Christmas Wedding Etiquette/Ideas?

Question

I'm looking at having a Christmas time wedding next year. I'm not a huge fan of traditional wedding "stuff" but love everything Christmas and am looking to incorporate this as much as possible. I'm wondering if anyone has any fun ideas to share. We are also Irish and are incorporating this as well. We are not the dancing type, so anything avoiding pop music/DJ's is key. Some of my ideas have been to have couple areas where people can do fun stuff like make gingerbread people or whatever anyone suggests. I hate weddings where everyone just sits at their tables. Getting people up is my main thing!

Another reason for the Christmas wedding is family. This is about the only time my extended family travels to my home state, same with his family (we're from the same area). So, unless I want to make grandparents, cousins, etc, take more time off of work to attend our wedding, this is the opportune time. Aren't holidays about family annyway?

And in case you missed it the first time, I said a "couple areas" for things like making gingerbread people. I'm looking for more ideas, not people criticizing my own.

I should also add that his family kilt is bright red and green and one of my concerns is not making him match everything. =)

My last detail didn't get added, but I most definitely want music. Locally theres a flute/violin/guitar trio and other various musicians. I just don't want a DJ or pop music. I don't want people to feel like they NEED to dance.

Answer 1

Wow, I want an invite!! Seriously, maybe you could have people make decorations to take home, or to leave for your tree. Buy a Christmas tablecloth and some fabric markers, (after Christmas this year) and everyone could sign it and you would have a memento for many Christmases to come. Have a yule log instead of a traditional wedding cake, or maybe a tiered platter of cookies? Have some of your guests who like to sing go caroling through the reception.
Since you're Irish, hire bagpiper to lead a grand march and lead you into the reception.
Oh, and hire an Irish harper to play beautiful music (Me ME!!)
Sounds like a wonderful wedding

Answer 2

My folks had a Christmas wedding (in MI in 1959). Her bridemaids all had white fur headbands and muffs. People gave them Christmas ornaments for wedding presents. Perhaps you could have an activity where people make or decorate ornaments for your tree? It could be a very simple craft activity, and could provide you with years of keepsakes.

Though you say you are not dancing types, I'm hearing that more specifically, you are not fans of pop music and the like. For our own wedding we hired a small Ceili band, and had someone call some simple line and country dances. It was fun for many of the guests, from the children up through the grandparents. Most people felt equally awkward, so there was a lot of laughing and fun.

Answer 3

Carla P- Your cousin got married on New Year's Eve and "ruined the holidays for all" ??????? What a happy sentiment for the new couple, sooooo glad im not part of that family! Holidays are supposed to be about family and celebrating a wedding is more about family than spending tons of money on things you dont need. If people dont want to come, then fine, they dont have to. But geez, that is an awfully selfish view of the Holidays.

To avoid the everything matching your fiance's kilt, I would say go with a color scheme of gold and silver with either deep red OR green. Only using one of these traditionally Christmas colors will keep it fresh and not too matchy-matchy. I like the gingerbread idea, I would have some kind of photo mat at each table that guests can sign?? Good luck to you, sorry I dont have any more suggestions!

Answer 4

Try a Winter Wonderland theme. My nephews wedding decorations were cedar trees decorated with white mini-lights and "snow drifts" of tuille and cotton batting.It was held at night and was really pretty. The bride's colors were ice-blue, dark-blue, white and silver. Yeah, it was very, very pretty.

This is church-friendly by the way - as opposed to having the minister dress up like Santa or something like that...

To keep people mingling - have different "areas" for food - such as chips/veggies and dips in one place - and a mixed grille in another - and fruit dipped in chocolate in a third - and another area for punch... Have groups of small "bar-height" tables (mostly without chairs) as opposed to a bunch of sit down type tables - but do include SOME lower tables and chairs because Grandma may need to sit down.

As for "crafts" and "activities" - well, that's an unusual thought - but try for activities that don't involve gooey or sticky things like paint, glue/glueguns or icing. And do be sure to have some made ahead so people can carry them home as wedding favors...

Maybe have some of the "messy" stuff done ahead of time so all guests have to do is a little bit of personalizing.

HIRE A CRAFTSPERSON TO SUPERVISE THESE ACTIVITIES - you'll be glad you did. That way people will be more assured of success - instead of a mess.

Oh, and instead of a DJ - hire a good pianist who can play christmas carols - be sure to hand out word sheets - so people can gather around the piano and sing. (personalizing the word-sheet/booklet could be an "activity," btw)

Hope this helps.

P.S. I think all men look so virile in a kilt. Yes, fiance should wear his kilt.

Answer 5

Since your wedding is so close to Christmas, why not take advantage of the season and do something differrent, instead of a gift TABLE, a Christmas Tree, you could also ask people to bring an ornament to put on the tree so you will have it for all your future Christmases together, or give ornaments with your names and date as gifts to your guests. Instead of a box for gift cards, a large stocking? There is nothing to say you can't use the colors you want. If you are however having your reception in a Catering hall, take advantage of all the decorating they will do. you can always get nice hurricane candle holders and put a lovely candle in it. Nothing says you need to go red and green, how about burgundy and cream, pink and white with gold, anything you want! You could also go with the Snowflake theme, lots of white, blues, silvers and snowflake ornaments as gifts to your guests with your new names, date of marriage and your new home address on it. I would use lots of sparkling WHITE lights to decorate your head table. After all, this is YOUR WEDDING! Good luck with thatever you decide, it will be perfect because you planned it the way you always dreamed it could be. Should you need any further ideas, feel free to e-mail me.

Answer 6

You could have carolers instead of a dj. Gingerbreadmen/houses as a station, have everyone make an ornament for you and your husbands new tree, you could have big couches in the reception hall so it feels more like sitting in the family room during xmas with the family - instead of sitting around big banquet tables (after the meal), use a lot of off-white, white, silver and gold to keep everything from matching the red and green kilt.

Answer 7

Great centerpiece: Gingerbread houses!! how fabulous... and cute too.

Cake decorated like a christmas tree. Tensil and garland everywhere for decorations. Fake snow! Instead of a dj, get like a quartet to play christmas music and other traditional pieces during your cocktail hour. I think, just because you arent dancing people, doenst mean your guest arent. As bride and groom you will be very busy at your reception talking to your guest, so a DJ might be a good idea to keep everyone up and bumpin. Just a few ideas.

Answer 8

We are currently faced with attending a Christmas wedding (December 27). My recommendation is to avoid weddings around major holidays -- unless all your guests are local. For our family attending a Christmas wedding means dragging children and grand children from their Christmas traditions and traveling on either Christmas day or celebrating Christmas in a hotel as the bride and groom and their parents have no plans for us on Christmas day.

It may be cute, but think of your guests!

Answer 9

I think you'll have a tough time getting people to go to craft stations or whatever you envision in this arena. People get up and dance, which you don't want, and with no music at all, it's going to seem awfully quiet there. I always recommend some kind of music, even if you don't plan to dance. It just keeps the atmosphere festive--they could play Christmas music if you wish.

Answer 10

You should ask some of the folks you're planning to invite if they'd go for this sort of thing. You need to consider that most people these days don't get to spend much time with their families during the holidays because most companies don't respect holiday vacations like they used to--so what little time they do have, they might want to spend with their families.

You might end up with fewer people in attendance during the holidays. Personally, I'd decline a Christmas wedding in favor of spending that time with my family, shopping for gifts, etc.