How could you not want to further indulge in the season by celebrating your love story? After all, a holiday wedding offers an air of magic that no other time of year can match.

Though this enchanting season is truly a one-of-a-kind time to gather and say, “I do,” it comes with its own set of obstacles and considerations. Careful planning, intentional curation, and thoughtful execution are essential to avoid common hosting pitfalls and ensure your dream wedding goes off without a hitch.

Need help figuring out where to begin? Here are five key tips on what to do—and what not to do—when planning your perfect holiday wedding from Kobi Cummings, the co-owner, art director, and Certified Wedding Planner at The Valley Venues.

Photo credit: Sarah Larae Gilliam

Do lean into the season

If you’re looking to tie the knot during the holidays, you likely enjoy the season’s charming sights, smells, and sounds. Rather than choosing another theme or aesthetic, lean into it!

Transform your wedding into an elegant winter wonderland by securing a cozy, winter-friendly venue or enhancing your site of choice with festive flowers, greenery, candles and an earthy color palette.

Seasonal elements like these can make a wedding feel timely and unique while cutting down on costly decor. It is important to remember to balance the seasonal feel with a touch of romance to ensure that these simple additions elevate your nuptials without becoming overwhelming.

Do consider timing and scheduling

While timing is vital for decor and aesthetics, it is also essential to consider when setting your wedding date. When planning around the holidays, ask yourself: Are guests likely to have prior engagements? Will out-of-town guests pay a premium for travel? Are travel disruptions and limited accommodations likely? These questions will allow you to align your priorities and expectations with the most suitable timeline for the occasion.

While every couple has different priorities, those with holiday weddings typically opt for dates that avoid major holidays and peak travel periods. It can also be helpful to book travel, venues, vendors, and accommodations further in advance than usual to allow for more notice and flexibility.

For example, hosting a winter wedding in mid-December is favored to avoid significant holiday expenses, busyness, and traditions. This way, guests are more likely to be able to attend while honoring existing family obligations. Not only can this approach increase guest attendance, but it can also reduce any stress the happy couple may experience throughout the planning process.

Photo credit: Konstantin Mishchenko | Unsplash

Do plan for holiday travel

Holiday travel can be stressful as it is, so you can’t go wrong by offering guests insight into local recommendations.

This information can be added to a wedding website, included on a save-the-date card, or shared with guests directly and may include nearby hotels, rental cars, restaurants, and activities. Pro tip: Consider reserving a hotel block or opting for a venue that has its own lodging, providing a private experience! Doing so will often allow you to lock in a discounted rate and ensure accommodations will be available to out-of-town guests.

When you take the extra time to provide these insights to your guests, it can make it easier for loved ones to make the trip and help them make the most of their time with you. Especially if they are unfamiliar with the area, guests may need help knowing where to stay (or not) and how to get to and from the venue.

Don’t overlook vendor availability

Similarly to accounting for guest availability, it is crucial to consider vendor availability and booking timelines. During peak wedding seasons, key vendors such as wedding planners, photographers, caterers, and venues should be booked at least 12 to 18 months in advance.

There are many reasons that vendors may be unavailable for an event, particularly around the holidays. They could have festive family obligations, travel plans, or an event already booked. Vendors may also charge a premium price for their products or services when booked in a rush or on popular dates.

When booking well in advance, it is much easier to avoid potential disappointments, higher costs, and stress and instead focus on curating your dream wedding. Be sure to verify holiday availability and rates, and get any contracts and confirmations in writing for all parties to reference.

Photo credit: Annie Spratt | Unsplash

Don’t forget to prioritize self-care

While coordinating holiday plans and preparing for your big day can each be challenging, it is crucial to ensure that the season’s stress doesn’t overshadow the joy and take a toll on your mental, physical, or emotional well-being.

With family dynamics, holiday obligations, and a lengthy wedding to-do list on your plate, it can be easy to get caught up in the complexities and experience burnout. That’s why it’s more crucial than ever to delegate tasks, indulge in the places and things that make you feel your best, and prioritize time to relax when planning a holiday wedding.

Your big day is important, but less important than your and your partner’s happiness and health. Your big day is about the loving, committed relationship at its center, not the events surrounding it.

Don’t feel guilty about saying ‘no’ to non-essentials and taking the time to ensure you feel your best on your wedding day.

