Holiday themed weddings
Planning a Holiday Themed Wedding
The holidays are a wonderful time
of the year to get married. It is a
time for gathering with friends and family and celebrating the sights and
sounds of the season. With such a
festive mood in the air, a joyous celebration like a wedding just adds to the
overall feeling of the holidays.
Another benefit to planning a wedding during the holidays is the obvious
themes that emerge from the holidays themselves. Planning a themed wedding makes all the decisions along the planning
route easier, as everything ties in to one common idea. The theme can be carried out in the
selection of wedding colors, bridal attire, floral décor and food and
beverage. Below are some suggestions as
to how you can incorporate the holidays into your wedding planning and create a
beautiful, memorable event that you and your guests will enjoy.
Thanksgiving Wedding
Weddings that take place in the
months of October or November are best suited for Thanksgiving, or Fall
themes. Wedding colors in the rust,
burgundy, burnt orange, chocolate brown and gold hues create the most dramatic
look. The popularity of chocolate brown
and metallic colors this season makes the use of gold and copper as accents in
wedding attire and reception décor a popular choice. Consider chocolate brown bridesmaid dresses with a copper sash
and chocolate brown ties for the groomsmen.
For a subtler look, champagne colored dresses and coordinating attire
for the men is also an elegant option.
For the reception, consider playing with different linens, adding
overlays to some or all tables, changing the napkin colors, or adding gilded
chair covers to the chairs. For bigger
budgets renting gold or chocolate brown Chivary chairs will complete the look
of the reception. For food and
beverage, a buffet with traditional Thanksgiving fare is sure to be popular
with your guests. Be sure to include
lots of baskets of fresh baked breads and rolls served with flavored butters
like honey and cinnamon. Also consider
a mashed potato martini bar, or a baked potato bar, complete with a variety of
rich gravies and sauces. People love
comfort food, and your guests will definitely remember the wonderful meal they
had at your wedding. At the bar, you
can serve seasonal beer and ale, as well as festive non-alcoholic beverages
like warm spiced apple cider. Finally,
try playing with the seating arrangements and using long tables where a large
group of people can be seated together.
This will give the entire reception a more family style feel, which is
what Thanksgiving is all about.
Christmas Wedding
A Christmas themed wedding is most
appropriate anytime during the month of December. The obvious color choices are hues of red and green, accented
again by popular metallic colors. A
simple yet elegant option is to pair a deep forest green or a rich red with
white for a contrast in colors. Paired
with a black suit or tuxedo, groomsmen can wear red or green ties, with the
bridesmaids coordinating in long satin dresses. Flowers can also be used to continue this color theme. Bunches of rich red roses or bouquets of
assorted greens can be created to adorn tables, the cake and the personal
flowers. Centerpieces created with
Christmas ornaments are an inexpensive and festive option used either alone or
in conjunction with flowers. While a buffet suits a Thanksgiving themed wedding
well, a more formal sit down dinner seems more appropriate for a Christmas
themed wedding. While the main course
can vary, consider starting with a winter soup instead of a salad. You can have fun with specialty cocktails
that fit your theme, like peppermint martinis, cosmos and mojitos. To immediately set the holiday mood,
consider offering tray passed glasses of eggnog and champagne as guests arrive
for the reception. If your reception is
at a hotel or country club, ask the catering manager if you can have a
Christmas tree put in your reception room.
Then, have guests place their wedding gifts under the tree instead of on
a traditional gift table. Be sure to
use as much candle light as you can, again setting the overall tone of the
evening. Finally, check with your
church or local school to see if you can arrange to have a small choir come and
sing a few Christmas carols some time during the reception. This would make a beautiful addition to any
entertainment you have planned and ensure that your wedding is a memorable
event for all of your friends and family.
New Years Wedding
Weddings planned in late December or anytime in the
month of January naturally lend themselves to a New Years theme. Given the popularity of cocktail parties to
celebrate the New Year, a reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres and specialty
cocktails is a great idea in lieu of a traditional sit down dinner reception. Food stations can be international,
incorporating food from your favorite countries, or, stations that reflect your
favorite types of food, like seafood, salads and finger foods. Finally, a variety of tray passed hors
d’oeuvres, served with glasses of champagne are an elegant touch for the start
of the reception as guests arrive. In
terms of décor, Lucite, or clear glass furniture is very popular these
days. Consider renting clear Lucite
chairs or cocktail tables from a rental company to create a modern effect. The use of ice carvings either on their own
or incorporated into the buffet or bar can also make a stunning impression at
your reception. Ice luges or iced
martini bars are an innovative way to incorporate ice carvings into your
reception. Linens can either be all
white, or black and white to create a formal look. Bridal attire can also follow along with these colors, accented
by matte or metallic silver. Silver
ties for the men and sashes and accessories for the bridesmaids, or a silver
satin long strapless dress are all elegant options for the bridal party. Whatever choices you make for your New Years
themed wedding, remember to plan the entertainment portion of the evening well
so that you and your guests can celebrate your special day in true New Years
style.