What's Special About December Weddings?
Unless by December weddings, one is talking about two octogenarians being wed, a wedding during that month should be no more special than one occurring in June, October or any other month. June remains the most popular month for weddings, but for most, any month will do. Some may hesitate to consider a December wedding because the holidays can provide more than enough stress and activity, but for others, December weddings are precisely the right thing to do.
There are no doubt some disadvantages to December weddings. We’ve already mentioned the pressure of the holidays. Weather can be another factor. Unless you live in Florida or southern Arizona, an outdoor wedding certainly isn't in the cards. On the other hand a wedding reception in a ski lodge, or one featuring sleigh rides, admittedly has much to be said for it.
An Already Decorated Church May Be A Given - Another advantage December weddings can bring, especially to those of us who do not have terribly deep pockets, is if the wedding takes place the last week of December in Church, the decorations are already there! I've been to one wedding that took place during the Christmas season. The church was beautifully decorated, compete with many candles, and the wedding music was interspersed with Christmas hymns - a beautiful ceremony.
December weddings can lead to December anniversaries, which can mean among other things, extended ski vacations for enthusiasts of winter sports. December weddings also often mean some differences in what is served during the reception. Champagne is usually considered a must, at least for the purpose of a toast, but hot spiced wine, usually considered out of place in mid June, is a welcome beverage at a December reception.
Guests Are Jolly To Begin With - People attending a December wedding are often apt to either being in a holiday spirit, or at least starting to get there. When done correctly, and that doesn't take a great deal of extra effort, people often just naturally will have a great deal of fun at a reception held in the dead of winter, especially if cabin fever is starting to take hold.
There are many different ideas as to what one could provide in the way of a wedding favor or souvenir. One especially appealing idea is a custom tree ornament, with the names of the bride and groom inscribed, though the guests name could equally well be on the decoration if you really want to make it personal.
And Then There's New Year's Eve - If you really want to go all out, consider December 31st as your wedding date. It's always nice when it falls on a Saturday, traditionally the best day for holding a wedding, but sometimes tradition needs to be set aside. If the wedding is held on New Year's Eve, it would probably be best to have the ceremony in the early evening, as those attending the reception will likely expect to remain until midnight at least. A New Year's Eve wedding reception is perhaps the only reception where having a television set on would be acceptable and probably a must. A New Year's Eve wedding, more so than other December weddings, offers the best excuse for holding a black tie reception.
Maybe It Is Different - When you stop to think about it, maybe December weddings are a bit more special than weddings in April, July, or October, if not June. One certainly has a whole different dynamic to work with. A few challenges perhaps, weather and travel being the primary ones, but many positives. If it's September and you're beginning to look forward to a wedding in June, maybe it's time to give December a thought. You may be happy you did.