Holiday weddings are particularly filled with moments of warmth, community, festivities, and a remarkable air of magic. Still, it is only possible with thoughtful, intentional planning to help avoid common pitfalls.

By embracing the spirit of the season, being mindful of timing and logistics, working proactively, paying attention to your guests’ needs, and putting your needs first, you are sure to create the wedding day of your dreams.

Just remember, things don’t need to be perfect to be beautiful, memorable, or extraordinary.

The post Five tips on what to do (and what not to do) when planning a holiday wedding appeared first on Wedding Fanatic.

The easiest way to create a polished look without overthinking every accessory is to let the dress code lead and keep 14k gold as your constant in order to create cohesion. 14k is warm without being brassy, durable enough to last long past a lifetime, and it photographs like a dream. Let’s walk through Jewelry styling for formal events, white-tie, black-tie, and black-tie optional, and help you cut through the noise of infinite options: what to wear, what to skip, and why each choice works for the dresscode at hand.

White-tie Jewelry Styling

Enea Studios: Éclat Diamond Stud Earrings, $396; Azazie Sorrel Mocha Coco Corset Two-Piece Sets

White-tie is rare, but the most formal, and the most misunderstood. Think sweeping gowns, clean architectural lines, and an overall feeling of opulence and confidence. Jewelry here should feel heirloom-level, not trendy. If your dress is strapless or perfectly straight across the bodice, a delicate collar or a slim diamond riviera sitting right at the collarbone in 14k adds a soft glow without crowding the neckline.

Lace, beading, or heavy embellishment tells a different story; in that case, let the gown breathe and skip the necklace entirely. Earrings do the heavy lifting at white-tie because they frame your face in every photo. A classic pair of diamond studs in 14k is elegant on every face shape, and petite bezel-set drops add just enough movement to catch the light without swinging into “look at me” territory.

On the wrist, less is more. Bare wrists look beautiful with a single, slender tennis or line bracelet that fits close and won’t snag tulle.

Rings should make an effortless statement, or punctuate the rest of your styling: a micro-eternity band or one low-profile cocktail ring on the opposite hand from your engagement ring keeps everything balanced. The white-tie goal is that “inevitable” look—like there was never another possible combination that would have felt this right.

Jewelry for Black Tie

Black-tie softens the rules just enough to let your personality peek through. The gowns are still elegant—floor-length, sometimes with dramatic necklines—but you can play with shape and proportion. If your dress features a deep V or a plunge, a 14k lariat or Y-necklace draws the eye exactly where you want it, elongating the silhouette in a way that reads sleek rather than showy. Asymmetric, one-shoulder styles are better with a bare neck so the architecture of the dress stays intact; let your earrings take the spotlight instead. A sculptural single ear on the exposed side paired with a quiet huggie on the other creates a modern balance that looks incredible in photos. Dresses with square or bateau necklines love short, luminous pieces that sit just off the skin—a petite solitaire pendant in 14k or a whisper-light station chain that floats a few points of sparkle above the seam.

Wolf & Badger Cecilia Fresh Water Pearl Earrings: $71

Your hairstyle matters more than people realize at black-tie. Loose, brushed-out waves call for a bit of length at the ear so your jewelry clears the hair and doesn’t get lost. Linear drops, threaders, or a tapered sequence of stones in 14k add a clean, vertical line that photographs beautifully. If you’re going sleek—a low bun, a glossy pony, or those Old-Hollywood side waves—lean into geometry with slim threaders, tiny chandeliers, or a double-pierce combination like a huggie with a micro stud.

On your wrist, you can nudge things a touch bolder than white-tie while keeping it intentional. A tennis bracelet is timeless; adding a second strand works as long as the profiles are slender and the clasps are secure.

Rings are where your taste can show without derailing the dress code. One focal ring per hand with an elegant cut—oval, emerald, or pear—sits beautifully in 14k, while stacks should stay micro and gathered on a single finger. If you’re torn between a layered neck and a stronger earring, pick one focal area and let the rest support it. The most polished black-tie looks read like a single sentence, not a run-on.

Black Tie Optional

Black-tie optional is where most guests land and, honestly, where the fun begins. The vibe is elevated but not stiff: refined midis, column gowns, and polished separates with room for personality. 14k gold keeps everything cohesive while you play with texture and silhouette. Sweetheart and square necklines are perfect for a two-layer moment that still feels airy.

