Christmas wedding 2021

You're going to have to call around and get creative with vendors. Restaurants may cater. You may have to get a cake delivered or picked up the day before. Same with flowers.

Picking a Saturday Christian holiday definitely cuts down your vendor options. If you live in an area with many people who don't have a religious/cultural tie to Christmas, you could be in luck--this will be easiest in cities or near certain immigrant populations. Why Christmas Day? And do you already have a venue? For enough money, I think you'll be able to find

View Quoted Comment We chose Christmas day mainly because that's our anniversary, but also because my family would all be together already for Christmas and some wouldn't be able to come the weekend before or the weekend after. Another reason is we don't want to do it too far away from that date because then it wouldn't feel like our anniversary. We're planning on holding it at my parents' house. They have a large yard with a pond in the front and a large covered patio in the back. We live in the south (my husband and I in southwest Mississippi on the coast and my parents are just over and hour away in southwest Louisiana, so the weather at that time if year is mild at best.), so the temperature won't be cold. We're on a very strict budget, so we don't have enough money to pay someone to work on a holiday if they won't naturally do it that day.

I guess I’m. Just confused. You said your anniversary this year is on Christmas. Christmas doesn’t change each year. So, that isn’t your actual anniversary? If you want your renewal for your anniversary wouldn’t you have it on your anniversary? Not being rude. I’m just confused.
Obtaining vendors is going to be very hard especially less than a year out I think. And the ones that will/would be willing to give up a holiday will 100% require holiday pay (my husband’s friend, while not a wedding vendor makes something like almost 3x his normal pay). Have you spoken with your guests? Some people are very stuck in their Christmas traditions and after a very nontraditional holiday this year I think people will be very eager to get back to them.
I personally would look into using the day of your actual anniversary. It doesn’t have to be a Saturday.

View Quoted Comment Our anniversary is 12/25/2011, so yes, our anniversary this year just happens to fall on a Saturday. We don't really have friends, so it'll be mostly family that'll be there. I've talked to most of my family and my best friend/matron of honor and they'll all be there. We'll all be together that weekend, anyway, because we have our family Christmas on the weekend either before or after Christmas every year. We're having it at my parents' house, so no venue to book, and my whole family is helping make our decor (we're very hands-on and creative, so my whole "wedding" will be DIY). I know there are ways around not having to hire vendors at all, such as renting a sound system and playing my own music vs. having a DJ, but I don't want that unless it's a last resort option because I don't want anyone in my family having to work that day as a DJ manning the music.

Ohhh that seems tough. I would think many vendors and guests would not service/participate

I would never plan to have a wedding on Christmas and I also personally wouldn't attend a wedding on Christmas. Id rather be with my kids and family, so don't be surprised if some people don't attend (including vendors). Goodluck with everything though.


Btw- you should probably edit your post because I think you're confusing people by saying "this year our anniversary falls on Christmas" ... Christmas is the same day every single year so of course your anniversary would fall on Christmas if you got married on Christmas 🤔... do you mean it falls on a Saturday this year?

Yeah, restaurants may be open that day, so there's a chance that you can hire one from them. Also, people usually celebrate on Christmas eve. December 24th. So if you look around, some business that you need may consider accepting your offer on 25th. Good luck!

Given the date, I think you have to accept the fact that you'll likely have to pay a premium for any services you are able to book. I agree with others that availability is likely to vary a lot depending on where you live. If you're near a large city with a diverse population, it will likely be easier than if you are in a rural area when the majority observe Christmas.... I do appreciate that you don't want your family working on your celebration (and on Christmas...). Since it seems there is no flexibility about your preferred date, I'd research options for purchasing things in advance -- more places might be open on Christmas Eve (at least until early afternoon), so perhaps your cake and/or catering could be prepared, picked up, and stored; flowers will also likely last overnight. If you can't find a DJ willing to work, I'd start planning now for a playlist. You might also be on the lookout for some acquaintances who you might be able to hire for the day to supply the labor you'll need. People without family or who really want/need to earn money might be more willing to work even if it is a holiday. Good luck! Clearly your date has some downsides.

