There is a certain appeal to throwing a white wedding amidst the frippery of the holiday season (and goodness knows you won’t forget the date). You picture yourself walking down the aisle, bathed in blue winter light, while snowflakes drift gently just outside the windows. Then it’s a week of skiing during the day and snuggling up by the fire with your honey come nightfall. It sounds pretty awesome right up until you realize that you’re going to be staging a major event in freezing-cold weather. Like any undertaking of this magnitude, opting for a holiday wedding is certainly going to bring a host of challenges. So before you rent the platinum sleigh, consider some of the pluses and minuses to having a wedding over the holidays.
Pros:
- Gorgeous setting. Freshly fallen snow festooning the ground, buildings, and trees can make for an absolutely fantastic background when it comes time to take pictures. And a bucolic setting may serve to calm nerves that are frayed from months of planning (throw in a hot buttered rum you’re well on your way to a little R&R).
- Built-in theme. Having trouble deciding on decorations? No problem. Incorporate the colors of the season, garland the aisle with strands of dripping white lights, and top tables with wreaths of fragrant spruce. Voilà! Your winter wedding will be a snap.
- Everyone has time off. With kids out of school and offices closed for the holiday season, you can pretty much guarantee that friends and family will be able to clear their calendars for your big day.
- It’s a holly, jolly time of year. The holidays are all about celebrating, so what better time to kick off your new life together? Break out the bubbly and ring in the New Year with a lifelong promise to the one you love.
- Honeymoon in Aspen. Come for the wedding, stay for the winter sports.
Cons:
- Layers. You won’t be showing off that wedding-ready body you worked so hard for (six months of salad to fit into the dress!) when you’re covered by layers of thermal underwear, wool sweaters, and all manner of outerwear. Did I mention it’s cold?
- Travel. Oh, yeah. We’ve all been stuck in a major airport over the holidays. Whether it’s wrestling our way through crowds of travelers, waiting for a flight that is delayed or cancelled, or trying to track down lost luggage, everyone has experienced the horrors of holiday travel. Do you really want to subject your family and friends (or yourself) to such an experience?
- ‘Tis the season to spend. Many people who have saved throughout the year and allotted money for gifts may not have the extra cash set aside to travel to your wedding.
- Multi-purpose gifts. Don’t be surprised if family members offer you one gift that does double duty for your wedding and the holiday. Sadly, you can expect this trend to continue on your anniversaries.
- Did I mention it’s cold?
Shirley Danielson is a writer for Medical Coding where you can brose medical coding schools and industry jobs.
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