Try a short diamond solitaire in 14k layered with a slightly longer station chain; keep a bit of space between the two so they don’t collapse into one line. If your dress has a crew or mock neck, a sculptural collar or a sleek herringbone in 14k lays flat and gleams under evening light without tipping into daytime business. Minimal scoop necklines love a single focal pendant—an oval tablet, a petite medallion, or a pear drop centered with intention.

Kwait Jewelers: Line Bracelet with Baguette and Round Diamonds

Earrings at black-tie optional should play nicely with both your hair and your other jewelry. A tousled bun or half-up style pairs beautifully with petite hoops layered with a tiny stud in a second piercing; you get texture and depth without weight. A straight blowout can handle medium drops or compact chandeliers, while curly and natural textures look amazing with open-space designs—negative-space ovals or sculptural hoops in 14k that complement curls instead of competing with them.

On your wrist, this is the one dress code that genuinely welcomes a slightly bolder stack. A tennis bracelet plus a slim bangle, or two slender bangles with different profiles, looks elevated as long as the fit is precise and the movement is quiet. If your neckline is simple, feel free to echo the bracelet rhythm with a modern ring stack—two thin bands and a center band with micro stones keep things refined. Prefer a single statement ring instead? Place it opposite your chosen focal area. Strong earrings plus a clean neck pair beautifully with one stand-out ring; a layered neck looks better with a quieter hand.

A quick note on color, stones, and the way everything photographs at night. Clear stones—diamonds, white sapphire, moissanite—are the most forgiving under warm LEDs and candlelight, especially against the glow of 14k yellow gold. That doesn’t mean you have to skip color entirely.

If black-tie optional is on the invite, a single colored gemstone in a petite 14k bezel can be stunning as long as it plays nicely with your dress palette. Bezels and micro-pavé settings are also your friends around delicate fabrics; they smooth edges so nothing snags lace or chiffon. And while mixed metals can be chic, formal settings begs for cohesion. Keeping everything in 14k yellow for the evening makes different textures and silhouettes feel deliberate.

General Rules of Jewelry Styling for Formal Events

Across all three dress codes, the details that never show up on a checklist are the ones that make your night easy. Chain length is more than a number—the difference between sixteen and seventeen inches can change the way a pendant sits at a neckline. Try pieces on with your actual dress if you can. Clasps should be secure and discreet; spring-ring and lobster clasps in 14k are quiet, which means no unexpected jingling during vows. Comfort always wins. Earrings need to be light enough to forget about by the second course; bracelets should fit close enough to avoid knocking flute stems and arm chairs; rings should slip on and off without a wrestling match.

Always use the dress code as your compass along with these guidelines and you’ll create a jewelry look that feels timeless, event-appropriate, and bespoke for your own personal style.

The post 2025 Jewelry Styling for Formal Affairs, by Dresscode appeared first on Wedding Fanatic.

Natural makeup tips for a flawless wedding day complexion come in handy for a variety of reasons. Having a flawless wedding day complexion not only affects your skin and how you look in your photos, but it also makes a difference in how you feel on your wedding day. Heavy, greasy makeup or a poor complexion can leave you feeling less than beautiful, and it can be downright uncomfortable.

For a carefree, flawless wedding day complexion, use the following natural makeup tips:

Opt for a light, translucent powder—Sometimes referred to as loose “setting” powders, many light translucent powders are designed to help set your makeup. However, using a translucent powder without anything else is a great way to smooth out your complexion and lessen the look of any red blotches or skin spots while keeping your makeup light at the same time. If you want to feel good and look natural, nix the heavy, cake-like foundation and opt for a loose, comfortable powder.

Choose a shadow that complements your natural eye color—One surefire way to kill the natural look of your makeup is to wear a bold eye shadow color that doesn’t highlight your natural eye color. Golds, browns, pale yellows, and a variety of bronzes are always good options no matter your eye color, but consult with your makeup artist to find the perfect match. If you want a flawless wedding day complexion, don’t weigh down your eyelids with bright, powdery or inky eye shadow.

Drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep—One of the easiest ways to ensure your complexion will have a natural, healthy glow on your wedding day is to make the effort to get at least eight hours of sleep a night and drink plenty of water to hydrate your skin. Skip that soda and reach for some natural, good old-fashioned H20, and you’ll have a much better chance at achieving a flawless wedding day complexion.

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US Virgin Islands

The US Virgin Islands are a popular destination wedding spot. In fact, more than 4,000 couples tie the knot there each year. Not only is it beautiful, but there are a lot of wedding packages for couples to choose from.

Bahamas and Jamaica

The Bahamas and Jamaica are also both very popular wedding destination hot spots. About the same number of couples (5,000) get married in these spots each year. They’re just slightly more popular than the Virgin Islands, and just as beautiful.

Hawaii

Hawaii is a gorgeous place for a destination wedding, and couples can choose to go the more bustling route of having their wedding in a tourist area. Or, they can choose the more secluded islands and enjoy a romantic and serene wedding ceremony. In any case, about 25,000 couples choose to get married each year in beautiful Hawaii.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas may not be what typically comes to mind when you dream of a destination wedding but for many couples, it’s the perfect place to tie the knot. In fact, of the locations listed here, it’s the most popular. Approximately 100,000 couples get married each year in Las Vegas. Where else can you get married by Elvis, have fresh donuts and get your laundry done all at the same time? In all seriousness, it’s a beautiful place to get married and a very popular one too.

While this is certainly not a complete list of destinations for weddings, it showcases the most popular for US couples and may give you some ideas when it comes to planning your destination wedding.

The post Destination Wedding Statistics: What is the Most Popular Destination? appeared first on Wedding Fanatic.

White Lollipops

You can go with beautiful white swirl lollipops, gathered into an apothecary-style jar like a bouquet. There are also fun personalized white lollipops that can serve as reception treats and wedding favors. If you’re doing a secondary color, purchase ribbon in that color and tie little bows around the necks of the lollipops!

White Chocolate Covered Pretzels

This is a wonderful option for a winter themed candy buffet, and allows you to provide more of a selection than just sugary candy. The salty and sweet combination of the pretzels is delicious; they’re sure to be a favorite amongst your guests.

White Rock Candy

This is a wonderful way to create different textures on your candy buffet. White rock candy is absolutely beautiful and it helps that it’s delicious as well!

Silver and White Jordan Almonds

Silver is a wonderful color for winter, and Jordan almonds are available in virtually every color of the rainbow. Place them in separate jars or mix them together and add a scoop and little bags for a perfect addition to the candy buffet table.

Coconut Cookies

Cookies that are covered in flaked coconut are a perfect wintery treat that will look amazing on your buffet table. The great thing about this is that you can go with any flavor under that coconut and it will still match your theme!

These are just a few fun ideas for adding beautiful and delicious treats to your winter wedding theme candy buffet.

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First on my list: The ever-fabulous vintage Rolls Royce. This particular vehicle is a 1960 Silver Cloud II (image from Advanced Limousine Services). To some, it may be a little cleche, but this car, to me, is the epitome of the “classic wedding”.

What are some of your wedding favorites?

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With the New Year just around the corner, wedding planners and experts have started to divulge expected wedding trends for 2012. Many trends are a repeat from 2011, but there are some surprising predictions for next year’s brides. If your wedding is scheduled for next year, don’t miss these exciting trend predictions for 2012!

Royal Wedding Influence

Kate Middleton’s marriage to Prince William was months ago, but wedding planners are still giving the royal wedding influence the thumbs up for expected wedding trends for 2012. Kate’s long-sleeved white gown created ripple effects in the wedding industry, and it doesn’t look like the design is dying down anytime soon. But the dress isn’t the only item that brides will see in the expected wedding trends for 2012. Elaborate hats are also making the 2012 trend cut.

Themed Weddings

Themed weddings have been around forever, but they have grown drastically in popularity over the last couple of years. This excitement isn’t expected to diminish at all in 2012. In fact, couples are expected to come up with even more unique, fun themes for their weddings in 2012. One of those fun and exciting ideas is to bring the destination wedding to you in lieu of traveling to distant locations.

DIY

DIY weddings have grown in leaps and bounds over the last year. Wedding planners say this expected wedding trend for 2012 has a little to do with budget, but also a little to do with planet conservation and a desire to be more eco-conscious. Either way, it is a fun idea—as long as you remember that you can’t do it all yourself!

