Curated Fashion Edit of Winter Wedding Hats
- Simon Meanwell-Ralph
- Nov 29, 2025
- 11 min read
Updated: Nov 30, 2025
As the 1st of December arrives and the air in Hampshire grows crisp, there is a distinct shift in the atmosphere. The high street here in Winchester begins to sparkle, and there is something enchantingly magical about the season ahead.
While summer is often seen as the peak of the millinery calendar, I have always found winter celebrations to possess a unique, cosy elegance. Indeed, my own wedding was in the winter! It is the season of twinkling lights on evergreens, the warm glow of glowing candles at a reception, and the crackling of fireplaces in historic hotels. In this spirited atmosphere, dressing beautifully becomes part of the joy - and nothing elevates a festive outfit quite like a unique winter wedding hat.
For those of you with upcoming nuptials or Christmas parties in the calendar, I am delighted to introduce my latest curation of Ready-to-Wear winter wedding hats. Designed and handmade here in my Winchester studio, each piece is one-of-a-kind and available to purchase online for immediate dispatch. Whether you are the Mother of the Bride or Groom searching for a hat for a winter celebration, or a guest attending a Christmas cocktail party, these hats promise to crown your look with style and warmth.
In this post, I want to share some seasonal styling tips - from securing your hat against the winter breeze to balancing it with heavier fabrics - and showcase four of my favourite designs currently available in my online shop.
Style Tips for Winter Weddings & Festive Parties
Winter weddings call for a special blend of glamour and practicality. The light is different, the textures are richer, and the etiquette can feel slightly more formal. Here are some helpful tips to ensure your hat complements the season and the occasion perfectly.
1. Choose Seasonal Materials & Colours
While straw and sinamay are staples of millinery, winter allows us to embrace luxurious, heavier textures like felt, velvet, or wool that add both elegance and visual warmth, making your look more refined.
Deep, rich colours - think berry reds, plum purples, navy blues, or forest greens - each beautifully echoing the season’s palette. Many of my Ready-to-Wear designs feature these tones; for example, you will find berry-inspired pinks and plums, shimmering golds, and aubergine purples in the collection, each reflecting winter’s vibrant charm. Festive details such as feathers, crystal veiling, or gentle metallic accents can also add a touch of seasonal sparkle in a sophisticated way, catching the light like twinkling Christmas lights at a party, encouraging you to consider how these elements can really elevate your look.
2. A Secure & Comfortable Fit for Winter Wedding Hats
Winter events often involve moving between the outdoor chill and indoor warmth - perhaps dashing from the car to the church porch or maybe even standing outside for photographs if the weather permits! Your hat must stay securely in place to keep you comfortable and stylish throughout.
All of my Ready-to-Wear fascinator hats come with discreet fittings -usually a slim metal comb and a hidden elastic - to help keep the hat comfortable and balanced throughout the day, so you won’t need to fidget or adjust it constantly.
Tip: If it is breezy or you are stepping outside for photos in the frosty air, those hidden elastics and combs will be your best friend. You can confidently greet guests, give hugs, and even brave a winter gust of wind without worry. It’s often helpful to put your hat on last, just as any hair-holding product you've applied is nearly dry. I've also known some ladies to slide the comb over a Kirby grip that's in just the right spot below the hat, to reassure themselves that their hat will stay in place even on the most blustery winter days!
3. Balancing with Winter Layers
One question I often hear during consultations is how to style a hat with winter attire, such as a thick coat or a heavy stole. The key is balance.
If your outfit features heavier fabrics, like a plush velvet dress or a tailored wool coat, a perching hat or fascinator is ideal - it adds elegance without overwhelming your look. Indoor-friendly styles with cosy, close-fitting designs and lighter, colour-coordinated trims work well for both photos and comfort!
For example, a pillbox or percher (a small hat worn at a slight tilt) will sit neatly even as you drape a faux-fur stole around your shoulders or button up a thick winter coat. The hats in this collection are all perching or pillbox 'hatinator' styles, designed to complement layered winter outfits rather than compete with them.
4. Indoor Etiquette: To Remove or Not to Remove?
At weddings, it is traditional for ladies - especially the Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom - to keep their hats on through all the key moments: the ceremony, the photographs, and the wedding breakfast reception. This adds formality and flair to the occasion.
As the event transitions from dining in to dancing, hats can be removed for comfort. However, etiquette suggests that no guest should remove their hat before the Mother of the Bride does, which is often after the meal and speeches, or once the evening party begins.
For a festive cocktail party-style wedding, the rules are more relaxed. You might wear your perching hatinator throughout the event since it is usually a shorter, stand-up affair without a formal seated dinner. Ultimately, do what feels comfortable and enjoy the spotlight your hat brings - removing it gracefully when the time is right so that you can feel confident and stylish all evening.
