Christmas Weddings in Suffolk
Christmas is a time of celebration with your friends and family so what could be more perfect than planning a Christmas themed wedding for December? Weddings at Christmas can be extremely romantic and unique and can allow you to be really imaginative and creative with your theme.
VENUES
Suffolk has a terrific selection of venues perfect for Christmas weddings. Hintlesham Hall Hotel is a country house hotel just outside Ipswich, offering a fantastic venue for a traditional Christmas themed wedding. “Imagine roaring, real log fires, cosy lounges and spectacular decorations...traditional Christmas trees together with our unique mantelpiece garlands entwined with brilliant white fairy lights”. Imagine that and you have Hintlesham Hall!
If you prefer something more intimate then why not take a look at The Black Lion in Melford; a privately owned village hotel with an award winning restaurant. The Study can seat 20 and has a lovely fireplace, and could host the perfect cosy Christmas ceremony.
INVITES
Obviously the holidays can be a busy time for your guests, so ensure you allow plenty of notice when planning your wedding around Christmas and send those invitations early! AJZ Craftz based in Woodbridge, creates beautiful bespoke, hand-crafted wedding stationery. If you want to incorporate the Christmas theme into your wedding invitations Angela from AJZ would be happy to create a sample handmade card for you, for free.
FLOWERS & DECORATIONS
Christmas flowers for your wedding, such as poinsettias, make wonderful table decorations, and you could even incorporate candles, holly wreathes, ivy and pine cones for a really traditional Christmas wedding centrepiece.
Whether you opt for a classic red, gold and green Christmas theme, or a more modern silver and white winter wonderland, the great thing about a wedding at Christmas is the abundance and choice of decorations. Christmas trees, pine cones, and pomanders are not only visually beautiful but the scent will be magnificent for your guests on arrival. Mini stockings filled with chocolate coins and candy canes, or even personalised Christmas baubles hung on a Christmas tree, would make perfect wedding favours.
There is, of course one decoration which is free and very magical...snow! And Suffolk certainly hasn’t been short of snow over the past few years. Your Christmas wedding could be picture perfect if you are lucky enough, just imagine the wedding photos. If you are planning a Christmas wedding and snow is a real possibility then you must ensure you keep an eye on the roads and transport links as it can play havoc with guests (and suppliers) travel plans.
CAKE
A Christmas cake would be the obvious classic option, but why not think about offering something unusual like a Christmas Yule Log, Christmas pudding or even mini mince pies?! Cupcakes with a Christmas theme would make the perfect wedding cake, if you are not a fan of traditional Christmas cake.
Sugarplum Cupcakes offers cupcake workshops in Woodbridge, where you can learn to bake and decorate cupcakes to a professional standard, perfect if you are on a budget and want to make your own wedding cakes. Or even better, they offer tailor made workshop packages for Hen parties! You could learn to make cakes as beautiful as these Christmas inspired gems, whilst having lots of fun on your hen do!
FOOD
Why not offer your guests a warming glass of mulled wine on arrival to your reception instead of the usual cava, Pimms or champagne, to really evoke the Christmas feel? Mulled cider is twist on the classic, and would be perfect for a Suffolk wedding.
A Christmas themed wedding would not be complete without a Christmas dinner and Suffolk is renowned for its incredible local produce and fantastic Wedding Caterers. For example, Talbooth Catering, based in Dedham has 60 years experience in wedding and party catering and their menus change throughout the year to make full use of locally sourced produce in season.
OUTFITS
A Christmas wedding in Suffolk will most likely be chilly, but this is a great chance to be creative with the wedding attire. A mohair cardigan, embellished with beads, or diamante could look gorgeous with your wedding dress, or why not buck against the current trend for strapless dresses and take some inspiration from Kate Middleton’s elegant wedding dress, with long, lace sleeves and train.
Top hats and tails would be perfect for a traditional, Dickensian Christmas theme and Bridemaids with faux fur muffs or a Bride in a sumptuous red velvet cape, trimmed with faux fur would make a real entrance! If you want to go for the Vintage look check out Bluebird Vintage in Halesworth for inspiration
Weddings at Christmas may have a ready-made theme to adhere to, but this doesn’t mean it need be predictable - singing Christmas carols at your church ceremony or replacing a classic car with a sledge and huskies could be fabulous additions to your wedding and definitely not something you could do in the summer. So this Christmas why not draw inspiration from the festive season? Just think this time next year it could be you!
