Christmas Weddings

Christmas is everyones favorite holiday. Well mostly everyone... Many families get together around this holiday, churches are packed and decorated, why not have yourself a merry little christmas wedding?!

 Wedding Colors

Most churches are decorated in red and green, other reception sites are probably already decorated for the holiday for parties and other holiday events. You have a cheaper decoration idea all set up for you! You can incorporate other colors into the red and green so it's not as traditional:

• silver and white
• silver and light blue
• burgundy, forest green, and gold (as long as the existing decorations aren't too primary)
• gold and cream 

Christmas Wedding Invitations

When choosing an invitation, don't go so over the top with the holiday theme that it looks just like a holiday card. Opt for a thick white or cream, non-folded card with a border and/or engraving. You can incorporate the christmas theme by using it in your border with snowflakes, holly trim or a simple drawing of a pointsetta. An issue you might encounter if you send your invitations 2 months earlier is most people have plans by then, you can send a save the date a few months prior and send an invitation 3-4 months prior to ensure the most important people come!

Wedding Cake

 For me, I feel as though the dress is the main focus of the ceremony, and the cake is the main focal point of the reception. An always popular cake is having each tier look like individually wrapped presents. Another option is an all white cake with edible poinsettia flowers cascading down the side of the tiers, but there are really quite a few other options.

Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Attire

One of my favorite ideas for Bridesmaids dress ideas for the holiday season is a long gown with a faux fur muff instead of a bouquet. You can incorporate your wedding colors, or go with a basic black gown and add sparkling jewelry in your wedding color with a beautiful bouquet. Groomsmen always look fantastic wearing basic black with a red vest and tie. 

 Wedding Gown

Wedding colors are not important for your wedding gown, and I would recommend not going for a red or green gown.... Go for something you are comfortable in and look beautiful in. You can always incorporate a red sash around your waist to bring out some color, or even go for a gown with sparkle to bring out the snowiness of the season!

Flowers and Decor

Flowers can be expensive this time of year since many are out of season. Instead of bouquets you can always do the fabulous faux fur muff, and for centerpieces you can buy ornaments in bulk and fill vases with the ornaments. Muffs may not be on your list of favorite things, so you can always have a bouquet with mostly poinsettias. Fake snow can sometimes look tacky, but they have better looking products nowadays. You can always use fake snow on the table tops and place ornaments and flowers in the center of it. Poinsettias aren't super expensive so you can use those as centerpieces and add a gold trim to the outside of the vase. Pine cones are also a really inexpensive table decor to add.

These are just a few of the many options you can use? What else would you guys add?

Five Friday Faves

Happy 11/11/11!
In honor of Veteran's Day I though I would share a few of my favorite pictures of military weddings! Veterans should be honored and so should those serving in the military today! Another thing is they have beautiful weddings and traditions!

Favorite Arch of Sabers:

After the ceremony, the newlyweds walk through an "arch of sabers" which are curved swords with only one edge. It's not mandatory but it is a memorable part of a military ceremony. Only commissioned officers can carry sabers or swords and participate in this ceremony. Often the military groomsmen participate, but other officers, guests perhaps, may be designated to create the arch. Usually 6-8 officers are included. The head usher usually initiates the commands, starting with "Center face" which is the signal to form two facing lines. When the order "Arch sabers" or "Draw swords" is given, each usher raises his saber, cutting edge up, to form the arch.

Favorite Wedding Reception:

At the reception, if the groom is in uniform, protocol demands that he proceed the bride in the receiving line. The national colors and distinguishing flags may be displayed, exactly centered, behind the receiving line, and if the reception room is large, the bridal couple may want an arch included at the reception instead of during the recessional.

Favorite Cake Cutting:

On command, the saber bearers enter the reception room in formation lining up in front of the wedding cake, facing each other. The bride and groom leave the receiving line, then pass beneath the arch. They may pause and kiss, before proceeding to cut the cake. The groom would then hand the bride his unsheathed saber and with his hands over hers, their first piece is cut.

Favorite Wedding Attire:

Probably the main distinction of a military wedding is that the bride and/or groom, as well as service members in the wedding party, usually wear their uniforms. The type of uniform depends on the style of the wedding, the time of day, the season, and most importantly, the government-issued uniform manual. I love that not only is the groom wearing his uniform, but the bridesmaids are all wearing dresses to compliment his uniform.

Favorite Garter Removal:

Although some military weddings have their own traditions, there are also many traditions they follow that are in most weddings, including the garter removal. I though this was such a perfect picture to post and it captured the moment perfectly!

There are many more traditions you can follow, these are just a few of the ones that I wanted to share!What do you guys think of the military traditions?