Dessert Bars

More and more couples have moved away from the traditional wedding cake, and this is a trend that is expected to grow in 2012. Probably the most surprising expected wedding trend for 2012, this trend suits a bride who thinks about her guests first by permitting them to choose their own dessert.

The post Expected Wedding Trends for 2012 appeared first on Wedding Fanatic.

What You’ll Need:

• An old or damaged book that you can salvage the pages from.
• Magazines, scrapbook paper, colored paper – to make confetti from.
• Glue and scissors.

How to Create Them:

Start by removing several book pages, making sure they come out cleanly and straight. Each page will become a confetti cone. You’ll want to make sure the page is square before you start, so cut the page to ensure that it’s the same measurement in length and width.

Next, arrange the page so that one of the points is toward you and the other is pointing away from you. Then, take the two corners and pull them together, overlapping them, so that you create a “cone.” It’s super easy to do, but may take a few tries in order to get it perfectly straight.

Glue along the bottom edge to keep the cone together. You can make the cone a little fancier by adding ribbon, glitter, etc.

Making the Confetti:

Making the confetti is super easy. All you have to do is use a hole punch (round or any other shape you’d like) and punch out a ton of shapes from various colored papers or magazine pages. Save them and fill each cone with confetti. That’s all there is to it; this is a fun project to do with friends while you’re watching a movie or enjoying a girls night.

If you want the confetti to be a little more eco-friendly, use dried flower petals, bird seed, flower seeds, etc.

The post Beautiful DIY Wedding Cones at Virtually No Cost appeared first on Wedding Fanatic.

Over the years, couples have started to recognize the many benefits of hiring the best photographer for their wedding. In the past, wedding photography was assigned to a family member or friend. Today, it is a job that requires exceptional artistic talent, an eye for beauty, and excellent quality, and only the best photographer will do. If you are just starting your wedding planning and you need help choosing the best photographer for your wedding, these tips can help point you in the right direction.

Get Recommendations

One of the most effective methods to choosing the best photographer for your wedding is to get recommendations from family and friends. Find out who shot the photos at their weddings. Ask to see their photos, and ask them how happy they were with the finished results. Ask if there were any hitches when having the photos taken and if they were done to their liking. If you find a photographer through a friend that comes highly recommended and they offer services within your budget, you have successfully completed your photographer search.

Call About Pricing

Pricing is not the most important aspect of selecting a wedding photographer, but choosing the best photographer for your wedding does require you to consider your budget. Call around and inquire about pricing per hour and always add a little extra time to your estimated time needs. This will help you avoid any extra billing (which is substantially higher than regular billing prices) after the wedding is over. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, you are ready to look at photos.

Look at Portfolios

Before choosing the best photographer for your wedding, spend time looking at the photographer’s portfolio. Ask the photographer questions about their photos and experience. Why did they choose a specific angle? How were they able to capture a specific shot? Share your wedding story, theme, and plan with them. Ask what they envision for your wedding. Their ability to answer these questions reveals a lot about their creative abilities and is important in choosing the best photographer for your wedding.

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For a unique and fun idea that is similar to the guestbook alternatives so popular today, the “Bride and Groom Bucket List” is super fun! It’s also fairly easy to create. Here’s how it’s done:

What You’ll Need:

–          Sign for instructions.

–          Cards for guests to write on.

–          A box or container to store the cards.

–          Pens, markers, etc.

How it Works:

On the sign, you’ll want to write the instructions for your guests. The point is for them to give you and your future husband wonderful “bucket list” ideas, or things for the two of you to do during your marriage to strengthen your love and bond. The instructions can be something like this:

“Write down a “marriage bucket list” activity that Bride and Groom can do together to strengthen their bond and love!”

Or, you can come up with your own wording for the sign, as long as it’s something brief that explains the idea clearly to your guests. The guests will then take a card, write down their idea, sign their name and place the card into the storage container.

On days when you want to have date night, or when you are looking for something to do, you and your husband can go through the “bucket list” ideas and complete them. Each time you’ve completed an activity on the bucket list, send a picture of the two of you doing the activity to the couple or person who suggested it!

This is a fun and clever idea for brides and grooms, and it can really give you some incredible ideas for activities to do during your marriage.

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