If you love the holiday season as much as you love your spouse-to-be, might I suggest a Christmas-themed wedding? This festive time of year brings an array of decor that’s perfect for setting a cozy, romantic tone for your big day. Imagine a color palette rich with deep reds, vibrant greens and snowy whites sprinkled with nature’s accessories like pine cones, berries and garland. I have some classic Christmas inspiration that is sure to get you in the holiday spirit and set the mood for romance.
Introduce your color palette
Give your wedding guests a sneak peak into the color palette of your big day with the perfect online wedding invitations. This gorgeous Naturally Beautiful – Red – Foil Invitation features a background with a deep red hue, and your white wording is delicately surrounded by a whimsical leaf design. Tie a sprig of garland around the invites to really get your guests in the holiday spirit.
Go crazy for plaid
The closer the holidays get, the more I get an urge to fill my closet with everything plaid. There’s something so inviting and Christmasy about the striped pattern. This adorable couple totally nailed the look. The festive bride donned a bright red sweater to perfectly match her groom’s swoon-worthy plaid shirt complete with a black bow-tie. The ensemble screams Christmas – in a good way, of course.
Don’t think you have to stop there with the plaid. You can sport a plaid headband or bow down the aisle, you can dress your reception tables with red plaid napkins or wrap your white fondant cake in plaid ribbon. There’s really nowhere this pretty pattern doesn’t belong.
Bring red into your bridal ensemble
Red is the quintessential holiday color and can bring your bridal ensemble to a whole new level. Brighten up your lips with a shade of red lipstick or gloss, or put on some red-colored velvet heels before you walk down the aisle. You can also incorporate a few red berries into your arrangement to complement any colorful accessories you may be wearing on your big day.
Make your tables shimmer
Red, white and green are gorgeous when combined. But guess what? This color palette can be made even better by incorporating one additional hue: gold. This metallic shade provides texture and adds a bit of opulence to your wedding day. Set your tables with gold flatware and white plates with gilded rims. Little touches of the metallic shade go a long way and can make a beautiful statement when it comes to your Christmas place settings. Keep the centerpieces for your table just as simple, with arrangements of greenery, white roses and warmly lit gold candles. Even a sprig of rosemary and a single white rose tucked into a glass jar is all you need to create a whimsical ambiance within your reception venue.
Need more table inspiration for your Christmas wedding? Check out this stunning arrangement from the Ruffled blog.
Turn place cards into favors
Kill two birds with one stone by combining place cards and favors! Fill a clear glass ornament with kosher salt (to represent a fresh blanket of snow) and sprigs of fresh rosemary. Write your guest’s name on the outside of the ornament using a metallic paint pen, and tie some red ribbon around the top of the ornament so your loved ones can hang it on their tree when they get home. Place the ornaments on their plate so your guests know where to sit. Here’s step-by-step instructions of how to make this favor/place card.
Add a rustic element to your cake
The only trouble with a Christmasy cake is that it might actually look too wonderful to eat. Ruffled captured exactly what I imagine a festive tiered confection might look like. Ribbons of burlap are wrapped around each crisp white tier, while bright red berries, snow-covered pine cones and fresh pine bring your color palette to life. Instead of displaying your dessert on a traditional cake tier, opt for a platter constructed out of wood.
Offering cupcakes instead of the traditional cake? Request that your baker decorate the cupcakes with white buttercream frosting, and top them with a sprig of pine or a few bright red berries and a flag reading “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas.”
Set up a hot cocoa bar
Your guests are going to need a way to stay cozy during your winter nuptials, so why not rely on one of the most classic ways of warming up? With a big ol’ cup of hot cocoa. Provide your guests with their very own Christmas mugs as a festive favor, which can be arranged at the hot chocolate bar. You’ll want to offer all the add-ons your guests can imagine, from mini marshmallows and chocolate shavings to cinnamon sticks and peppermint. Fill mason jars with red-and-white striped straws to add a pop of color to everyone’s mug of hot cocoa.
Dress up your chairs
It’s truly the littlest details that can make the biggest impact. So when decorating your reception venue, don’t forget about your chairs. Attach a sprig of pine or garland to the back of each chair, along with a tiny sign with a holiday term like “merry,” “bright” or “love.”
What wintry elements will you be including in your Christmas wedding? Share your thoughts with me!
Couple: Haley Sheffield Photography via Ruffled, Table: Park Road Photography by Sarah Elle via Ruffled, Place Cards: Studio 11 Wedding via Something Turquoise, Cake: Callie Hobbs Photography via Ruffled, Hot Chocolate: Perry Vaile Photography via Wedding Chicks, Chair: Perry Vaile Photography via Wedding Chicks
