In winter, bare branches sparkle with frozen crystalline droplets, creating a luminous, icy white that can set the tone for a sophisticated winter wedding. When accented with shades of pale gray and glittering silver, this purest of whites seems to glow, recalling the soft light of a December afternoon.

Any cake frosted in buttercream can be decorated with crisp meringue flowers in shades of white. On this cake, some flowers are piped in one piece and baked in the oven, while others are piped petal by petal, baked, assembled with more meringue, and baked again; the overall effect is that of a heavily embroidered bodice.

This cake is as magical as the season's first flurry. Snowflakes made from royal icing are miniature at the top of the cake and larger at the bottom, giving the impression of a gracefully drifting snowfall. The tiers are frosted smoothly with Swiss meringue to resemble tightly packed snow.

Techniques used by dressmakers to turn fabric into flowers inspired this sophisticated cake. A combination of fondant and white chocolate both envelops the cake and decorates it. Prim buttercream dots frame the designs.

Clusters of spiky "petals" of soft meringue top the layers of this cake. The same meringue, spread smooth, covers the sides. Meringue not only looks lovely, it tastes delicious, especially when flavored with a few drops of your favorite extract or flower water.

Send a winter-wed couple off in a flurry of paper snowflakes. Use white and light-blue paper and a snowflake punch (available at art-supply stores). Place handfuls of snowflakes in small glassine bags. Wrap a narrow ribbon around each; affix with double-stick tape at the top of the front and back (we taped a snowflake in front). Secure the ribbon and bag flap with a monogrammed silver sticker.

A sprinkling of snowflake confetti on the tables helps set a merry mood. Use craft punches to cut snowflakes from silver paper; mix in coils and snippings of silver curling ribbon.

Capture these delicate symbols of winter's beauty in dough, and share them with your wedding guests. Gingerbread cookies, piped with royal icing and highlighted with sugar and nonpareils, are perfect snacks for the post-reception ride home or the day after the wedding. Package them in clear acetate containers banded with ribbon and a quilling-paper label (ours reads "A love like no other"), both held on with double-sided tape.

A silver paper star seals the parchment wrapping on a stack of cookies in a mini tart pan.

Metallic string secures a monogrammed tag and a tiny foil leaf to a transparent box filled with crystals of rock candy.

Clever wrapping makes memorable favors. Clear cellophane adorned with slim silver paper and metallic cord holds marshmallows.

Silver cellophane wraps a box of white chocolates.

A snowy felt square tied with a patterned ribbon threaded through holes punched in the corners makes an envelope for scented soap.

Tied with a white taffeta ribbon, a springtime cascade of peonies floats on the tender foam of fresh white lilac sprays.

Perfect for a winter wedding, 'Casablanca' lilies, some a hand-span wide, are wired into a plump and ruffled lily "ball" and intermixed with 20 silver-mesh leaves, some of which drift onto its silvery ribbon.

Frosty, waxy snowberries, available after the first frost, are mixed with icy dahlias and snowy tea roses, wrapped in pale-green satin, and make a crisp bouquet.

White carnations are transformed into an amazingly stylish bouquet thanks to ingenious details like handmade white ribbon flowers and a pleated stem wrap adorned with black silk blooms.

Bouquets inspired by the tuxedo's colors are elegant and surprising. An armful of white flowers, including 'Majolica' spray roses, lily-of-the-valley, ranunculus, freesia, lisianthus, and sweet peas, is bound with a black-and-white sash tied in a grand bow.

In this bride's bouquet, tiny pinecones and evergreen sprigs are ringed with marabou.

This winsome wedding cake is decorated with paper trees and "snowballs" piped from frosting and topped with a marzipan snowman and snow-woman holding a replica of the bride's bouquet.