I think finding vendors is going to be difficult, but not impossible. I would check into restaurants that will be open on Xmas day to see if they would be willing to cater. If you live in a city, there will probably be several places that could accommodate. If you live in a rural area, however, it may be a lot more challenging. Same with a DJ. Either way, you will likely be paying a MUCH higher rate to have people work on Xmas day.
Another option would be to contact your local grocer if you have a Hy-Vee (or something similar to it) who caters events. They cater large holiday parties and the food isn’t bad. You may need to pick up the day before and store it though. They also make wedding cakes and have a floral department, so it could be a one stop shop for you!

View Quoted Comment I think premium pay on a holiday is just kind of a reality for people who will work it. Again, if you lived near a big population of non-Christians, you might have better luck. You may really have to search for someone who needs the business.

How exciting that yall are finally getting to have your big "wedding"! I know a lot of mom and pop type places will let you place pick up orders for stuff like pies and casseroles around the holidays. But they definitely aren't cheap. Does your family like to cook nice meals for Christmas? It sounds like it will mostly be family there, so maybe you could do a potluck dinner and serve it family style or in a buffet. Or you could order Chinese food! I have never heard of a Chinese restaurant that is closed on Christmas! For the cake, you should probably order one for pick up on December 22nd or 23rd from a bakery or grocery store. Sheet cakes are usually the most inexpensive. It might be easiest to do fake flowers, since you can prep those wayyy ahead of time and focus on other things on the day of. You could also just set up a playlist and connect it to the speaker for music. I am not sure how many guests you are expecting and if there is anything you absolutely can't DIY. I can imagine it is mostly family and close friends since it is on a day that's already busy for a lot of people.


It will definitely be tough to find any services on Christmas day that aren't sky high expensive, but you can make a lot happen with the help of your friends and family! You are doing great to be planning so far ahead, even if you will be all DIY, having a plan is HUGE!

View Quoted Comment Thank-you for clarification.
If everyone will be together and is no issue that takes care of 1 concern 😊
I have no suggestion as far as vendors. Good luck in your search. I hope you find some that work for your budget and schedule.

I’m getting married Dec 26 and while it’s not Christmas Day, I am still having to pay holiday pay to our vendors as this will require them to do prep over the holiday. As some have suggested, you MAY find a restaurant open that will require holiday pay as their servers are going to be paid time and a half for working on Christmas. If you are solely having family, I would suggest going through a catering company like a grocery store that’s already prepping holiday meals and just reheat the morning of place in chafing dishes. At least there isn’t any holiday pay involved in that service. Regarding a DJ, unless it’s a night ceremony, you may struggle to find someone willing to give up their holiday. Definitely have a playlist ready that’ll play for hours as a back up. Good luck to you!

I would like to point out that a vow renewal can happen at any time. I can definitely understand the significance of wanting to do it on your anniversary, but you don't necessarily have to do it that way. This is an opportunity for people that are in your lives now that weren't in them 10 years ago to see you confirm your love for one another before them. If you want to do that in June, that's totally cool too.

If you're absolutely set on the Christmas Day thing, well. I think you'd be better off to cut your loses and create a playlist specifically for what you want and rent speakers. You would probably also want to start working with a restaurant now to place a Christmas Day order. Or offer to pick it up the 23rd/24th and reheat the meal.

I’m in the same boat. My fiancé and I are getting married on that day and I’ve been looking high and low for places that could (by some miracle) be open. It’s already crazy for us cause we have no clue what to do, how to do it, how much it’s gonna cost us.

View Quoted Comment Good luck to you! I consider myself lucky because I have extremely creative family (photographer and graphic designer for a sister-in-law, chef and woodworker for a brother, my dad is an amazing cook and can build just about anything, my grandma sews and loves arranging flowers, etc) so even though I didn't want to put the burden of catering on my brother, I can if I need to (he's already offered). And I'd rather have a DJ, but I can rent sound equipment if I need to and hook up my phone for music. So I probably have enough options to do this whole thing DIY without hiring outside help, it would just be really nice to not have to rely on my family to work my wedding because that's not what they're there for, you know?

View Quoted Comment You are really lucky! I know my family (and my fiancé’s) would jump to help in a heartbeat if we asked them to. Both of our grandfathers were restaurant owners and both know how to cook (so do my mother and brother). But the only thing that we are really worried about is pictures, makeup for my friends and I, and a place for the wedding reception. So I guess in a way we’re really lucky in that aspect!

Hey i plan on getting married Christmas day why do u ask