21 Christmas wedding ideas for a festive celebration

Christmas is, famously, one of the most magical times of the year, so it seems like a no-brainer to host another enchanting celebration – your wedding day – over the festive period. If you're keen to make the most of the yuletide spirit with a Christmas wedding, our guide is filled with tons of festive wedding inspiration that’s sure to have you feeling merry with excitement.

Summer weddings tend to steal a lot of the limelight, but weddings in winter are bursting with their own sense of uniqueness and charm, especially if you like the idea of a cosy celebration. Picking the perfect winter wedding venue is an important component of planning a Christmas wedding, ensuring your backdrop is suited and booted for a festive celebration. Think roaring fireplaces (or fire pits), twinkling lanterns and frost-covered grounds (assuming it’s cold, although December is typically not the coldest month).

But the real magic of a Christmas-themed wedding lies in all those final festive touches. And while we can’t guarantee (real) snow on your special day, there are plenty of ways to ensure your wedding resembles something close to a winter grotto with our clever tips and hacks.

From decorating your venue with seasonal greenery and mistletoe to serving festive food and drink such as cranberry cocktails or mulled wine, our ultimate guide to planning a Christmas wedding is filled with inspiration. You'll be amazed at how a few fairy lights and some pine cones can transform a space, but if you really want to pull the stops out, then consider decorating your venue with faux furs and real Christmas trees for the full festive effect.

So, if you’re keen to embrace the holiday spirit with a December wedding, keep on scrolling for more Christmas wedding ideas.

Christmas wedding ideas for a festive do

Create the ultimate winter wonderland at your nuptials with these seasonal ideas spanning decor, food and drink, venue choice, attire, transport and more! Your celebration will go down as the cosiest wedding there ever was.  

Put up Christmas trees

If you’re hiring a blank canvas venue, this might be a more costly option. But, if not, chances are your venue will have Christmas trees on hand, or might already plan to decorate the venue for the season. This is especially true for hotel and event venues, which often host Christmas parties for corporates too.

Theme your invites

A few of our favourite festive designs by Papier

Choose a wintry colour scheme and design for your wedding invites to set the tone for what’s to come. This could mean employing a red and green palate, like this striking design by Papier, or embellishing your envelope with wax seals and ribbon. Prefer to go paperless? Check out these hassle-free digital invitation websites that make designing your own paperless invites a breeze. 

Choose a cosy venue

A snowy scene at Gosfield Hall (left), and the happy couple walking away from Hever Castle (right)

There’s no point choosing a wedding venue with sprawling grounds or extensive flower gardens if you’re not able to use them properly! Instead, think about choosing a venue that really comes into its own in winter, whether that’s an atmospheric, historic property with wood-panelled walls, or somewhere that specialises in rib-sticking food. You can find plenty of inspiration in our guide to the best winter wedding venues across the UK if you’re struggling, which is packed with magnificent castles and cosy country homes.

Use festive keepsakes for place cards

Place card holders like these Etsy baubles double up as festive wedding favours

Pretty, festive, and functional, marking each place with a festive keepsake creates a Christmassy feel with purpose. From personalised trinkets to baubles that simply hold the place card, there are plenty of options on the market. The best part? These can double up as wedding favours - just remind your guests to take them home!

Fill it with fairy lights

Need some inspiration? Farnham Castle (left) and Winters Barns (right) are nailing the brief

Fairy lights are a must for any wintry celebration. Especially as the days grow shorter (the shortest day is on 21 December), the lighting at your wedding is even more important. Hang strings of twinkling lights across the ceiling and walls for a starry night effect.

Opt for a Christmassy colour palette

A Christmassy reception room at 10-11 Carlton House Terrace

The obvious choice here is to opt for reds and greens for your wedding colour scheme, matching deep scarletts and rich burgundys with leafy florals. However, there are plenty of palates you could go for to make your wedding feel festive. Why not opt for a white and silver scheme to give your nuptials a frosty feel? Or pair cosy navy with smatterings of gold to create a luxurious vibe.

Choose winter-appropriate attire

A bride wearing a fur bolero for her Christmassy wedding at South Lodge, Exclusive Collection

If you're someone who feels the cold, we recommend opting for a long-sleeved wedding dress for a gown that’s both chic and functional. Intricate lace and sparkly details will add an extra dash of festive flair, while a wrap or shawl might come in handy in the evening. Grooms can get involved too with a velvet suit, or opt for rich colours like burgundy, sage green and navy.

