Christmas is in a week and a half. Yikes! I'm still planning to make my gifts this year. It just means I don't have much time left to finish them. But, I digress. The fact that it's Wedding Wednesday, and December 14th, makes me wonder about holiday weddings. In particular, mid-to-late December weddings.
| Because you know I love pine cones and matchbooks and, well, weddings. [Image Credit: Ritzy Bee] |
The up-sides are numerous:
-- It's a festive time of year.-- You can have a gorgeous color palette of holiday and winter tones.
-- If you like snow, you can have a snowy wedding.
-- You can have fun things like a cocoa bar with marshmallows and sprinkles.
-- It is a very meaningful time of year for religious reasons, and your wedding can share some of that significance.
| You can also have awesome wedding day pictures like this. For real. [Image Credit: Ritzy Bee] |
On the other hand, the down-sides are numerous:
-- Everyone is all tied up thinking about Christmas.
-- Everyone is using all extra/borrowed/whatever source money for Christmas presents.
-- Everyone is traveling already for Christmas.
-- See down-sides #1-3.
-- Also, it's possible to go overboard with a holiday wedding theme.
My take on this is the same as my take on most wedding things: Do what works for you. If you have your heart set on a Christmas wedding, then go for it. I would warn you, though, of a few caveats, keeping with the down-sides I mentioned above.
People are stressed out, over-committed, and busy around the holidays. And while I hate to say that, because I so want the holiday season to be when everyone takes time to appreciate what they have and help others with less, it is what it is. And so, if you choose to have your wedding during the holidays, you might find that your wedding isn't top of mind for everyone. In fact, you might find that not everyone who *would have* attended your wedding if it were another time of year attends if it is during the holidays.
Granted, that can be a strategic choice. Do you need to invite 300 people to your wedding, but secretly you would prefer an intimate gather of 50? Have it two days after Christmas.
So, here's what I think:
Holiday weddings are awesome. And if you want to have one, do it. Just be mindful of the hustle and bustle that may unintentionally come with some of your guests.
What do you think??
Ho, ho, ho, and I do,
Posts
6 comments:
I think it's a lovely idea, and you might luck out on the cost of decorations, depending on where your reception is, if the hall is already decked for other holiday parties!
I'm torn, just like you! On the one hand, Christmas is such a festive, joyful time of year, but you also run the risk of travel complications, weather delays, competing with holiday plans...I might skip it, or do your destination wedding in that week!
Christmas, I would shy away from. New Year's Eve, however, was perfect for us! I bet Sara is right on scoring a place with the halls already decked, though!
You chose some beautiful examples! One of my BFFs got married in mid-December, a 2-hr drive away. Luckily we stayed at the same hotel as the wedding, because a massive snowstorm started shortly before guests arrived and continued through the night. It took us about 6 hours to get home the next day! Winter weddings in the Northeast are (while lovely) a dangerous idea.
When we first got engaged I REALLY wanted a Christmas wedding. But our priest basically said no and good luck finding someone that will marry you during that time period because the church is busy. I would totally do it again to have a Christmas wedding.
As a gal who planned a New Year's Eve wedding in the snow capital of the world (Quebec), I do have a few thoughts on this!
1. Everything is twice as expensive on New Year's Eve (bummer)
2. We sent out a save the date PACKAGE in the March before our wedding to let people know what we had planned. The package included all kinds of information, like the drive time from key locations, things to do in Quebec, hotel pricing info. The point was not to be fancy. The point was to give our guests almost a year's notice and give them the option to make a trip around our wedding...and plan accordingly for it!
3. We made it clear that coming to our wedding was gift enough, and that no one had to bring a gift. Some took us up on this, some did not.
4. We knew that we were taking a chance and that some key people in our lives may not be able to join us do to the timing and the distance. Accepting this made it easier when we did find out that some people couldn't join us.
And that is that! Wow, longest comment ever!
Post a Comment