Having a Christmas wedding and wanting bring festive touches into your celebration, but aren't sure where to start, well, let the following ideas be your guide. Embracing all the joy and charm of the season these sweet style, decor and photo op ideas will make your guests feel like they are in their very own Hallmark Christmas movie! From warm cocktails and alternative wedding cake ideas to unique festive favours and seasonal style, here's our top ways to Add That Extra Festive Touch To Your Christmas Wedding.
How To Add Extra Festive Cheer To Your Christmas Wedding
1. Send a Festive Invite
Set the tone for your winter or Christmas celebration and send a seasonal invitation suite. You can opt for classic seasonal colours of red and green, or motifs such as wreaths, pine trees, garlands, snowflakes and more!
For ideas, check out our 35 gorgeous winter wedding stationery and invitations ideas for your festive celebration here.
2. Get Ready in Festive PJs
Get the day of to a fun festive start and deck yourself and your girls in matching Christmas-themed, tartan or plaid PJs. Pop on a Christmas wedding playlist and we can't think of a better festive getting ready situation!
3. Embrace the Winter Glam
A Christmas wedding goes hand in hand glitz and glam so why not incorporate this into your bridal party outfits with velvet, metallic, sequin, burgundy & red bridesmaid dresses or jumpsuits. Black is wonderful when teamed with sparkle, so feel free to mix and match black or sequin dresses for a chic look that your bride squad will want to wear again.
For the bride, add a little festive luxe to your bridal look with a pair of sparkly or velvet shoes, or a velvet bow in your hair, and for the groom, a red suit or velvet blazer is oh-so-festive. Don't forget about the littlest attendants too! As for guests, everyone loves any excuse to get really dressed up, so why not stipulate a black-tie dress code.
4. Add a Wreath With A Monogram
Nothing gives a better festive welcome than a lush winter wreath so why not go one step further and add a ribbon or sash with your initials or new monogram!
5. Carry a Festive Bouquet
Contrary to what you might think, there are still tons of gorgeous blooms available in the winter. When available, choose some in festive shades, like red, too. Amp up the holiday cheer with florals full of festive warmth such as poinsettia, amaryllis, hellebore, and anemones and with berries and greenery such a eucalyptus, ivy, holly, mistletoe and pine. Don't forget a matching festive boutonnière too!
See what flowers are available for your Christmas wedding here, or, let some of our real brides inspire your ravishing red floral bouquet right here.
6. Add Ribbons Everywhere
From your wedding day hair, place settings, candlelabras and cake, we love the idea of adding bows wherever possible!
7. Jingle Bells
Give everyone a jingle bell to ring as you walk down the aisle for a festive take on the classic confetti toss. Alternatively, you could use them as escort cards or place cards at the reception, or have everyone ring the bell at the same time when you enter the room, before toasts begin, or as you have your first dance!
8. Hire Authentic Carolers
Everyone loves the sound of Christmas songs so why not add an unexpected dash of holiday cheer with authentic Christmas carolers to your ceremony or at your cocktail reception. Your guests will truly feel they are in a Hallmark Christmas movie!
9. Mistletoe is a Must!
Whether it's for your first kiss at the altar, fun guest photo ops, or sweet couple portraits, it'd be a shame to have a winter wedding and not have at least one kiss under the mistletoe. We love this classic Christmas tradition so much that we say embrace it! You could even ask your florist if it would be possible to add some mistletoe into your bridal bouquet, or into the groom's boutonniere.
10. Set the Scene with Festive Decor
Embrace the season and let the holiday spirit ring with an abundance of Christmas decor. Christmas wedding reception tables can be set any number of ways (think greenery garlands and more!) and will also be a little more budget friendly as you are working with the season. Adding in red accents with Christmas berries, napkins and bows, adding in green with wonderful fresh pine, and gold with candles and tableware is sure to feel extra welcoming and Christmassy.
If you're drawn to the season's classic colors, feel free to incorporate them into your design—but of course, you don't have to use just red and green in order to feel seasonal. Berry-filled centerpieces, cool grey or blue linens, and silver-rimmed glassware can also bring subtle festive vibes.
From wintry ceremony backdrops and tablescapes, to cheerful little favours that help make the festive season special, we've got 26 stylish ways to infuse your wedding day decor with festive fabulousness right here.
11. Scent Your Wedding
From stylish signature perfumes and colognes, to cosy candles and even fresh evergreen foliage, we're huge fans of scenting the wedding day, and a Christmas wedding is simply perfect for it.
There are so many ways to include special scented moments in your winter wedding, and clever ways to ensure that every scent element you use, complements the rest. From the bride's signature perfume, to your choice of flowers or scenting your ceremony and reception space, we've got expert tips on how to scent your wedding right here.
12. Gift Festive Favours
Send guests home with something that'll always remind them of your seasonal celebration. Candy canes, mini plantable Christmas tree cuttings, chutney, Christmas tea bags, candles, blankets and hand warmers all make great Christmas wedding favours that your guests will want to keep! Or, for a truly gorgeous favour your guests will love to keep, have a calligrapher write everyone's names on pretty bauble.
There are a million ways to creatively display them for your guests to grab on the way to their seats—or on the way out the door.
13. Serve a Festive Custom Cocktail or Mulled Wine
Tis the season to be merry and bright! Adding some custom cocktails or mulled wine is a sure way to add some festive cheer. We're going to let you in on a little secret: Any signature cocktail feels festive when you give it a great Christmassy name!
Winter warmers such as warm apple cider, mulled wine or a boozy hot chocolate station makes a wonderful addition post ceremony or at the evening reception. Your guests will love the warm, festive aromas.
14. Add Custom Festive Napkins
A festive custom cocktail, needs a festive custom napkin in our opinion! Have your bar tender hand them out with your drinks, or add them to your cocktail hour bar.
Photo by Pawel Bebenca via One Fab Day
15. Oh Christmas Tree!
What's a Christmas-themed wedding without Christmas trees? Chances are your venue will have Christmas trees on display for your Christmas wedding, but make sure to confirm if they will be in your ceremony and reception space if you wish to feature them. If planning your wedding in a marquee or at home, don't forget to add the Christmas lights, baubles and classic red ribbon! We've also seen creative couples use Christmas trees used as table plans and escort card and favour displays.
16. Christmas Crackers as Favours
What could be a better for winter wedding favours than crackers? Capturing the essence of the festive season and eco-friendly too, we especially love the reusable custom ones which you can fill up yourself, to make them super personal. Pull open the ribbon and the cracker can be used as a napkin during dinner and then be taken home as a wedding favour. They also double up as a place card and are gentle on the environment. It's a winter win!
17. Add A Fun Festive Wedding Card Post Box
We adore this idea of having your guests drop their cards in a fun "Letters to Santa" mailbox. Look to the January sales to pick up your own for your Christmas wedding!
18. Serve Christmas Confections
Ideal with a warming drink post ceremony, consider having a tower of mince pies so that your guests can tuck in to the taste of Christmas. Or, get creative with your Christmas wedding dessert table and add a sweet gingerbread house.
For your wedding cake, try festive flavour combos such as Guinness and chocolate, gingerbread and eggnog creme, chocolate peppermint, or chai spice.
19. Go To Town With Fairy Lights
There's nothing we love more than an overabundance of magical twinkling fairylights. They create a romantic atmosphere no matter the season—plus, they can make a big impact without a big cost.
For more festive inspiration from the most gorgeous, cosy and stylish winter and Christmas real weddings visit here.
