Christmas themed wedding: creative and cozy!

Creative and Cozy:  A Christmas themed Wedding. If Christmas time is your favorite time of the year, why don’t you make it your anniversary?

Every bride strives for a wedding that will be remembered after they’ve said: “I do.”  With the vast majority of weddings typically taking place between May and October, winter provides an opportunity for a wedding that is both uncommon and elegant.  Consider the advantages: A winter wedding means your guests won’t be worn down by the “wedding fatigue” of the warmer months, there’s often more availability when it comes to venues and vendors, and your honeymoon will provide the perfect opportunity for a warm-weather getaway for just you and your new spouse.  Whether your wedding date falls close to Christmas, New Years, or Valentine’s Day, take advantage of the built-in magic of the winter season to make your wedding one that is sure to stand out.

A Magical Setting: Venue and Decor

Winter is a time of built-in magic.   Whether your wedding vibe is rustic, sparkling, or a combination of the two, the Fountain Room will provide the perfect backdrop for your vision to come to life.  Featuring exposed brick, natural light, exquisite chandeliers, and a breathtaking fountain, it will be easy to take the elegance of a winter wedding to the next level.

When aiming for a rustic appeal, don’t be afraid to use the beauty of natural elements such as sprigs of evergreen, pine cones, and natural wood, or the warm reds of holly berries and poinsettias.  Add a touch of twinkle with stringed lights and candles along with a pine or bare-branched tree centerpiece. 

If glitter and glitz are your thing, winter makes easy to incorporate more than a conservative dash of sparkle. Envision branches and pine cones dipped in gold metallic paint, while silver and white are easily incorporated in the form of icicles, snowflakes, and stars.

Enchanting Accoutrements: Dresses and Details for your Christmas themed wedding

What better season for white?  When it comes to the perfect wedding dress, winter provides an excellent excuse for the sophistication of a long-sleeved gown, but shorter-sleeved or strapless gowns can be easily accessorized with stoles or winter capes (think Belle from Beauty and the Beast). 

A winter wedding will also allow you to get away with unique textures like velvet, furs and faux-furs, tulle, beading, and sparkle.  For bridesmaids’ dresses, holly-berry red is always an option that will pop against snowy backdrops, but also consider deep evergreen or soft blues and muted greys if going for natural tones. Of course, silver, gold, and lots of sparkly beading and sequence are fully within the winter-theme if you’re gravitating toward the glitzy route. 

If your wedding date falls near Christmas, send your guests home with keepsake ornaments that will remind them of your special day in the holidays to come.   If you snag a New Year’s Eve wedding date, you’ll have full license to go overboard with sequence and champagne, and your guests can celebrate with you until the ball drop.  A wedding near Valentine’s day will allow you to get creative with roses, chocolates, and take-home valentines for your guests.

A Dazzling Reception:  Cozy Cuisine

The list of holiday cocktail ideas is almost endless:  Imagine a cocktail hour featuring mulled wine with sliced oranges, pomegranate, and cranberry spritzers, and Irish coffee topped with whipped cream.   Non-alcoholic options abound as well, including ciders studded with cinnamon sticks, or hot cocoa and marshmallows served in mini mugs. When it comes to appetizers, winter is the perfect time for hearty soups like spiced butternut squash or creamy tomato garnished with truffle oil.  On the lighter side, salads featuring winter cranberries, pear, goat cheese, walnuts on a bed of tender greens are perfect.

When considering your entrée, think cozy comfort food– for instance, bacon-wrapped beef or herb-crusted lamb served with roasted potatoes and veggies.  Stuffed portobello mushrooms or comforting vegetable lasagna are perfect options for your vegetarian guests. Alternatively, use this opportunity to take advantage of the winter game such as venison or pheasant. 

Your wedding cake can be topped with rich holiday crimson in the form of berry and flower garnishes, flecked in elegant gold, or kept minimal with natural elements such as pine or mistletoe. For less common approaches to dessert, consider adding a cookie-decorating station, or you may want to opt for red velvet cake, mini-pies, or mini-tarts.  No matter which route you take, you and your guests are bound to leave feeling entwined with the charm of the season.