Curated Fashion Edit of Four Ready-to-Wear Designs for the Festive Wedding Season
Now, let’s explore four stunning Ready-to-Wear winter wedding hats from my collection. Each hat is unique, with only one available per design, so once it's sold, it cannot be recreated. This makes them perfect for special occasions because you're guaranteed not to see another hat like it at the wedding!
1. Winter Berry Delight: Pink, Plum & Berry Fascinator
First in our lineup is a Mixed Pink, Plum, and Purple Berry Colours Fascinator Hat (or 'Hatinator' as some people say). It is a feast for the eyes in a vibrant palette of rich berry tones and complementary textures. I crafted this perching pillbox design to exude elegance and wintry sophistication, drawing inspiration from the season’s luscious berries and florals.
The base is a 6-inch-diameter magenta buntal pillbox lined with silk for comfort. Over this base, I added an overlay of embroidered and beaded tulle, which gives a subtle sparkle and intricate texture - reminiscent of frost on a winter berry bush.
At the heart of this piece sits a fine silk rose in rich plum purple, perched elegantly to one side of the crown. The rose’s deep hue and soft petals bring a timeless beauty to the overall design. I’ve paired the rose with a dramatic asymmetric double bow made from sinamay in burgundy and magenta, cinched with a grape-purple ribbon. This bow adds height and visual interest to the fascinator, ensuring it looks stunning from every angle - including (importantly) from behind.
Styling Idea: Pair this with a chic berry or magenta coat dress. It is the perfect Mother of the Bride hat for a winter celebration, ensuring you stand out against a snowy or grey backdrop.
2. Golden Glamour: Bronze & Gold Fascinator
Next is a hat that captures the warm glow of the winter season: my Bronze Gold Perching Cocktail Fascinator Hat. This piece is all about understated glamour with a gentle shimmer - think of candlelight dancing on gilded ornaments.
The foundation is a 6-inch button base that I’ve covered in a supple Bronze Gold leatherette, giving it a luxurious soft sheen that really catches the eye. In person, this material has a subtle metallic glow (not overly glittery, but a refined shimmer), perfect for those who want just a hint of sparkle when it catches the light.
I’ve trimmed this hat with a mount of beautiful Golden Blonde feathers that gracefully curl over the crown and gently pour over the edge around the back. These feathers provide a lovely textural contrast - soft and wispy against the smooth leatherette - and lend a very feminine, flowing line to the design. To top it all off, there is a sumptuous double bow hand-tied in a satin-finish gold sinamay, dramatically placed on one side.
Styling Idea: This is an effortlessly chic choice for winter weddings or Christmas parties. As a neutral metallic, it beautifully complements deep greens, burgundies, and warm earth tones, and would be perfect paired with metallic-gold shoes and a handbag.
3. Festive Flair: Coral Pink & Plum Fascinator
If you want to bring joy and vibrancy to a winter’s day, look no further than this Watermelon Coral Pink and Plum Fascinator. It is a bold, striking, and vibrant statement piece, pure celebration.
It features a 6-inch pillbox base made of fine buntal straw, dyed a vibrant watermelon-coral pink. Over the base, I’ve added a layer of soft magenta birdcage veiling, which introduces delicate texture and depth. Scattered across this veiling are pale tangerine crystals that catch the light beautifully for a subtle touch of sparkle. The effect is enchanting - as you move, there is a faint glimmer, like morning sunlight on frost or the glint of fairy lights.
The centrepiece is a real showstopper: a delicate silk rose with an ombre effect blending Watermelon Pink, Plum, and Berry tones. Nestled behind the rose is an oversized double bow in rich plum sinamay, wound with tangerine satin trails around the cinch. This unexpected splash of citrus orange ties all the colours together seamlessly and adds a playful contrast - I love how it echoes the festive orange slices in mulled wine.
Styling Idea: This hat lights up any winter occasion. It is perfect for a Mother of the Bride who isn’t afraid of colour, or for a festive cocktail party where you want to radiate warmth and happiness.
4. Majestic Winter Bloom: Purple, Mauve & Aubergine Headpiece
Finally, we have a Purple, Mauve and Aubergine Fascinator Hat - a design that exudes regal winter charm. If you love deep purples, often associated with luxury and holiday finery, this one will enchant you.
The colour palette was inspired by “Cadbury’s Purple” and aubergine tones, giving the hat a deliciously rich look. The base is a lightweight 6-inch buntal base in a rich purple, lined with silk for a high-end finish. Over the base floats a “pillow” of delicate purple veiling, adding soft texture and a bit of mystique while still keeping a refined appearance.
