Q.We’re having a Christmas wedding. Do you have any ideas on how we can make it special?

A.There are so many great ways to spice up a holiday wedding, and most reception locations will already be decorated for the holidays. Here are some ideas:

• Invitations: There are plenty of religious invitations and you may feel strongly about using them at this time of year. Or try custom-made invites shaped like Christmas stockings, snowmen, or Christmas trees. And there’s always the obvious choice of including anything in red and green.
• Clothes: The bride can wear a gown with white velvet accents or something with faux-fur. Added touches can include festive colors like red, gold, or green, or even a cape or bows. The groom can wear a red and green or metallic-brocade vest, or cummerbund and tie, with studs and cuff links in the shape of Christmas trees or candy canes. For the wedding party, put bridesmaids in bright red or hunter green; gold, silver, and pewter are beautiful, too.
• Flowers & Decorations: Drape ivy or holly mixed with sprigs of baby’s breath among the rows of seats for the ceremony. Poinsettias are perfect around the area where you’ll stand to exchange your vows and even as centerpieces. Or, for instant centerpieces, fill large glass vases or bowls with solid-colored glass ornaments. Bundles of white branches (from the market or florist) decorated with white lights will look great around an entryway. Another idea is to adorn evergreen plants with lights, candy canes, and little red bows.
• Food & Drink: Have the caterer recreate your favorite holiday dinner. For beverages, how about a punch bowl full of egg nog, spiced cider, or spiked rum? Festive holiday drinks for everyone! And be sure to serve hot cocoa, plain or with a shot of creme de menthe.
• Entertainment: Have the band or DJ play some danceable Christmas tunes like “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” Get everyone to gather around, pass out lyric sheets, and sing Christmas carols!
• Favors: Mini Christmas stockings filled with candy, ornaments (store-bought or printed with your names and the wedding date), big candy canes tied with bows, silver bells decorated with red and green ribbons. Use your imagination and go wild!If you’re getting married around Christmas time — congratulations! It’s a wonderful, romantic time of year to have a wedding… and we have plenty of ideas to help you enjoy the perfect christmas wedding.

• A festive ceremony

  If you’ve chosen to have a religious ceremony, a wedding at Christmas-time gives you the perfect opportunity to sing carols to your heart’s content. Choose your favourites, and you can guarantee that your guests will sing along loudly too.

  A winter wedding also lends itself to decorating the church with ivy and berries, and having loads of romantic candles. If you definitely want to have candles around the church, it’s always a good idea to check with the vicar or priest first.

  If you’re having a civil ceremony, you won’t be able to incorporate Christmas as it obviously has religious meaning. However, there’s nothing to prevent you from having a winter theme with rich colours and flowers.

  Inviting invites

  It goes without saying that it’s a great idea to choose invitations that suit your Christmas theme. When it comes to sending them out, bear in mind that people make plans over Christmas, so may need a little extra warning to ensure they keep the date free. Post your invitations around 12 weeks before the wedding or, to be really safe, send out save the date cards as soon as you book your venues.

  Winter wedding outfits

  Walking down the aisle as Father Christmas might not be a great idea, but you can certainly incorporate some Christmas spirit in to your wedding attire. The colder months give you the perfect opportunity to wear a wedding coat or wrap, perhaps with some luxurious fake-fur detail. This also gives you the option to keep warm during the ceremony, and take your coat off at the reception or when you’re dancing in the evening.

  If you’re opting for traditional Christmas colours such as reds and gold, you could use them for bridesmaids’ dresses, and for ties, cravats or waistcoats for the men in the wedding party and be prepared for any winter showers, or even snow, with a stylish umbrella.

  Deck the halls

  With any reception, you should always work with the existing décor to complement your wedding so, for example, it’s not a good idea to plan a red Christmas theme if your venue’s carpet or walls are pink. Consider the colours you have in your reception room, and work around them. If your venue has hints of red, gold, ivory, burgundy or green, creating a Christmas theme will be easy. Equally, if it’s decorated with cooler colours such as blue, lilac, white or silver, you can create a wonderful ‘icy’ theme.