8 winter wonders of Russia: the best places for a wedding and photo shoot in winter

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January 16, 202115043

Winter is a wonderful, truly fabulous time of year: snow-white fluffy snowdrifts, the bright sun playing with all the colors of the rainbow on the snow, light frost and the anticipation of something new, something festive, something magical... It is not surprising that many grooms and Brides dream of a wedding celebration in the winter season.

Winter celebrations have their pros and cons. For example, the question cannot be ignored: how and where the wedding photo shoot will take place. If you decide to have a wedding in winter, then you should take care of where you can take beautiful photos for your album. Such information will certainly not hurt you.

You can get acquainted with the conditions and cost of wedding photography, ask questions and check the availability of the date by following the link

Where to have a wedding photo shoot in winter?

Outdoor wedding photo shoot in winter: advantages and disadvantages

Undoubtedly, picturesque winter landscapes can become a magnificent backdrop for wedding photographs. If you dream of winter photographs in nature, you should especially carefully choose the location for shooting. A large park such as Serebryany Bor is best. It’s easy to find a beautiful location here, film a leisurely walk of the bride and groom in a winter forest, and also take beautiful panoramic photos.

Recommendations for organizing a shoot from the photographer:

1. How to choose beautiful outerwear for a winter wedding?

   It's no secret that newlyweds choose their wedding dresses with special care. When choosing a street photo shoot, you need to think about outerwear, because in this case it becomes part of the image.

   Down jackets and jackets don't really fit into a holiday outfit, do they? It is better for both the bride and groom to give preference to warm woolen coats; they look impressive on camera. If the frost is mild and the weather permits, you can wear warm knitted sweaters or cardigans.

   Be sure to complement your wedding outfits with details: these could be hats, scarves, voluminous shawls and stoles, mittens or gloves.

   But I don’t recommend taking shots without outerwear; you must admit, the groom in one suit and the bride in a light dress will look very strange against the backdrop of winter landscapes. And you won’t be able to smile sincerely while naked in the cold.

   The color scheme can be any, but bright simple colors are not in trend now; pay attention to pastel powdery colors: pink, blue, gray, as well as their combinations. If you prefer bright colors, you can use deep shades of wine and berry, chocolate, emerald, earthy or terracotta. Thus, your winter celebration will look expensive and elegant.


Outdoor wedding photo shoot in winter

2. What time to conduct a wedding photo shoot in winter?

   During the cold season, it gets dark early, so your wedding walk should be planned in the first half of the day. For a wedding in December, the most convenient time for photography will be from 11.00 to 15.00, for a wedding in January from 12.00 to 16.30, and for a wedding in February it is best to plan a photo session from 13.00 to 17.00. It is also necessary to take into account the location, for example, it will be darker in the forest than in the field, so shooting needs to start earlier.

3. Wear warm underwear and comfortable shoes

   When planning an outdoor wedding in winter, keep in mind that you will have to walk a lot outside to avoid freezing; you can wear thermal underwear. Before the banquet you can take it off, but during a walk you will be warm and comfortable. Your feet should also be warm, so wear street shoes; again, you can change your shoes at the registry office and restaurant. It is better for the bride to wear flat boots so that her gait is easy and natural.

4. How to choose a wedding dress for a winter photo shoot?

   If you are planning to shoot outdoors, it is better to give preference to light tulle fabrics. In any case, the hem will get a little wet from the snow, tulle dries quickly and leaves no marks on it, but heavy fabrics such as satin will be wet all evening, which is not very comfortable at a banquet.

5. What to take with you to a photo shoot in winter?

   I already wrote above about replacement shoes and stylish warm clothes. But if they promise a frosty day, take a thermos with warm tea or coffee.

wedding photo shoot in the forest in winter

Advantages of a winter photo shoot in nature:

• Stylish winter looks
• Incredibly beautiful landscapes

Flaws:

• It is difficult to adjust to the weather: the day may be too cold or slushy, and snow may not fall at all
• It is more difficult for newlyweds to pose outdoors in winter
• You need to think through a lot of details to create a stylish look.

Winter photo shoot in the loft

Make sure you have hot drinks and blankets

If the ceremony takes place outdoors, you need to take care of the comfort of the guests. Don’t forget to treat them not only to cold champagne at the buffet table, but also to hot drinks. In addition, you can give them warm knitted blankets. Together, this will not only warm you up, but also relax your guests, making the atmosphere even more cozy.

Wedding photo shoot in winter in the studio

A great option, especially for a small wedding, is to have a wedding photo shoot in a studio. Now in Moscow there is a very large selection of photo studios with a variety of interiors, but for winter weddings the loft style can be called the most suitable. Simplicity and conciseness combined with an abundance of candles and greenery makes a wedding in a loft an excellent idea for winter.

If you are planning a small winter wedding, you can conduct the entire photo session in the interiors of the studio: the morning of the bride, the meeting of the couple, a joint photo session and the exchange of rings - all this can be filmed in one place.

