It’s the most wonderful time of the year, everyone is in a celebratory mood, and if you’re fortunate, there’ll be snow on Christmas Day. But what if you want to make it even more special? Christmas wedding ideas that embrace the already festive feeling make a December wedding a truly special event.
In this article, we’ll give you some Christmas wedding ideas that embrace all those unique winter themes, from colour palettes to festive settings and décor, and how to ensure that one celebration doesn’t overshadow the other.
We’ll give you a handy list of dos and don’ts, talk about the benefits and drawbacks of a December wedding, offer ideas for food and drink, and explain how to make a Christmas wedding a real success. Let’s get those bells jingling and start by looking at why you should get married in December.
Why are Christmas weddings becoming increasingly popular?
While most people think of weddings as summer events, Christmas-themed weddings are bucking the trend and becoming more popular each year. The main reason for their growth is that it’s such a magical time of the year, and adding a dash of romance to all the festive décor, the warm and cosy interiors, and that special holiday atmosphere makes a wedding at this time of the year truly special. It’s easy to create a magical theme for your wedding when festive decorations and whimsical settings already surround you.
Christmas weddings also tap into that sense of togetherness and family celebrations that you get at this time of the year, and as fewer weddings are taking place, your guests are more likely to accept your invitation as there are fewer wedding clashes during December than in the more popular summer months.
The benefits of having a wedding in December
On a practical level, Christmas is considered an ‘off-peak’ season for weddings. Wedding venues often have lower prices for weddings in December, although you may have to take into account that many wedding venues also open to other guests and festive parties at this time of the year.
It’s a time of year when, if you’re lucky, you can get some truly magical weather that could make those wedding photos memorable. And once you’ve braved the chill outdoors, inside venues have toasty open fires, warm and welcoming decorations, and a festive feel that really enhances the effect.
It’s also down to personal preference – winter weddings are very different from summer ones, and as the year turns, your wedding vows represent a new start as the days start to get lighter.
The cons of Christmas wedding ideas
There are a few cons, though, and you do have to bear them in mind when you’re planning a Christmas wedding. That weather we talked about earlier is far more unpredictable than during the summer months. Unfortunately, in the UK, you’re far more likely to get a wet and windy Christmas rather than a white one. Bad weather conditions can make it difficult for your guests to get to the wedding, or even scupper your plans altogether. A power cut in the middle of the wedding ceremony isn’t exactly an auspicious start to married life!
While some venues may be more affordable during the winter months, you do need to consider seasonal demand when putting together your Xmas wedding ideas. Christmas parties and events may mean your ideal location for a wedding, like a stately home or Scottish castle, is already booked months in advance for Christmas and New Year festivities.
The other issue is the availability of your guests. Yes, there are fewer wedding clashes during the winter. But at this time of year, most people want to be with their families and may already have planned their festive season. If you are planning a Christmas wedding, let people know well in advance (several months before the date) so you can get a firmer idea of who will be coming and who won’t be able to make it.
Planning a Christmas wedding
As with any wedding, there’s plenty to think about and plan for when it comes to a Christmas wedding. Ideas include your décor, lighting, themes, and so much more. Let’s take a closer look at each area in turn.
The invites
It’s part of the early stages of planning a wedding, so sending out invites should be at the top of your list when planning a Christmas wedding. Embrace the festive themes of the season with plenty of holly and ivy (gold embossed designs add a real touch of elegance), or go for a more contemporary feel with silver and ice blue. Remember to get those invites out early so people can plan ahead, as this is a hectic time of year for social events and family celebrations.
Christmas décor
The classic Christmas colour scheme is, of course, red, green, and gold. But your Christmas wedding décor ideas could include blush and burgundy for a warm, cosy feel, sage and silver for a chic, contemporary look, and gold paired with navy for an opulent look. You can also include other tones, such as sparkling white and icy blue.
These colours can feature in everything from tablecloths and napkins to Christmas table decorations and wreaths. Your colour palette can set the theme for your wedding, even appearing in the bridesmaids’ dresses and floral decorations. Add some metallics to give it that indulgent touch, such as berries, pinecones, and leaves sprayed gold and silver.
Natural touches can also feature in your décor, such as mistletoe, pine boughs, or sprigs of holly and ivy winding their way along the church aisle. You’ll need to liaise with the church or venue, as they may not want the hassle of hoovering up pine needles after the wedding.
