It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! Grab a warm cup of cocoa, cuddle up with your favorite blanket and enjoy our collection of Christmas wedding ideas! Christmas-themed weddings can take on several different looks. Just like we decorate our houses for the holidays - some of us have pops of red and green all over, and some stay more neutral with gold, silver and greenery. Some of us decorate more traditionally and festive and some of us more elegantly and classy. The point is, there is some flexibility and you get to choose the vision that best fits the mood you’re aiming for. If you keep the focus on making the event feel cozy and intimate, you can’t go wrong.
1. Colors - A classic Christmas-themed wedding color scheme could be a combination of deep reds and emerald green, but doesn’t have to be. For accent colors, consider neutrals like black, white, or even a soft gray or nude beige. Obviously red and green are the go-to holiday colors, but selecting deeper hues ups the elegance factor. Imagine emerald green table coverings with black dinner napkins and gold napkin rings. And you can always go away from the red and green, and choose a dusty blue hue accented with blush, white, and sparkly silver - simply enchanting.
2. Festive Stationery - Nothing sets the tone better than when your invited guests open up the invitation to your big day. Whether your invitation is full of winter greenery, twinkle lights, holly berries, or sparkles, it will give your guests a taste of all that’s to come. And a little side note, getting married in December means your guests will have less weddings to have to pick and choose from, so you won’t be competing for their RSVP like you might other times of the year.
3. Pops of Buffalo Check and Plaid - The pattern that screams Christmas!! Gift each of your bridesmaids with plaid pajamas to wear all together in the bridal suite. Use a buffalo check blanket to wrap up together as an accessory for your outdoor photos.
4. Stockings - Not every venue has a staircase, but we do! You could line the entire staircase with stockings, which is a great way to bring in fabric or colors to pull your vision together. Put names on your stockings to honor family members or important people in your lives that are no longer here - a meaningful alternative for a memory table. Or have the names of all the family members being joined together from both sides of your new families - parents, grandparents, siblings. Or simply just put 2 stockings at the top center of the staircase with the new Mr. and Mrs’ names.
5. Candlelight Ceremony - The intimate ambiance of candles adds a touch of magic, creating an atmosphere that feels sacred and enchanting. What a way to ensure that your wedding is not just witnessed, but felt by all in attendance. Just make sure to talk through your ceremony start time with your photographer and coordinator to make sure all other logistics will work out. A first look, with most photos all taken in the daylight is probably a must.
6. Christmas Canon in D by Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Is there anything else that needs to be said? Just decide how and where can you use this song.
7. Christmas Tree Altar - The focal point of the entire day. Olivia and Grant’s flocked Christmas trees in these photos created the most stunning backdrop for both their photos, their ceremony and their head table. Here at The Barn at Grace Hill we love how the same effort and expense can benefit both your ceremony and reception.
8. Christmas Scents - So many of our Christmas memories are connected to scents. So bring in the nostalgia and Christmas feelings by burning frasier fir and cinnamon candles. As the scents fill your reception space, guests may forever add your wedding day to their repertoire of Christmas memories.
9. Ornaments - We loved how Olivia and Grant asked their guests to sign an ornament and place it on their Christmas tree instead of signing a guest book. Every year, when they decorate their tree, they’ll be able to pull out ornaments that remind them of all the people who surrounded them on their wedding day.
You could also create an ornament with your names and wedding date and send every guest home with it as a favor. You know, just like how people do coozies. Each ornament becomes a tangible symbol of the joyous occasion and it’s remembered annually when it comes from storage to be put on the tree. Your guests will forever create a connection between your love story and the magic of the holidays.
10. Holiday Drinks - Infusing your food and drink with Christmassy flavors like eggnog, cranberry, and peppermint can be a pleasant (but subtle!) way to bring a touch of the holiday spirit to what you’re serving. And if you’re using someone like Emilime Designs to create drink menus that are aesthically pleasing, drinks like a candy cane martini or a white Christmas margarita are the most lovely drinks to sketch.
11. Pine Trees, Garlands and Stems - This decor is so easy to find during the holiday time and sets the tone like nothing else. Let’s be real, as a venue, we watch a LOT of floral and greenery go in the trash at the end of the day. But every time we see Christmas weddings that use long evergreen garlands, they are the most coveted item at the end of the night. Who doesn’t want to go straight home and use some leftover greenery in their own homes?!? You will find homes for all of it, and guests or family members will continue to enjoy a piece of your wedding day.
12. Family Treat Table - One of the best ideas we’ve ever seen was a holiday treat table that was created for take-home treats. The couple asked many of their family members to make several dozen of their most loved Christmas treat. From trays full of peanut butter and fudge, to decorated sugar cookies and gingersnaps, to toffee and peppermint bark, the treat table was pure Christmas magic. Guests were provided with take-home treat boxes and could fill their box to their heart’s content. Like a candy-bar, but Christmas goodies! Or like a cookie exchange, but your guests didn’t have to bring anything! It’s your thank you gift. What a unique and special way of including family recipes and all your favorite seasonal treats, and sharing them with your guests as a party favor.
13. Gingerbread House - Instead of a traditional cake - think gingerbread house. Not necessarily a colorful, candy-filled gingerbread house, but more of a classic look, white icing and intricate white details. Take it to the next level and display a multi tiered gingerbread castle for that festive feel.
14. Candlelight Exit - There can never be enough candles at Christmas. Exit your ceremony or reception lined with your guests holding candles, just like the ones given out at Christmas Eve services. The warm glow, the smiling faces and the joy filling every heart will be what sends you off as husband and wife. Not to mention the candlelight will give you the most beautiful photos.
15. Sleigh Ride Departure - End your celebration with a touch of holiday romance by opting for a grand exit that screams the season. The joy on your guests’ faces as they witness you departing in a beautifully adorned sleigh or a charming horse-drawn carriage (because snow for a sleigh can’t be guaranteed in every location!) will be the culmination to the entire day that will never leave your heart.
As you plan your Christmas wedding, don’t lose sight of all that makes this season so special and use that to drive all of your details. Remember that the true magic lies in the personal touches, the shared moments, and the warmth exchanged. May your Christmas wedding be a beautiful mix of joy, love, and a celebration that sparkles with the spirit and true meaning of the season.
All photos by Alex Bo Photo