In addition, you can think through the decor in advance: the registration area, printing, table setting, even sweets and cake, if you want. Organizing such a shoot will cost about 40-50 thousand rubles, depending on the complexity of the decor and your wishes, the process itself will take about 3 hours, during which time you can collect a whole wedding story.

You can see examples of such weddings, get advice and order organization from my team on the page

Tips for organizing a winter photo shoot from a photographer:

1. Choose a spacious room

   To create a full-fledged wedding story, the photographer will need several locations; you should not choose a hall with an area of ​​less than 70 meters. It is important that the studio has large panoramic windows; this will make it possible to work with natural light, which is important for wedding photography.

2. The interior of the hall and furniture matter

   Choose a hall that suits your image and wedding style as a whole. So, for example, luxurious images with a classic tailcoat and a very fluffy dress will not fit into the laconic loft style; here it is better to choose a classic room with stucco molding and crystal chandeliers.

3. Concept and decor will help create a beautiful story

   If you choose a spacious studio without furniture or decor, the pictures will turn out monotonous. To make your story look interesting, think through the details and decor.

4. Boudoir photo shoot

   If you want to photograph the bride's morning and the process of getting ready, be sure to think about the boudoir look - beautiful lingerie, a robe or boudoir dress are just as important as the wedding attire. By the way, you can rent a boudoir dress. You can also pay attention to the groom’s preparations; don’t forget to think through the details for him too.

5. Time to shoot

   As in the case of a street photo shoot, it is better to plan the shooting for the first half of the day, in the interval from 10.00 to 15.00, when there is natural light in the room.

Pros of a photo shoot in the studio:

• The entire wedding day can be filmed in one place
• Saves time, as shooting takes only 3 hours
• You can choose the interior to match your wedding style
• Shooting in warm, comfortable conditions

Flaws:

• For December and early January, it is necessary to book the hall several months in advance, due to the heavy workload of photo studios with New Year's shootings

Ideas for a winter wedding

Places for a wedding photo shoot in winter

In addition to street photography and studio interiors, there is a whole list of places where you can take photographs, sheltered from the cold and bad weather. The choice of interesting interiors is huge, for every taste and style of celebration. Numerous hotels, restaurants, shopping centers and estates in the capital are at your service.

• GUM

  It is quite popular among newlyweds as a location for photography. There are beautiful old interiors, numerous stairs and bridges, facades of expensive shops and the spirit of the Soviet era. The disadvantages of filming here include the large influx of tourists and other weddings. Cost: free, but you must obtain permission from the administration.

• Hotel Korston

  A very good option is a wedding photo shoot in Korston. There is a deposit system here; in order to obtain permission to film, you need to make a deposit; for this amount, a buffet will be arranged for guests during the filming. If you are just a couple, you can use the deposit amount to order dinner at one of the hotel restaurants on another day.

  There are a lot of beautiful places for photographs; special attention should be paid to the Extra Lounge restaurant, on the 20th floor of the hotel. The hotel has a modern interior in high-tech style, perfect for photos.


Winter photo shoot in Korston

Read also:  Design options and detailed recipes for rustic cakes

• Restaurant Turandot

  A magnificent restaurant in the very center of the capital with luxurious palace interiors. There is also a deposit system for wedding photo shoots. The mansion has several halls, each of which amazes the imagination: a painted ceiling, a marble staircase, antique statues - all this will decorate your photographs.


Wedding photo shoot in Turandot

• Ritz-Carlton Hotel

  Another metropolitan hotel with a rich history. Filming here is paid, conditions must be clarified with the administration. Newlyweds are allowed to take photographs on the main staircase, in the hotel lobby, on the second floor and in the rooftop restaurant with a magnificent view of Red Square.

• Sheremetyev estate in Kuskovo

  On the territory of the estate, it is fashionable to hold a photo shoot in the interiors of the main manor house; it is a working museum.

Read more about the wedding in Kuskovo here


photo shoot in the interiors of the Kuskovo estate

• Grand Tsaritsyn Palace

  You can also hold a wedding photo shoot in its interiors. There are several spacious halls, luxurious marble staircases, a lot of stucco and gold. One of the downsides is that the palace is open to visitors, who move freely through the halls and sometimes interfere with filming. Cost: 11,000 rubles for 60 minutes.


shooting in the interiors of the Grand Palace in Tsaritsyno

Cafes and restaurants

I will not list cafes and restaurants where you can take pictures, because if you come to any establishment and order a mug of coffee, you will definitely not be kicked out with a camera, unless of course you disturb other guests. You're more likely to find a great location for filming if you walk along streets with a large concentration of cafes. Here, for example, are the streets and places in Moscow where the largest number of cafes and restaurants are: Pyatnitskaya, Novy Arbat, Belorusskaya, Kamergersky Lane, Malaya Bronnaya, Bolshaya Nikitskaya, Petrovka, Maroseyka.