Perk up your table decor

Pine cone table runner at Winters Barns (left), and a more opulent alternative at L’oscar London (right)

Whether it's a few sprigs of rosemary, cinnamon sticks, or dried oranges, there are plenty of ways to pep up your tablescape. Pine cones are synonymous with the colder months, and there are lots of ways you can incorporate them in your festive decor. Use them as place card holders on your tables, loop through some string for a wintry bauble, or add to festoons of greenery. Or, go bold with red accents, gold-sprayed arrangements and deep forest green hues.

Hang a wreath

Wreath making at Stem+Stem (left) and heart-shaped wreath decor at Bowerchalke Barn (right)

Nothing says Christmas like a wreath! Incorporate them throughout your space, perhaps by hanging one over the entrance to your venue, or using them as decorative place settings. You can buy them ready-decorated, but if you're keen to roll up your sleeves, purchase them unadorned and add your own festive finishing touches, like red ribbon, dried orange slices, baubles and even sweets.

Or make the wreaths together as a fun pre-wedding activity. Stem+Stem offers wreath-making workshops that are perfect for chilled hen parties.

Order a festive wedding cake

We love these inspired gingerbread house wedding cakes (bonus points if they mirror your own home).

Wedding cakes and Christmas cakes used to have a lot in common, with both traditionally featuring a rich fruitcake, marzipan and royal icing. And while you don’t have to go full old-school, popular festive flavours like pumpkin spice, gingerbread, cinnamon and orange are sure to be a success. As for the design, keep it simple with holly leaf motifs, or go full Christmas - it’s up to you.

Serve a Christmas dinner

This might not seem very original, but we reckon your guests will be more than happy to be served a classic turkey roast with all the trimmings. It makes for a fun sharing affair too, with sides served family-style on the table for everyone to tuck in. For a more relaxed affair without a sit-down meal, you could serve festive canapes and drinks to start, with a hog roast to follow in the evening.

Let it snow!

While we can’t guarantee real snow on your wedding day, it’s possible to recreate a snowy scene with confetti or some faux snow. Spray-on snow can be effective at adding a frosty effect to greenery, but if you really want to go all out, buy a proper snow machine for a showstopping finale to round off celebrations. 

Decorate with greenery (and other winter florals)

Decorative touches at Leeds Castle and Leez Priory

Your festive scene wouldn't be complete without lots of greenery, so adorn your space with leafy greens like soft furs and mistletoe. Then offset all those lush tones with a pop of colour. Red berries and holly are a natural choice, but any combination of winter florals would work well. Our tip? Consider using dried flowers for a rustic touch - check out our guide on how to incorporate dried flowers into your wedding.

Keep cosy with faux fur

Cosy faux furs have been used to decorate seating at The Roseate

Throwing faux fur rugs and blankets over the backs of chairs creates a cosy aesthetic that feels both comfortable and luxurious in equal measure. Guests will be itching to hunker down in their seats! There's something Narnia-esque about these fluffy throws that we're obsessed with. 

Mistletoe is a must

Weddings are synonymous with romance, so what better occasion to whip out the mistletoe? Hang vines above doorways or add a sprig to your table settings for a flirty finish to your decor.

Sip on Christmas cocktails

Thames Luxury Charters certainly know how to mix up a festive cocktail! 

Swap Aperol Spritz’ for warming drinks like mulled wine or cider, cranberry cocktails or Hot Toddys. Browse our full list of cocktail recipes for more drink ideas, or if you’re after a recommendation, then these Chocolate Orange Negronis and Rum Old Fashioneds are both excellent winter warmers.

Make a playlist of Christmas classics

While there’s still a place for classic wedding songs at your celebration, it doesn’t hurt to throw a few classic Christmas tunes into the mix. Construct a Christmassy playlist filled with well-known festive songs that everyone can sing along to.

Set up a fire pit

While you probably won’t be utilising the outdoors much at your wedding venue, there are always a few people who like to take a breather from the party. Set up a fire pit outside to keep guests warm if they fancy venturing outside. You could even put out marshmallows and sticks so that people can toast their own late-night snacks!

Fill Christmas crackers with wedding favours

A beautiful festive tablescape at Browns Hotel

It might feel a little odd to have Christmas crackers on your wedding table, but they’re a nifty way to gift your guests with miniature wedding favours. Have everyone pull their crackers at the same time for a fun activity before you serve your meal, then watch everyone’s faces light up when they see what’s inside.

Lay out blankets

Combat the cold by providing rugs and throws throughout the venue for people to snuggle up with later on. These are particularly necessary if you're using any outdoor areas at your wedding.

Arrive in style

It's not just the venue that needs a winter makeover. Arrive in style via a festive mode of transport, whether you simply tart up your car with furs, pine cones and berries as above, or you hire a vintage carriage to transport you to the ball. 

Love the idea of getting married in a cosy venue? Check out our round-up of the UK's best pub wedding venues for relaxed celebrations.