Wedding Tips: 'Tis The Season For A Holiday Wedding

By Kathy O’Fallon

Twinkle lights, cozy kisses, and the warmth of the winter season can set the stage for a spectacular wedding during the holidays. But choosing to wed in the holiday winter season is not without it’s worries. We went to go-to wedding planner and renowned expert in her field, Kristen Gosselin, founder and creative director of KG Events & Design in Martha’s Vineyard to share her tips to tying the knot in the snowy season.

Firstly, Kristen recommends “promptly sending out your ‘save the dates’ as soon as you’ve locked down your wedding date and venue, or around the 12-month mark. Adhering to this practice becomes particularly crucial when your wedding coincides with the holiday season.”

Getting a jump start for all leads to less stress, fewer questions, and more loved ones able to attend. “Providing this advanced notice will prompt your guests to make your wedding a priority when organizing their busy holiday calendars.”

When that date and location are set, it’s helpful to inform your guests what they can expect regarding the climate—a challenge these days with so many unpredictable weather changes. Based in New England, Kristen knows just how important it is to consider any and all possibilities. “We have had historically warn winter days, but this past December we had a Nor’easter push through and we came prepared with many, many umbrellas, which ultimately led to some beautiful photos for our clients.” Highlighting this information on your wedding website, Kristen suggests, is a great way to get all of your guests the relevant information.

And since we’re talking about climate, Kristen recommends that “with an indoor venue, it is important to discuss temperature with your on-site coordinator. Oftentimes many venues will keep their thermostats set at a specific temperature during the winter.

When you have warmer days roll through and 100+ people are moving through the venue, things can heat up quickly. Guest comfort is so important and really can dictate the success of your event. When you spend so much time and money curating your dream space, you do not want that to be overshadowed by sweaty or freezing guests!” If guests aren’t comfortable, chances are, they’ll depart earlier than you’d like them too. Keep the festivities going by keeping your loved ones (and you) comfortable.

Given the abundance of decorations everywhere you look during the holidays, you may be wondering how to set your wedding apart from what’s already out there. Kristen advises that you “opt for rich, warm colors that don’t reflect the traditional holiday colors. This will help you curate a color palette that fits within the season, while not feeling themed.” She notes that “color combined with texture can bring such a beautiful balance of elegance and warmth. When designing the perfect holiday wedding, we love incorporating velvet, whether we use velvet as the linen or in subtle accents such as ribbons on bouquets.

Other wonderful textures and materials to consider incorporating would be satin, silk, suede and lace. Mixing and matching these textures and colors within your overall design will help to create a visually inviting atmosphere that doesn’t feel like a holiday.” To add to just the right atmosphere, Kristen suggests going heavy on the candlelight “to create a warm and romantic glow that fills your entire venue. You can use unique lanterns and large, glass pillar candle holders to carry that warm glow throughout the space.” And don’t forget to “take advantage of your lounge areas when designing your holiday wedding. Not only is this an area to get creative with your design, but plush seating, rugs and throws will also encourage your guests to get cozy while mingling.”

Since you’ve chosen to get married during the holidays, of course you’ll be taking advantage of the spirit of the season with your menu. Kristen recommends “incorporating in-season ingredients to yield a better culinary experience for you and your guests. Don’t shy away from classic dishes and cocktails that people often think of during the winter season, but remember to get creative and put your own fun twist on things. As your wedding design won’t feel holiday themed, you can bring in more seasonal drinks and food items without it feeling like overkill. A cranberry margarita is a delicious option for a signature cocktail. A warm spiked cider can also be really nice if you are looking for a more traditional drink.”

No matter how you opt to ring in the holidays on your big day, remember the reason for the gathering, to unite you and your partner surrounded by those you love. Use that as your guide while you make décor, menu, and even guest list decisions and this will be one holiday season you’ll cherish forever.