How to host a Christmas wedding with London wedding planner's advice

Credit: Daniel Ackerley

Award winning wedding planner, Mary Briscoe of Weddings By Mary has assisted many couples including those that have opted to host a Christmas wedding. These include a winter marquee wedding in the beautiful Suffolk countryside, a stunning pre-Christmas wedding at The Painted Hall in Greenwich and for one couple the excitement is building for their wedding at The Langham in London's West End, between Christmas & New Year this year.

Mary shares here some of her thoughts on what it's really like hosting a Christmas wedding, as well as things you should consider.

What images conjure up in your mind when you think of Christmas wedding? Twinkling, candlelight's from an abundance of gorgeous pillar candles? A delicate, dusting of snow? A warming, crackling log fire? .... the enchanted feel good factor is endless. It all sounds rather magical and romantic, doesn't it?

If you're considering embracing the whole Christmassy feel for your wedding, then you can really let your imagination run wild. A wedding, like everything in life, there are always many pros and cons. And when it comes to hosting a wedding during the festive season is no exception. However, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Credit: Daniel Ackerley

Travel
We've heard it all before. Engineering works taking place, possibility of travel disruptions and so on. On the flipside as long as you give your guests as much notice as possible on your impending Christmas nuptials then you are not 'responsible' for also organising their travel arrangements. Check parking arrangements with your chosen venue. As like any other wedding, you will have lots to bring with you like your wedding attire, thank you gifts, stationery etc. 

Logistics
With the logistics of any wedding there is much to bear in mind. When it comes to a Christmas wedding, especially if you are hosting between Christmas Day & New Year, you will need to be super organised. Timings for suppliers to set up, deliveries & collections to be made needed to be expertly handled to factor in things like winter weather conditions and restricted operational timings across some some sectors working on 'festive hours'.

Many wedding suppliers close for the festive period, and it's always best to be mindful too of where potential additional bank holiday days may appear. With Christmas Day falling on a Sunday this year for example we have the addition of two additional Bank Holidays (Monday 26th & Tuesday 27th) which may impact delivery times as well as costs.

Credit: Daniel Ackerley

Décor
Although December may be a slightly more expensive month over other winter months in terms of venue hire, you will have their beautiful Christmas decorations which you can then co-ordinate your wedding to complement the venues festive décor.

If you've already got your wedding planned for Christmas 2023 use the January sales to purchase any wedding décor items that you currently have your eye on.

The Chill Factor
Everyone immediately thinks of weddings as summer occasions. The image of hosting drinks reception outside with the sun shining warm and bright whilst guests sip chilled champagne. But, then along come the wasps. Your guests start to waft their arms about frantically or shift around constantly, with the odd light-hearted scream and mad dash. And if you suffer from hay fever avoiding the summer months is a must. Streaming eyes don't make for the elegant photographs you want captured of you on your wedding day.

A Christmas wedding certainly ticks all the boxes if you suffer from allergies. Whatever time of year you marry the British weather is a hot topic we love to talk about. And there is no denying is a major factor for any couple planning a wedding. With a Christmas wedding you'll already know it will be chilly and factor this in with velvet/fur capes and warming drinks.

However, you could also be lucky and wake up on your big day to a bright crisp winter's day. It has been known for some photographs to be captured outside as the happy couple were blessed with a beautiful, crisp sunny day. Imagine not only wrapped up warm and cosy in a stunning winter cape but also wrapped in each other's arms. What's not to love? If you've never considered a Christmas wedding, why not switch your thinking, and dare to be different!