VENUES
Suffolk has a terrific selection of venues perfect for Christmas weddings. Hintlesham Hall Hotel is a country house hotel just outside Ipswich, offering a fantastic venue for a traditional Christmas themed wedding. “Imagine roaring, real log fires, cosy lounges and spectacular decorations...traditional Christmas trees together with our unique mantelpiece garlands entwined with brilliant white fairy lights”. Imagine that and you have Hintlesham Hall!
If you prefer something more intimate then why not take a look at The Black Lion in Melford; a privately owned village hotel with an award winning restaurant. The Study can seat 20 and has a lovely fireplace, and could host the perfect cosy Christmas ceremony.
INVITES
Obviously the holidays can be a busy time for your guests, so ensure you allow plenty of notice when planning your wedding around Christmas and send those invitations early! AJZ Craftz based in Woodbridge, creates beautiful bespoke, hand-crafted wedding stationery. If you want to incorporate the Christmas theme into your wedding invitations Angela from AJZ would be happy to create a sample handmade card for you, for free.
FLOWERS & DECORATIONS
Christmas flowers for your wedding, such as poinsettias, make wonderful table decorations, and you could even incorporate candles, holly wreathes, ivy and pine cones for a really traditional Christmas wedding centrepiece.
Whether you opt for a classic red, gold and green Christmas theme, or a more modern silver and white winter wonderland, the great thing about a wedding at Christmas is the abundance and choice of decorations. Christmas trees, pine cones, and pomanders are not only visually beautiful but the scent will be magnificent for your guests on arrival. Mini stockings filled with chocolate coins and candy canes, or even personalised Christmas baubles hung on a Christmas tree, would make perfect wedding favours.
There is, of course one decoration which is free and very magical...snow! And Suffolk certainly hasn’t been short of snow over the past few years. Your Christmas wedding could be picture perfect if you are lucky enough, just imagine the wedding photos. If you are planning a Christmas wedding and snow is a real possibility then you must ensure you keep an eye on the roads and transport links as it can play havoc with guests (and suppliers) travel plans.
CAKE
A Christmas cake would be the obvious classic option, but why not think about offering something unusual like a Christmas Yule Log, Christmas pudding or even mini mince pies?! Cupcakes with a Christmas theme would make the perfect wedding cake, if you are not a fan of traditional Christmas cake.
Sugarplum Cupcakes offers cupcake workshops in Woodbridge, where you can learn to bake and decorate cupcakes to a professional standard, perfect if you are on a budget and want to make your own wedding cakes. Or even better, they offer tailor made workshop packages for Hen parties! You could learn to make cakes as beautiful as these Christmas inspired gems, whilst having lots of fun on your hen do!
FOOD
Why not offer your guests a warming glass of mulled wine on arrival to your reception instead of the usual cava, Pimms or champagne, to really evoke the Christmas feel? Mulled cider is twist on the classic, and would be perfect for a Suffolk wedding.
A Christmas themed wedding would not be complete without a Christmas dinner and Suffolk is renowned for its incredible local produce and fantastic Wedding Caterers. For example, Talbooth Catering, based in Dedham has 60 years experience in wedding and party catering and their menus change throughout the year to make full use of locally sourced produce in season.
OUTFITS
A Christmas wedding in Suffolk will most likely be chilly, but this is a great chance to be creative with the wedding attire. A mohair cardigan, embellished with beads, or diamante could look gorgeous with your wedding dress, or why not buck against the current trend for strapless dresses and take some inspiration from Kate Middleton’s elegant wedding dress, with long, lace sleeves and train.
Top hats and tails would be perfect for a traditional, Dickensian Christmas theme and Bridemaids with faux fur muffs or a Bride in a sumptuous red velvet cape, trimmed with faux fur would make a real entrance! If you want to go for the Vintage look check out Bluebird Vintage in Halesworth for inspiration
Weddings at Christmas may have a ready-made theme to adhere to, but this doesn’t mean it need be predictable - singing Christmas carols at your church ceremony or replacing a classic car with a sledge and huskies could be fabulous additions to your wedding and definitely not something you could do in the summer. So this Christmas why not draw inspiration from the festive season? Just think this time next year it could be you!
