As Christmas is so special so why not have a Christmas Wedding. Everyone is happy to be together with their friends and loved ones, and to dress up in their nicest outfits and have a little too much food and drink. So naturally, it is the perfect time to get married. Christmas is the dream window for a sparkly winter wedding, in which glamour, fun and creativity are perfectly at home, so how can you create the most memorable day without breaking the bank? Here are some top tips for the ultimate Christmas wedding.
Invitations
Why not make your own invitations? Handmaking invitations is the perfect way to express your personality and individualism, on top of being lots of fun to do. So make a day of craft! Head down to your local craft shop and pick up plenty of card-making supplies – you can use anything from paper collage and stencils to feathers, gems and glitter – and create something entirely unique and Christmas themed. Think Snowflakes or Baubles! you may be pleasantly surprised by the artistic work you produce.
Decorations
As winter approaches craft shops stock a fabulous range of seasonal fabrics, in many wintry colours and patterns. So why not pick out a few of your favourite fabrics to make bunting and table decorations? They are very simple patterns to sew yourself, either by hand or on a machine, and will add that unique yuletide atmosphere to your venue with little expense. Traditional Christmas decorations create a beloved, rustic feel, and can be made so simply and cheaply. Try hemp-string garlands strung with roasted orange slices and cinnamon sticks – they look beautiful and smell divine.
Catering
Whether or not you decide to do your own catering, do take advantage of the season’s nutritional offerings. Fine quality meats, winter vegetables and sumptuous puddings are widely available great for a Christmas themed wedding. Another must-have of the season is the delicious range of mulled wines and ciders, which can be used for a toast-with-a-twist, and will be heartily appreciated by your guests at this time of year. Christmas has always been a well-loved opportunity for rich food and lots of it, perfect for creating a winter feast to remember.
Atmosphere
Although the brief daylight hours can often make us want to go into hibernation, the early darkness in the evenings undoubtedly provides scope for creating a really exquisite atmosphere. Take a walk around this time of year, and see what you like, and how things make you feel. Whether it’s shop window displays, Christmas lights in the streets, or candles in a church, there is plenty of inspiration out there to be taken. Perhaps you’d like to hang wreaths on the ends of the pews, or a trail of candle jars down the aisle. Battery-operated strings of fairy lights can be picked up cheaply in high street shops, and make a fantastic addition to a centrepiece. And when it comes to making things feel festive, don’t forget about the scents! You could make the orange and cinnamon garlands mentioned above, or even pick up some charcoal tablets and frankincense and myrrh resins for the ultimate Christmas air.
Dress & Accessories
If you had always wished for a white wedding, what better than a white Christmas wedding?! A white wedding dress can be made extra festive with a little accessorising: how about a waist bow of gold or red, or perhaps a traditional ivy crown (which, again, can be made at home)? Holly sprig buttonholes for the gents and corsages for the ladies are a great way of adding colour and theme to your wedding party.
While a sparkly, embellished or simple white dress will be the real centrepiece of your day, colour can be just as beautiful, and just as festive. If a white dress is not for you, how about burgundy or dark emerald green? Just as a summer wedding can be the perfect time to throw out bold, bright colours, or soft, natural pastels, Christmas is well suited to deep, elegant shades and rich fabrics which will flatter you and suit the occasion well.
Music & Entertainment
Now, themed music may not be to everyone’s taste: you may just prefer the classic DJ or live band who will throw in the odd Bing Crosby number. However, if you want to go all-out on your theme, there are a few exciting options out there. You could ask a string quartet to play your favourite seasonal hymns, or perhaps even enlist the help of a church choir, who will be well used to performing for special and sacred occasions. For something a little more lively, you could even try a group of carol singers. For certain, a Christmas wedding offers you a chance to really think outside the box when it comes to entertainment, and any one of these suggestions would be fondly remembered for a long time to come.
Flowers
The floristry of your wedding is another area that can put the Christmas theme to really good use. If you want to stick with something more traditional for weddings, you could adopt the festive palette into your arrangements, with white and burgundy chrysanthemums or carnations, and add splashes of green with sprigs of foliage. Of course, holly and ivy make a beautiful Christmassy addition, in keeping with the colour scheme and wintry theme, while bringing texture and excitement to the mix. For a really festive look, add some wreaths! They are widely available and cost-efficient at this time of year, and can either customise your own or have specialists do it for you. Weave in berries, pine cones, cinnamon sticks and roasted orange slices for that warm, Victorian-era feeling.
The most important thing to remember is to have fun, be creative and take advantage of everything this magical time of year has to offer.