Top 6 Christmas Wedding Gown Styles

A growing number of brides dream of having the most wonderful day of their life during the most wonderful time of the year.  A Christmas wedding, how beautiful and festive!  A time of year tied with family, friends and togetherness, is the perfect setting for a wedding.  While the weather outside is cold, your winter wedding gathering will be warmed by the love of all of your guests.  While you may already be thinking about fluttering snow favors and décor, your wedding dress should be another special consideration.  A Christmas wedding calls for a particularly special Christmas wedding dress!  Take this opportunity to choose a wedding dress that is fit for a winter snow queen (not Mrs. Claus)!  Take a look at our picks for the Top 6 Christmas Wedding Gown Styles.

1. A Hint of Holiday Color – An overall shade of red and fur may have you looking more like the “jolly one’s” other half than the beautiful bride you should be on your wedding day.  So skip the all red dress and instead go for just a hint of holiday color.  A beautiful red sash compliments a white wedding gown perfectly and can tie in the entire bridal party’s look, if you are going with red bridesmaid dresses.  Consider accenting your sash with a sparkling vintage brooch for an elegant addition. Above dress available at www.wholesale4ever.com.
   
2. Pure Winter White – To echo the snow that is surely falling outside during your Christmas wedding, wear a crisp, pure white wedding gown.  There is no better time than the month of December to wear a wintry white wedding gown.  Save the ivory and champagne for warmer weather and stick with a beautiful snow white shade.  Sparkling jeweled belts and accessories set off a pure white wedding dress wonderfully!  Above dress from Angel Rivera.
   
3. Feathered and Jeweled - A Christmas wedding gives the bride the opportunity to go all out with her attire.  Consider a feathered masterpiece enhanced with sparkling jewels and embellishments.  This style option is for the bride who is not afraid of making a statement.  A poufy, feathered ball gown will have the bride looking like a beautiful winter snow queen.  Above dress by Dennis Basso.
   
4. Radiantly Ruffled – Wear an extravagant ruffled gown that resembles rolling snow drifts.  The bigger the better with the ruffles.  Balance out this look with a more fitted bodice, consider a fit and flare style.  Whether you sport just a few ruffles or a whole dress full of them, there is something so bridal about ruffles and something that makes them so appropriate for your Christmas wedding.  Above dress by Sottero & Midgley.
   
5. A Warm Wrap – This style is a no brainer for any Christmas or winter wedding.  A beautiful fur (or faux) wrap will keep the bride warm and looking fabulous!  It is hard to think of a look richer than this.  Your wrap should match the shade of your wedding gown so it doesn't clash.  The bride can take this extra piece of for the ceremony, but she will surely wear it whenever stepping out into the wintry weather.  Talk about a beautiful look for outdoor photos as well!  Above wrap available at David’s Bridal.
   
6. Slightly Sleeved – A Christmas wedding is the perfect opportunity to sport a wedding dress with a little more on top… okay we’re talking sleeves guys!  Not only will the extra fabric keep you warmer in the bitter weather, it will have you looking as classic as can be.  When choosing a gown with sleeves, think of sheer and lace detailing.  A solid or heavy fabric for the sleeves can lead towards a somewhat dated look.  If you fall in love with a dress that doesn't have sleeves originally, don’t worry, nearly any dress can have them added!  Above gown by Romona Keveza.

So for your Christmas wedding, deck yourself out in all that is white, poufy and pretty.  Add little touches of holiday color and don’t forget about the sparkle!  Stay warm and stay beautiful!

Sparkling bridal accessories, perfect for the holidays and other Christmas Wedding favors and supplies are available at MyWeddingReceptionIdeas.com.

Tis the Season for Holiday Wedding Centerpieces

It's only November but I can already feel the Christmas season inching its way here.  Soon it will be time for the sound of crackling fires, Bing Crosby, and yummy scents of baked goodies to fill the air.  I for one can hardly wait! Time to snuggle up with a warm cup of cocoa and watch the snow fall.  This love I have for Christmas has of course always made me wish for a holiday themed wedding.  And since my wedding has already passed, I will just have to live vicariously through all of you.  So here it is.  For all you other holiday gurus out there, here are my top picks for holiday wedding centerpieces from the simplest setting to the most elaborate arrangement.

1) Wrap It Up

One of the simplest and most inexpensive holiday centerpieces to pull off, the empty gift box!  Simply purchase your favorite holiday wrapping paper and bows to match your wedding colors and wrap away.  Use different sized boxes to create texture and visual interest and stack them along the center of your tables.  You don't even have to put anything in them.  They're just for show, after all.

2) Edible Art

Instead of creating a candy buffet, bring the buffet to your guests with edible table centerpieces.  Mini cakes, towers of holiday candy, or single serving desserts make for a mouth-watering display.  Set your goodies on short or tall displays accented by berries, holly, and other holiday accents.  Include personalized napkins next to each centerpiece printed with a note that says 'enjoy' with your names and wedding date.  Your guests won't be able to get enough of your edible art.

3) Branch Out

Christmas wouldn't be the same without all the ornaments that decorate our Christmas trees.  For my #3 pick, use a simple tree as your centerpiece.  Either spray-paint a bare branched tree or use a pine tree as your main focal point.  Add ornaments to your tree to give your centerpiece depth and to provide guests with a favor to take home.  Clear ornaments are perfect for low light settings and will make your tables sparkle, catching the light from every angle.  Personalized ornaments are great for adding a custom touch to your guest tables and will remind guests of your special day every year.

4) Twist on the traditional

Flowers will continue to be one of the most popular and traditional wedding centerpiece choices.  For the holidays, put your own twist on this wedding staple by creating ornament accented floral arrangements, present shaped bouquets tied with ribbon, and/or peppermint wrapped flower bouquets.  To create your peppermint bouquets, simply glue candy canes to the outside of an inexpensive vase, insert your flowers, and voila!  Present shaped flower arrangements can be a little trickier and usually turn out best when left to an expert (especially when using live flowers).  To make this centerpiece on your own, purchase square flower foam from your local craft store, fake roses, ribbon, and scissors.  Simply insert the stems of your flowers into the foam until the flowers cover it entirely.  Tie your ribbon around your present, step back, and admire your work.

Happy Planning!

Allie

Credits: Row 1: Holiday wrapped gift boxes via bhg.com. Row 2: Mini wedding cakes courtesy of lieventplanning.com, individual cookies on cake stand and candy tower via countryliving.com.  Row 3: Silver tree branches with ornaments available at pier1.com, personalized ornament tiles via angelellie of etsy.com, beaded winter snowflake ornaments. Row 4: Candy cane flower arrangement and ornament display via bhg.com, rose covered present centerpiece courtesy of party town.