The Christmas season is a magical time and is one of the most favored occasions to have a wedding. This is when many families come together in celebration, plus there is the added bonus of having churches and other wedding venues already decked out for the holidays. If you are planning a Christmas wedding for next year, the time to start is now! The earlier you begin making preparations, the wider your range of options will be.

If you wish to have a theme other than the classic Christmas wedding, consider the popular Victorian, winter wonderland, or medieval styles. Or make things a little jollier with ring bearers and flower girls dressed as elves and Santa’s helpers. Another unusual idea is to create a charming, rustic atmosphere (i.e., ski lodge, mountain resort) using warm, winter colors.

And speaking of colors, red and green are the traditional choices for the holiday season; however, don’t feel you have to limit yourself to those. Other great possibilities are gold and cream, silver and white or blue, or gold, burgundy, and/or forest green. Plaids can also add a nice touch.

Have fun with Christmas wedding invitations by using snowflake edges or an elegant holly trim. Just make sure they don’t look like holiday cards. One way to avoid this is by choosing the traditional thick one page card in lieu of a folded invitation. Also send them out a little earlier than the norm (about 12 weeks before the date) because people have a tendency to get booked up during the holidays.

A wedding dress need not be any different than any other time of the year, although you may prefer a heavier material such as velvet, satin, or brocade. Nice accessories for the bride and/or bridesmaids can include wraps or shrugs, along with faux-fur muffs. And speaking of bridesmaids, they will love you forever if you pick out a party dress they can wear at another event after your wedding. Consider the ever popular little black dress that could be accessorized with cranberry colored gloves, shoes, and handbags.

Unique wedding favors can include a wine glass filled with M&Ms or other candy treats using your colors; an ornament as a placeholder; or personalized packets of cocoa, coffee, or tea with the family name and wedding date imprinted on them. Winter-themed mint tins, miniature stockings filled with chocolate, and holiday wine charms are also fun.

The wedding décor can be kept to a cost-saving minimum since most wedding venues such as churches, B&Bs, banquet halls, private country clubs, etc., will be dressed for the holiday season. You may want to add sprigs of mistletoe at entranceways, simple wreaths adorned with festive bows, or garland interspersed with small twinkling lights. Miniature Christmas trees, small topiaries, or pillar candles set on a mirrored platter can be used as centerpieces at the reception.

Christmas flowers often include poinsettias, holly and ivy, pinecones and foliage spray painted in gold or silver, baby’s breath, and other types of greenery. Of course, traditional wedding flowers such as lilies, orchids, roses, and daisies are available year-round; however, they may be more expensive during the colder out-of-season months.

Christmas carols are usually the preferred choice of music for a Christmas wedding. These could be sung by Dickinson carolers, a children’s choir, or people attending the ceremony. For a softer touch, use a string quartet or harpist.

These are just a few suggestions and tips to help make your special day one that will stand out in everyone’s memory. Please share some of your own thoughts and ideas at the Weddings Pangs blog (see link below).

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