The holiday season is a magical time of year. Though tensions may rise due to the madness of shopping for the hottest deals and the endless list of tasks to complete before the year ends, it is hard to deny the whimsy of the season. In fact, some people love Christmas and other end-of-year holidays so much that they dream of getting married during this time. While this can be a wonderful idea, there are a number of vital considerations. Explore these suggestions to make sure you are prepared for the challenges that come with a holiday wedding.
Lots of Notice
If you are hoping to throw a holiday wedding this Christmas season, it is best to prepare yourself for a bit of disappointment. Specifically, it is useful to realize a large chunk of your guest list will likely not be able to make the event. Even close friends or family members may have other holiday plans. To guarantee as many guests as possible, your invitations should be mailed out with plenty of notice. Some wedding experts suggest sending out save-the-date cards several weeks earlier than you normally would, as this can provide extra notice.
Conversely, the smaller guest list may work to your advantage. When you and your significant other want an intimate affair with only a handful of your closest friends and family members present, a holiday wedding may be ideal. Give your guests advance notice, and you can create the small, whimsical event that you have been dreaming of.
Financial Concerns
Your guests are not the only people who will have other plans around the holidays. Vendors tend to charge a lot more for events that take place during the Christmas season. When a caterer asks staff to work on Christmas Eve, for example, he or she has to pay the staff holiday pay. To compensate for this, the vendor is likely to charge clients a considerable amount more. Also, hotel rates and travel services may have surge or holiday pricing in effect.
Tying the knot is an expensive endeavor to begin with. Before getting your heart set on an end-of-year extravaganza of a wedding, think about how much it is actually going to cost. After looking over the fees, you may realize it is in your best interest to wait for another season before walking down the aisle.
The Look
The holiday season tends to have a very specific look and sound. It is hard to go anywhere from November to January without hearing endless Christmas songs coming from the radio. While you may feel tempted to play holiday songs at your wedding, you also might want to hold off on this idea. Playing too many Christmas tunes can easily make your guests feel like they are at a corporate holiday event rather than a wedding.
The same can be said for the decor. Adding some stylish snowflakes to the reception hall is one thing, but you probably don’t need to plaster the walls with images of reindeer, snowmen, and Santa Claus. Still, don’t feel like you have to avoid the imagery of Christmas altogether. Try to strike a balance that helps guests remember the main focus of the event is your marriage without totally ignoring the time of year.
Festive and Fun
The holiday season is festive and fun. Before getting your heart set on hosting your wedding during this period, it is helpful to weigh out the pros and cons of the decision. As long as you provide plenty of notice to your guests and have the funds to cover the higher costs vendors may charge during this time, you will be ready to walk down the aisle and celebrate your holiday wedding the way you want to.
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