If you’re planning to give gifts to bridesmaids, ushers, and others in the wedding party, why not embrace the Christmas spirit and present them in red-and-white stockings? It’s little touches like this that bring your Christmas wedding ideas to life and tie in the two occasions beautifully.
Don’t forget the lighting. During winter, days are much shorter, so lighting for the afternoon and evening portions of the wedding reception is essential. Our top tip: String fairy lights around the venue for a charming and whimsical look. With so many people in a small space (and with alcohol involved), it’s best to avoid too many candles for everyone’s safety.
Winter wedding fashion inspiration
From the bride’s dress to your buttonhole flowers, bridesmaids’ jewellery and the groom’s suit, you can incorporate your Christmas wedding ideas into your outfits and accessories too.
Jewellery is a deeply personal choice, but for a winter wedding, you can choose colours that feel right for the season. Deep burgundy garnets have a wonderfully warm feel that pairs beautifully with gold for a vintage look, or go for delicate blue and platinum accents that evoke a winter landscape. Green and red are always popular colours for winter wedding fashions, and these could range from opulent red and gold brocade to subtle green touches in the bridesmaids’ dresses.
Accessories can complement your winter wedding fashion ideas, from hair decorations for the bride and bridesmaids to festive buttonholes for your guests. Of course, white is always popular for a winter wedding, but remember that only the bride should be wearing white. To harmonise without clashing, the bridesmaids could wear cream with gold accents to create a festive feel.
A festive menu
It can be tricky catering for a wedding party, but holding your wedding around Christmas offers up a simple solution – a delicious Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. Greet your guests with some traditional eggnog or a steaming glass of mulled wine, which will fill the venue with the glorious scent of oranges, cinnamon, and cloves (make sure there’s a non-alcoholic version for anyone who wants it). Desserts can be chocolatey yule logs or Christmas puddings. Or go for a festive buffet with some seriously indulgent party food to get everyone in the mood.
The focus of attention when it comes to wedding food is the cake. Keep things yule-based with a white cake decorated with red berries, green pine and real pinecones sprayed to add some festive bling. You can ask your baker to add a Christmas theme to the icing, too. And rather than the usual sponge cake, go for a deliciously boozy and moist fruit cake with layers of marzipan to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.
Entertainment and the guest experience
You can always go for the usual disco for your Christmas-themed wedding, but why not start the entertainment off with some authentic carol singers? Other traditional festive music choices could fit in with a December-themed wedding to create the sense of a medieval banquet (perfect if your reception is in a castle or old stately home). Or go modern with a playlist that includes as many Christmas songs as the DJ can fit in – guaranteed to get everyone up and dancing.
Games are a tradition at Christmas, so if you have side rooms at the venue, why not set up games areas to keep the younger guests entertained?
Choosing a venue
There’s no getting away from it – the winter months are much colder and more likely to be wet, freezing, or stormy. In these conditions, a marquee isn’t a good idea – even if you use space heaters to warm everyone up. For a Christmas-themed wedding, stick to indoor venues, opting for a cosy, characterful space that accommodates the wedding party’s size. It’s also much easier to decorate an indoor venue at this time of the year. And even if the weather takes a turn for the worse, everyone will be safe, comfortable, and warm inside.
The finishing touches for a December wedding
If everything has gone without a hitch so far, congratulations! Your Xmas wedding ideas have obviously worked beautifully, and everyone’s having a wonderful time. To round off the day, set up a mulled wine stand so your guests can top up their glasses whenever they want.
With the shorter days and darker nights, a firework display is definitely on the cards. Fortunately, it can be early enough for everyone, including the little ones, to enjoy it. Our top tip: Choose quiet fireworks for a more engaging experience that won’t traumatise nearby pets or young children.
Our top tips for making a December wedding a success
Ring in the festive season with TH March
For over 130 years, TH March has been the go-to insurance provider for your most precious valuables. Our mission is to ensure your engagement or wedding rings, bride’s and bridesmaids’ jewellery, and timepieces have the right kind of cover to give you total peace of mind. For any Christmas wedding planning, ring insurance has to be on your to-do list to protect you financially if your rings and jewellery are lost, stolen, or damaged. You can learn more about our individual plans on our Ring Insurance page. Or contact us direct and talk to one of our team for no-nonsense, honest advice on the best type of jewellery insurance for you. Alternatively, you can use our online Get A Quote form for a free, instant quo