As the holidays approach, and your special Virginia weddings near, there’s loads of magic in the air. Lights twinkle, carols play, cookies send their delicious aromas throughout the house… It’s the favorite time of year for many of us, and, chances are, if you’re planning a holiday wedding, you’re one of us.
So, I wanted to offer up some ideas for your Christmas wedding planning, both big and small, immediate and long-term, for wherever you are in your wedding planning process, and whether it’s this year or next.
Here are some of my absolute favorite Christmas wedding touches for the big day.
Choose a Venue That Goes All Out for Christmas
If you’re far enough out that you haven’t booked a venue yet, here’s a big one that will save you a lot of effort and time (maybe even some cash) if you’re able to plan accordingly. Find a venue that goes all out for the season.
I had a friend from college who got married right after Christmas and let me tell you – the venue she chose was amazing! There were trees and lights, poinsettias, and ornaments everywhere – and it was completely magical!
So, choose places like zoos, gardens, conservatories, restaurants, banquet halls, or maybe even a Christmas tree farm for your holiday-themed wedding. Most of the decoration work will be done for you already if your wedding is any time in December.
Deck the Halls with Dollar Store Goodies
If your venue is already booked and it’s not a Christmas festival in the making, you can save yourself a bundle by decking the halls with some inexpensive, yet elegant or intentionally tacky Christmas ornaments from the dollar store.
Visit your local Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Big Lots, Odd Lots, Family Dollar, Five Below, or similar stores and nab all the décor you can find on a budget. Grab garlands, ornaments, tinsel, inexpensive trees, and more. Then, when the party’s done, you can send the décor home with your guests as part of the fun of the event. This way, you’ll have less clean-up, too. Of course, keep the pieces you love most to decorate your own home for years to come with dual-purpose décor: Christmas and wedding memories in one.
Make or Order Some Specialty Christmas Ornaments
There are tons of companies on sites like Etsy and even Amazon that will custom make Christmas ornaments for you. You can choose the design you love, provide photos, dates, names, etc., and order them up.
Or, if you’ve got some time and enjoy crafting, there are tons of easy kits to grab from all kinds of stores. Get your bridal party together to whip them up, make them slowly over the year as you have a few minutes here or there, or do a few big batches with your closest and best.
However you do it, these make for great favors for your big day that helps keep your family and friends in the mood while celebrating your special day.
Serve Festive Cocktails or Host a Cocoa Bar
There’s nothing more festive than a hot cocoa bar! Put out some peppermint bits, caramel, candy canes, or any other favorite treat that blends well with cocoa and serve up a hot cocoa bar.
Or, if you’re more in the mood for cocktails, get your bartender/caterer to serve up some festive signature cocktails featuring holidays ingredients like eggnog, cinnamon, cardamom, pumpkin pie spice, gingerbread, or peppermint.
Have Fun With Some Little Debbie Cakes and Homemade Christmas Cookies
If you want easy, reasonably cheap, festive fun foods, grab some of the Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes. These tasty little treats are super easy to serve up, laid out on platters in tiers.
Or, if you’ve got the oomph and space, have a sugar cookie decorating table. Have the cookies out there plain, and supply tubs of colored icing, sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, and edible glitter so your guests can deck out the cookies with their own unique Christmas touches. They make for great, fun activities and favors in one.
Include Holiday-Themed Props for Your Guest Tables and Photo Booth
If you’re having a photo booth, be sure to supply some fun props for the guests. Santa hats, stockings, Christmas garland, wreaths, mini-Christmas trees – even ornaments hanging on hooks. Your guests will enjoy getting creative with the props and you’ll wind up with some super fun photos. Be sure to pop in for your own shots, as well!
You can also supply a fun simple prop or three on each guest table, as well, encouraging guests to use them as props for photos throughout the event. Make sure your photographers know what they’re for so they can encourage the guests further to use them for fun photos all night long.
