little treat that tastes good and guilty — and it doesn't hurt when it's festive for fall!

The good news is that you won't blow your calorie budget (or your waistline) with this one, even though it's totally one of my "cheat" recipes. Why? Because it's not all 'whole food' clean eating — yes, there's flour and sugar in these. But hey, we still have to live a little and indulge!

The 59-Calorie Pumpkin Dark Chocolate Chip Cookie

Prep time: 10 min.
Bake time: 15 min.
Makes: 32 servings

Ingredients:

For this month, I decided to set some goals for myself, and I wanted to share them with you in case you'd like to join me! 

November Goals:

► Lose 10 pounds by December 1.
► Do my weight-training workout from Bonne Marcus two to three times per week. 
► Eat better on the weekends.
► Breathe!

Last week was a busy one for me, both at work and in my personal life. Over the weekend, we celebrated Rene's mother's birthday on Friday, attended a wedding on Saturday, had a training session with Bonne on Sunday afternoon, and then attended a christening Sunday night. 

Here’s a photo of Rene and me from my girlfriend’s wedding last October and then again this past weekend, where I wore the same dress. When I put it on, I definitely noticed that it felt much looser than it did last October. It was great to see the small difference between my size then and now, and it only gives me more motivation to keep it going.

See creative alternatives to traditional flowers, from vintage brooches to festive ornaments, perfect for adding special seasonal beauty to your winter wedding bouquet.