Christmas Bridal Fashions
An easy place to add Christmas touches in the formal wear of your attendants and your own bridal gown. Boutonnieres with holly sprigs or poinsettia flowers instantly spread Christmas cheer. Red, green or maroon capes in soft velvet can add holiday color and tone to your bridesmaid gowns without changing the design of the dresses. Snowy white faux fur will match any color scheme you already have in place and can be embellished with crystals or beads to give icy sparkle. For your own gown, a simple red sash or brocade and faux fur shawl may be all you need if your other decorations can carry the theme. Exchange the tulle and ribbon for a muff as the base for your bridal bouquet. With some simple additions, flower girls and ring bearers become the prince and princess of winter with icy accents on snowy crowns and regal blue capes. Snowflake confetti can replace the traditional flower petals strewn across a white or red carpet runner.Christmas Flower Arrangements
Your flowers can have as much impact on a Christmas theme as your attendants' attire. Add squares of red and green plaid to form the backdrop for pew bows. Wrap larger arrangements in reflective gold foil or holiday wrapping papers to celebrate the season. Christmas balls in solid wedding colors or showcasing winter designs can be artfully placed in all your arrangements to add a holiday look without overpowering the blooms. The flowers themselves can add a Christmas dimension. By adding recognized holiday blooms, such as thistle, holly or red berries to touch upon the season, you can suggest the season without a complete floral overhaul. Christmas ribbons can be woven through arrangements or placed as bows in specific spots if you are looking for a focal point or minimal impact.Christmas Music
Music reaches the hearts of guests just as flowers please the eye. Play soft Christmas favorites as guests are seated before the ceremony. Single voices such as Perry Como or Bing Crosby lend a nostalgia to your ceremony and will put everyone in the mood for a Christmas wedding. Larger chorus groups can add emotional impact and a heightened spirituality before your ceremony begins. String quartets or a single violin adds elegance and an upscale tone. Make sure to clear any type of Christmas music with your religious officiant as many churches have restrictions on the type of Christmas music they will allow.Christmas Lighting
Lighting creates its own magic for a Christmas wedding. By keeping the lights dim and soft, your candles will sparkle and the spiritual nature of your ceremony will come to the fore. Ivory candles will provide pools of warm light and white pillars will mirror the new fallen snow. Natural pine cone and juniper berry candle rings add holiday touchstones and crystal snowflakes and stars will reflect the flickering light.Outdoor Christmas Decorations
The first impression your guests will receive is the outside of your venue, so use this wide open space to set up your Christmas theme. Decorate trees, shrubs and bushes outside your venue with red bows and twinkling Christmas lights. Christmas themed luminaries and lighted decorations can line walkways and landscaping to present guests with a holiday theme. Wedding colored wreathes can hang from handrails, doorways and on walls to blend the holiday theme with your wedding day. Stand in front of your venue and see where you can add a Christmas feeling for your guests as they arrive.Whether you are planning a complete Christmas wedding or simply looking for places to add the joy and peace of the holiday season to your plans, keep your ideas on a fairly narrow theme. Too much variety in your props and colors can lead to a chaotic feeling and a disorganized presentation. Focus on those parts of Christmas which mean the most to you and your groom. Check out bridal magazines and Christmas fairs to get an idea of the style of holiday decorating which appeals to you both. By concentrating your efforts on a few colors and elements, you can create the perfect mixture of wedding joy and Christmas magic.
