25 ways to make your Christmas wedding extra special

It is traditional to decorate your wedding venue for the ceremony, to wear clothes selected for the occasion and add flowers to mark the special nature of the day. But how do you compete with the decorations that are already in place at Christmas time? Should you even try? Read on for 25 ways to make your wedding extra special at Christmas.

1 Welcome your guests to the reception with steaming glasses of mulled cider or wine.

2 Really embrace the festive season with Christmas themed menus. Bite sized mince pies, pigs in blankets and devils on horseback make wonderful warm nibbles during a drinks reception.

3 Doorways decorated with arches of billowing white blossoms echo the snowy theme of a winter wedding.

4 Red and gold chair ribbons bring the traditional colours of Christmas and add a shot of brightness.

5 Add reflective crystal wherever possible to imitate ice – entwined in floral decorations, chandeliers, beading on dresses and shoes.

6 Introduce festive baubles and seasonal berries, pinecones and greenery to seat row-end decorations.

7 Champagne, gold, ecru or palest citrus shades for your wedding gown provide rich contrast to winter whites.

8 Take advantage of the venue’s Christmas tree and other decorations to act as a backdrop for your photos.

9 Ensure your photographers are briefed to catch images of any snow that falls on the day.

10 White twigs and branches bring the wintery theme indoors – decorate with feathers, crystals, white orchids and ribbons.

11 Silver adds a glistening highlight, while dashes of purple, fuchsia pink or deep red add contrast to a white colour scheme.

12 Flickering candlelight adds a special touch – for safety, use battery powered tea lights – you can hardly tell the difference.

13 Citrus scents and mulled wine are warm and wintery and appeal to all the senses.

14 Think festive colours for your make-up too – red lips, glowing cheeks and glittery eyes.

15 Extend your wintery theme, such as a snowflake motif, to your stationery - from your invitations to your place cards, menu and thank you cards.

16 Dust your wedding cake with icing to represent fallen snow – especially effective on cakes garnished with fruit or contrasting icing.

17 Make sure the bride and flower girls stay warm for outdoor photo shoots with a fake fur cape or bolero.

18 Disco lighting at the reception can be used to project snowflakes or falling snow around the room while you dance the night away.

19 Include deep red blooms and evergreen fir or eucalyptus in your white bouquets to add a Christmas-y touch.

20 Consider using coloured uplighting to make your white-themed reception into a magical grotto.

21 White candles nestled in cranberries in glass vases make excellent table centrepieces.

22 If the weather threatens to be inclement, Le Chameau or Hunter boots in colours that match or contrast will ensure toasty toes while outdoors.

23 If snow is essential to your nuptials, guarantee it by using a company like Snow Business to create it for you – just like they do for films.

24 Frozen ponds, icicles, frost or snow in your photos create lasting memories of your special day.

25 Personalise a Christmas tree ornament as a favour for each guest to take away and remember your wonderful winter wedding every year.

For more ideas of how to make your winter wonderland wedding a reality, talk to one of our wedding planners today and arrange a site visit to begin to visualise your scheme.