by sarah • December 7, 2021 • Wedding Planning Guides
You’ve just gotten engaged and you’re starting to think about when you want to get married. One of you floats the idea: Should we get married at Christmas or New Year?
It’s a great question. A wedding over the holiday period between Christmas and New Year can be truly wonderful. Winter magic and festive joy. And unlike the summer, it’s not typically a time associated with couples getting married – so it’s likely to be a unique choice amongst friends and family.
But is it a good idea?
Getting married between Christmas and New Year isn’t just about picking an unconventional date. It’s about embracing a time of year that’s already filled with magic, joy and celebration, and adding even more special memories.
You could opt for an actual Christmas wedding, on Christmas Day, or you could look at Christmas Eve, Boxing Day or any date up to the new year for it to count as a Christmas wedding.
And like any wedding decision, it requires thoughtful planning and honest conversations with your loved ones.
If you’ve got your heart set on a glorious summer wedding with glowing green trees and the warm sun beating down, then a Christmas wedding is definitely not for you.
But if you’re a couple who loves winter, adores the festive season, or simply wants to create something truly memorable, tying the knot over the Christmas period offers opportunities that no other time of year can match.
From the twinkling lights and cosy atmosphere to the built-in sense of occasion, you’re starting with a backdrop that’s already wrapped in warmth and wonder.
You’ll get all the wonderful benefits of winter themes, winter colours and winter weather, along with some other great positives too:
The period between Christmas and New Year is a time the vast majority of your guests will have off work. Of course, some will have to take time off especially, but most of your friends and family will already have that period free from commitments in advance.
This built-in availability is one of the biggest advantages of a Christmas wedding. Unlike summer Saturdays where guests might juggle multiple wedding invitations, work commitments, or other holiday plans, the festive period is a time where people expect to celebrate together.
And that’s true if you’re inviting guests from abroad too. Bank holidays are specific to this country, but the Christmas period is a time that’s celebrated all over the world.
International friends are already likely to be travelling home to spend Christmas with family, so a wedding over this period gives everyone the chance to get together in one place. Think of your big day as a family reunion – grandparents, cousins, old friends, and extended family all celebrating together in one magical moment.
It’s Christmas! And then it’s New Year! Everyone’s spirits are high during this time, everyone is in relaxation and then party mode.
Lots of people will be off work for a few days, everyone will be eager to let their hair down, and spirits will be really high. Your big day could even become the centre point of several days of celebrations.
With a frosty backdrop outside, you and your guests can embrace the magic of roaring fires, candlelit aisles, and the warmth of close friends and family gathered together to celebrate your love.
Depending on your wedding theme and style, you could take advantage of:
Because the time between Christmas and New Year isn’t traditionally associated with weddings, you might also be able to snag a date for your favourite venue.
If they’re not hosting special Christmas parties or other corporate events, many venues will have late availability packages for those off-season days around the festive period. Your friends and family are likely to be off work during the holidays so you won’t be tied to a weekend date.
At Heaton House Farm, we also have special all-inclusive packages just for December. Not only will you have access to your dream venue, you’ll also find food, drink and wedding coordination all taken care of for you in one clear, all inclusive price.
You could also get better availability beyond your wedding barn venue too. Photographers, florists, caterers, and other wedding suppliers may have quieter schedules during this period so you can book those you’ve always wanted without paying for a premium date. Just watch out for any that may be closed for the festive period.
The savings you make on venue and supplier costs could be redirected into other areas of your wedding, like upgrading your menu, extending your bar tab, or booking some serious, dance-floor-filling entertainment.
You might also find that accommodation in the local area is more readily available and potentially more affordable than during peak wedding season. Countryside hotels and B&Bs that would normally be fully booked over the summer may have rooms available, giving your guests more choice and potentially better rates.
Because it’s Christmas, you won’t be surprised to find that lots of venues will put up Christmas trees and Christmas decorations, like twinkling lights, garlands, wreaths, and festive touches throughout.
At Heaton House Farm for example, we put up an amazing 14-foot real Christmas Tree every year and always go all-out with our Christmas decorations. After all, we do host some phenomenal Christmas parties here every year!
As these decorations are already installed for the period, you shouldn’t need to pay extra to have them as part of your wedding, and they’ll make a lovely backdrop for all your photos that would otherwise cost thousands to recreate at another time of year.
This built-in festive styling means you can focus your décor budget on personalisation rather than starting from scratch. You can work with these existing decorations, complementing them with your own colour scheme and personal touches, or you can add to them to create something even more spectacular.
Imagine rich red and gold accents against evergreen garlands, white and silver themes that echo winter wonderlands, or even incorporating tartan and plaid for a traditional festive feel.
Without too much effort, your guests will step into a space that immediately feels special, celebratory, and unlike any other wedding they’ve attended.
If you decide you’d like to get married on New Year’s Eve, you’ll get to welcome the New Year in with a big bang. And you can celebrate with fireworks too.
Pick a venue with stunning views like Heaton House Farm, and you could watch fireworks erupt from all across Cheshire and Staffordshire.
We even allow you to set off your own fireworks on New Year’s Eve, one of the few times of year where this is possible.
Although the period between Christmas and New Year offers wonderful opportunities, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day itself require careful consideration.
A wedding on Christmas Eve has its own special magic. For many families, it’s already a night of anticipation, celebration, and togetherness. A wedding on Christmas Eve means your marriage begins just hours before Christmas Day itself, creating a truly unforgettable start to your married life.
The atmosphere on Christmas Eve is unmatched, there’s excitement in the air, children (and adults!) are buzzing with festive energy, and the sense of anticipation creates a celebratory mood that’s hard to replicate.
But for many families, Christmas Eve is deeply significant with long-established traditions, like church services, special meals, and preparations for Father Christmas. Many guests, especially those getting organised for Santa’s arrival, may struggle with a Christmas Eve wedding.
A Christmas Day wedding is the ultimate statement. You’re making your marriage the Christmas celebration, rather than one of many events during the festive period.
For small, intimate celebrations with immediate family only, Christmas Day can be absolutely magical. Imagine gathering your closest loved ones for a morning ceremony, followed by Christmas dinner as your wedding breakfast. It’s unconventional, deeply personal, and unforgettable.
But in reality, Christmas Day is sacred for the majority of us. Even if you’re having a small wedding, asking guests to leave their homes on Christmas morning is asking them to sacrifice something profoundly important and traditional.
Plus, there are practical challenges. Many venues may not be available on Christmas Day, as staff deserve time with their own families too. Suppliers will be almost impossible to find, and those that are available will charge premium rates. Transport, accommodation, and even basic services may be limited or unavailable.
So if you are thinking of tying the knot over the Christmas period, it may be best to stick with the 26th-31st of December as the perfect compromise.
You get all the festive magic, the Christmas decorations, the celebratory atmosphere and (usually) guest availability, without competing with one of the most significant days in the calendar.
Is the Christmas and New Year period a good time for you to get married?
The answer comes down to honest reflection about what matters most to you both. If you love winter, adore the festive season, and can imagine nothing more magical than beginning your married life during the most wonderful time of year, then a Christmas wedding could be absolutely perfect.
But it requires thoughtful planning, early communication with guests, and a willingness to accept that the timing won’t work for everyone.
If a Christmas wedding sounds like it’s for you, request your brochure today and come and see Heaton House Farm at this time of year, in advance, so you can imagine exactly what your dream wedding could look like.
