December wedding date

It might be difficult for some guests having the financial means so close to the holidays. Have you talked to the most important people you would want there to see if they can make it/afford it?

I would speak with your immediate family and your closest friends about the idea to have your wedding in December. These should be the people who you absolutely want there and would be willing to consider a different date if they could not be there. Mention that you're looking at this venue and tell then the date that's available. Specifically ask these people if they would come if you decided to do it, or if it would be too much for them, given that it would be really close to their holiday plans. If everyone on your "must be there" list says they would make it work, then there's no issue. Sure, there may be others that would decline, hit at least you've checked with your VIPs. Now, if you have VIPs saying it would be difficult, they're not sure, or they have ____ standing plans with their family and wouldn't be able to do both... I'd ask the venue about other dates they have available after the holidays or look for other venues that do have the fall availability you want.

No one can fully answer this question for you since it really does depend on your circle of family and friends. Before Christmas is a good time to travel for some people, but not others. So talk to directly anyone you really want to attend (your VIPS- family, wedding party, close friends) and check the date with them before booking. For the rest, accept declines gracefully and realize that a lower guest count lowers your budget and makes your wedding more intimate! We do have brides and grooms that post on the site saying that they are upset a beloved family member/friend can't make their date. Well, they should have checked first if it is that important to you that they be there! Don't believe the "if they will love you they will make it" some people are very restricted with jobs, childcare, etc into when and where they can take vacation, travel, and attend weddings and can't make some days work, no matter how hard they try. You can't ask them to quit their job, not deliver a baby, abandon their kids, or magically leave kids with someone they don't know just to attend your wedding- no matter how important you are to them.

My wedding was this past December the week before Christmas. 90% of my guest list (invited 112, 76 accepted, 70 showed up due to last minute illnesses) was out of state, more than a 4 hour drive away. Some out of the country. This wasn't my ideal date, but I teach college Spring, Summer, and Fall, so the winter break time is the only time I get off more than 2-3 days at a time. We really wanted to have our honeymoon immediately after the wedding, so our date was literally the only date I could ever do so if I wanted to take a week off for wedding and honeymoon (it would have to be the same weekend in other years). It worked out well for some guests. Some took the whole week before Christmas off then, some were already back in town visiting family for the Holidays who had moved away from my hometown. But for others it didn't work. They had kids Christmas plays and events, they got sick in winter or were worried about traveling with iffy weather, they had family plans at Christmas-New Years and therefore couldn't take off before Christmas. One of my bridesmaid's teaches elementary school and so she couldn't get off during that time, but she drove in late the night before (Friday night) and drove back the day after (Sunday). I knew this would be an issue for her, but she was at least able to make it that way. She couldn't rehearse, but who cares. No date will be perfect for everyone. If my immediately family or wedding party couldn't make it at all though, I probably would have moved my honeymoon to another year (which would stink, but not as much as not having my mom or someone there). The location was chosen so my grandmother could attend (she can't travel out of state, so it was in state for her, out of state for most everyone else).

Even though I never dreamed of a Christmas wedding, it did make planning really easy- we already had a theme! And I am very happy with the final look- Christmas elegance without too over the top Christmassy I think. Sorry for the long post- but I hope whatever you decide it works out for you!

I agree with the others, ask those who you really want to be there if they can come on that date and plan from there. I'm also having a December wedding. I had two dates in mind and checked with my family living on the other side of the world to make sure that they would be able to come over then. Our local friends and family will be able to come then, although they were disappointed that they had to wait a year after we announced our engagement 😁

I would ask the people who you care about being there the most. My FH's best friend (he was his BM too) got married 5 days before Christmas and they live about 5 hours away from us. So we didn't have to travel as far as some of your would, and it was a beautiful wedding but it was stressful and hectic being so close to Christmas. Overall though it wasn't too big a deal for us, we wouldn't have missed his wedding, and we don't have kids so that aspect wasn't an issue.

Our wedding was exactly 1 week before Christmas Eve, but we also had a smaller guest list and most were in the same state. I would check with your VIP guests on their ability to travel to a wedding in that time frame, and also take into consideration how much traveling has to be done. We also did a hotel block for guests and enough of them used it that I felt it was helpful for their plans.

I would ask the most important people in your life if it is ok with them, first. Other guests might enjoy having some time off before Christmas or they could be really upset. The fact is you will never be able to please everyone, so go with majority and your gut feeling.

I just got married December 23rd and for us it was perfect, but we just had immediate family and close friends, total guest list 42. I always wanted a Christmas wedding so when we got engaged the year before on Christmas Eve, I immediately asked my VIPs if my date would work for them and it did. We had a semi-DW, about 2 hours away from our guests, so I paid for the hotel rooms for my guests who wanted to stay overnight and/or the weekend. I'm so glad it worked out for us because it truly was a very intimate, special Christmas wedding. My vision for decor was a "woodsy Christmas" using garlands, wreaths, berries and incorporating trees and a touch of whimsy with reindeer. After the ceremony and during cocktail hour, I wore a vintage stole and I gave my BMs and FGs stoles as well that they wore outdoors.

We had a firepit with s'mores on the patio and a hot chocolate/cider bar as well. My BMs got to pick their dress - their only criteria was to pick a long burgundy dress.

I don't have pro pics back, but here are some to give you an idea.

Friend's daughter got married between Christmas and New Year's (on a week day). The MOB said, in hindsight, it was a lot of added stress for it to be so close to the holidays (obviously theirs was even more so since it was literally between two holiday weekends), and, even purchased in advance, flights were much more expensive than during "off seasons." The B&G had good reasons for the timing, but the MOB said it was really hard. Completely agree with pps' advice to gather input from your VIPs before you commit. Good luck!

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Such a helpful response! i am in the same predicament :/

where did you get your dress? pics are beautiful!!

i guess at least planning a wedding close to xmas, it's expected that there less will be able to come than if planning say, a spring wedding. it's an inconvenient time for many but you have to do what's best for you

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I;m planning on this date for this year! so glad it worked out for you!! i think if people know far ahead of time they will just know to not leave xmas shopping etc til the very last minute. they got to celebrate with you and hopefully then spent xmas eve relaxing!!