Planning decor for your holiday wedding can be tough – you’re up against decorated pine trees, tinsel, and a whole bunch of wreaths! In my experience, a lot of the brides who have booked their weddings around the holiday season are very mindful of this, and are afraid that using a red palette or too much greenery will come off as overly “Christmas-y” or festive. Even string lights might seem off-putting, out of a worry that these will look too much like holiday lights.
It’s a completely understandable concern, especially since getting married around the holidays might find you in an inspiration slump. This time of year is already so pigeonholed with imagery, and that’s exactly the problem!
With this in mind, I have come up with some fresh décor ideas and suggestions for your holiday wedding. I like these ideas because they work with what’s seasonally available, without making your wedding feel overly themed or Christmas-like.
Garlands, not holiday wreaths.
Garland table runners are all the rage these days. They’re taking over Instagram feeds and Pinterest boards and I love that. But I also know that some couples can be wary of using garland for a winter wedding because they’re afraid it might look too much like a holiday wreath. Luckily, there are various types of foliage available this time of year that look anything but traditional. You can use greenery like camellia, ruscus, silver dollar, and seeded eucalyptus for a fresh, textured, beautiful look. Foliage you should avoid – pine and magnolia, which a lot of holiday wreaths are made out of. Bonus tip: Stud some white blooms such as freesia or lisianthus throughout your garland for a clean, sophisticated, non-holiday specific look!
Candlelight, always.
Candle lighting is season-less. The more you have, the better for setting a gorgeous, romantic mood. From antique mercury votives, to cut-crystal candelabras, to hurricane vases with thick pillar candles inside, candles are a must for mood lighting. And if winter is the darkest time of year, all the more reason to bring the light and to let it burn bright!
Natural, seasonal accents.
Winter might not have the same abundance of produce that Summer and Fall are known for, but it deserves more credit than it ordinarily gets. Utilize seasonal accents such as purple artichokes or pepperberries for seasonal, dimensional centerpieces that have depth and texture. Fresh produce accents also definitively steer your wedding away from a clichéd holiday feel to a beautiful, elegant, original look.
Focus on one color family.
My favorite advice for couples getting married around the holidays is, if you want to focus on traditional holiday color palettes, focus on one aspect rather than trying to incorporate a multitude of colors. For example, bring out the season’s classic deep reds by using a sexy ombre of red tones in your centerpieces – crimson, burgundy, and even fuchsia blooms work well here. Offset with antique, sophisticated gold accents instead of greenery to avoid the traditional red + green Christmas combo. Or, if you’d like to emphasize winter’s grey and silvery notes through votives and goblets, pair with blush and cream flowers and silvery foliage for a soft, ephemeral feel. Stay in one color family for a more elegant, luxurious look!
These are just some of many ideas for how to reimagine and repurpose traditional holiday memes and make them your own for your wedding day. What are some of interesting alternative ideas you’ve come across?