What really sets this headpiece apart is the arrangement of trims on top. I created a cluster of spiralling sinamay twists in an array of complementary purples - shades of Purple, Aubergine, Grape, Damson, and Violet intertwine in the lively curls. Intermingled with the sinamay spirals are contrasting feather silhouettes cut from wool felt. Each felt silhouette is adorned with a tiny Swarovski crystal at its tip, creating a subtle shimmer that catches the light beautifully.
Styling Idea: This is a fabulous choice for a winter wedding or a race day, such as the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It looks stunning with contrasting grey, silver, or black, and the Swarovski crystals add just the right amount of gentle sparkle!
Warm Wishes and Next Steps
I hope these descriptions spark your imagination for how you can shine at your winter weddings and festive parties. Each of these Ready-to-Wear hats has its own personality, but all share a common thread: a love of craftsmanship and a celebratory spirit.
I created them here in Winchester with the belief that wearing a beautiful hat can make you feel confident, elegant, and truly part of the occasion—especially at this magical time of year.
How to Purchase
If one of these winter wedding hats has caught your eye, I invite you to browse the Ready-to-Wear Hat Shop on my website, where even more unique hats await your delectation. Every hat photographed and listed is exactly the hat you will receive, and it is ready to send out (with postage included) via a tracked and insured courier.
Remember, these are one-of-a-kind pieces - ‘once it’s gone, it’s gone!’ So if a hat feels like it is meant for your head, do consider treating yourself before someone else does!
Visit my Studio
For those who would like more personal guidance - perhaps you are deciding which hat best matches your outfit - you are very welcome to book a studio consultation in Winchester. My Rose Garden Studio is a cosy haven filled with inspiration. We can look at your outfit swatches under natural light and play with options until you find the perfect hat.
To arrange a visit, please get in touch with me via the website or telephone me on 07968 337446.
Thank you for reading and allowing me to share my passion for millinery. Here’s to celebrating in style - may your winter weddings, Christmas cocktail parties, and New Year’s festivities be filled with joy, laughter, and the confidence that you look absolutely marvellous.
About Marvellous Millinery
I create unique bespoke and ready-to-wear wedding hats in my Rose Garden Studio in Winchester, Hampshire. I specialise in elegant, flattering designs for the Mother of the Bride and the Mother of the Groom. Ladies, ask me to make a beautifully coordinated hat that feels secure, comfortable, and perfectly suited to them, their outfit, and the occasion they are attending - safe in the knowledge that they will be the only person wearing that particular one-of-a-kind hat at the wedding!
If you’d like specialist guidance, I am always delighted to arrange a personal consultation at my studio, here in Winchester.
Helpful links
Bespoke Hat Portfolio – explore my range of luxury designer wedding hats, available to order in hundreds of stylish colour combinations.
Ready-to-Wear Hat Shop – discover one-of-a-kind wedding hats available to buy immediately online.
Book a Consultation – arrange a private appointment at my Rose Garden Studio in Winchester.
More Wedding Hat Advice – read further guides and articles on my blog.
Further reading & resources
If you found this article helpful, you may also enjoy these guides:
About the author
Simon Meanwell-Ralph, Millinery Designer
Founder of Marvellous Millinery (established 2011), Winchester, Hampshire, UK.
I graduated with a first-class honours degree in Accessory Design and have spent many years creating hats for family weddings, Ladies Day at Royal Ascot and other special events. I create each piece here in my Winchester studio, using high-quality materials such as sinamay, silk and the finest trims. My aim is always to help my customers feel confident, elegant and beautifully put together for their big day.
Sharing this article
If you know someone who is beginning their search for a Mother of the Bride or Mother of the Groom hat, please feel free to share this guide. It may help make their preparations that little bit easier.
FAQs about Mother of the Bride hats
I’ve answered a few of the most common questions below. If you’d like more details about visiting my Winchester studio, bespoke commissions or ready-to-wear hats, you can find further information on my Frequently Asked Questions page.
What should I bring to my consultation?
Please bring your outfit (or a fabric swatch), shoes and any accessories you plan to wear. Good daylight colour checks are essential, so the actual fabrics are very helpful. Photos of the venue and your hairstyle are useful too. If you wear glasses, bring them. I’ll then discuss colours and styles with you and test proportion and tilt so we can agree on a flattering design that feels secure and comfortable.
How far in advance should I order a bespoke hat?
Most bespoke commissions take around 6–10 weeks, so it is best to book as soon as you have chosen your dress and shoes and know the wedding date. This allows adequate time for design, fitting, and any matching accessories. During peak wedding and Ascot season, early booking is essential as availability becomes limited.
Can you match the colour of my outfit?
In many cases, yes. I work with a wide range of sinamay shades, silks and trims, and can blend layers to create subtle, individual tones that sit beautifully with your dress.
