Should I change my wedding date?

[MidnightVelvet9]

Getting married for the second time, going to have a small wedding in a local venue, it's all booked BUT now I'm having cold feet about the wedding date!

We have chosen 4th December next year, reason being I thought it would be beautiful with the Christmas tree up, all the decorations are dark green leafy foliage with LED lights in and our venue is very old with a stone ceiling, it will be dark in winter as its a level under ground level although it does have small arched windows at ground level. My table decorations will be a dark green leaves/Christmas wreath with a battery powered tealight in a glass jar.

Our budget is really small, we can do it at the venue but we have to save cash where possible e.g. I won't be buying a dress from a wedding shop, it'll be second hand wedding shop or from Monsoon etc I like the idea of a sparkly dress that will catch the lights, I'm not an ivory strapless sort of bride at all :)

So as the Christmas decorations will be up, our venue decoration costs will be minimal. Flowers wise it'll be my bouquet, buttonholes & the foliage for 7 tables, that's it. No bridesmaids or anything. We will provide a welcome drink & a toast, but no bottles of wine for the tables & it's a cash bar in the evening. No presents expected.

So we booked it, now people at work are & saying we need a honeymoon straight afterwards, this isn't possible as Christmas is a couple of weeks away, the kids will still be at school and we would rather use our savings for the wedding than for a holiday afterwards. We might go away in the following Spring together for a weekend as a honeymoon, it's not really important to us.

Financially we can do it, it'll be tight & we can't do everything we'd like e.g. free wine, have 100 people for the meal but we can make it work :)

But it means every year our anniversary will be amid Christmas preparations. Also will we be inconveniencing people by causing them extra expense in the run up to their Christmas? Should I delay it until the following Spring, even though it will be more expensive as the venue costs are higher & it will cost to move the date?

I'm going back & forth & don't know what to do.

Has anyone had or been to a lovely low key December wedding?

A friend got married in early december and they hired a v nice village hall and decorated with christmas trees and white fairy lights (family had one each as their christmas tree after) and it was fantastic.

I think it's a lovely time of year for a wedding. Have your honeymoon whenever you want - who cares what people at work think!

Congratulations on your forthcoming marriage. We got married 22nd December and everyone we invited came. There was a lovely atmosphere and many years later it's still mentioned as it was a lovely time for all the family to get together, which they weren't doing over Christmas as from several area of the UK.

I definitely wouldn't change the date. Your venue and decorations sound perfect and it will be a special day at the start of what is to a lot of people, a magical and special time of the year.

It all sounds lovely. Go for it.

Lol at predictive “ eyboard” 😂

Has anyone had or been to a lovely low key December wedding?

Yes, my own, although it was not low key, more like middle key. But I'm in the US where Christmas is more low key than it is in the UK.

Sounds lovely op
Don’t change it
We go to Tenerife every year for two weeks before Xmas
We get back about the 18-20 Dec
Loads of time
And it’s so relaxing having a summer holiday and missing the madness

Forget about your anniversary. It’s a non-event for most people.

You don’t need a honeymoon - you already have children so it’s not like you’re following a traditional set of rules anyway.

You need to supply booze at your own wedding or have a smaller wedding.

Other than that, it sounds lovely. Being invited to a Christmas wedding wouldn’t bother me. Anyway, you’re saying no gifts. Aren’t you?

I attended a wedding the weekend before Christmas, it was lovely also everyone who was invited managed to attend. It was a lovely break from the run up and normal stress to Christmas, was a lovely day.

I got married in November and didn't honeymoon until the following summer. Yes lots of people go away soon after their wedding but you do whatever you want to.
As for your anniversary, I'm lucky if I remember the date of ours, never mind anyone else.
4th of December is early enough in the month not to impact on Christmas.

Anniversaries are a pain for us - our anniversary date is during a major event in our hometown and restaurants are always booked up/not taking bookings, walk-ups only/have long queues. Yes, it's a nuisance!

It’s early enough in the month that Christmas won’t take over and if your give people plenty of notice they should be able to plan for it. I’ve been to a couple of December weddings, one at the beginning and one at New Years. As for honeymoon, lots of people wait a little while to go on honeymoon. My cousin waited four months and I know someone else who waited six months.

Your wedding sounds lovely please ignore the people at work. They just love to have an opinion 🙂 I couldn’t tell you the last couple that went on a honey moon straight after, it’s not a big thing any more.

I attended a wedding in the run up to Christmas and it was probably the most beautiful wedding reception I've ever been to. I don't think you need to change the date and Besides people are in the mood to celebrate due do it being so close to Christmas. I think you'll have a cracking time!

Just wanted to say it sounds lovely, wishing you every happiness x

I think it sounds lovely. I wanted a winter wedding for a lot of the reasons you've mentioned and got married in January. If I was you I would stop worrying, it sounds beautiful.

I’d go with your original date op. Your planned wedding sounds fabulous

The beginning of December is a perfect date! As you say, venues are decorated and it is BEFORE Christmas party time - people will be ready for a celebration and won't have party fatigue.
I went to a wedding just after New Year and it was lovely but hard work getting motivated after Christmas season!

I got married on bonfire night 2017, because of DH exams we didn't have our honeymoon until Oct 2018. It was brilliant to have our honeymoon after because it was another thing to look forward to. We did have a mini moon in a spa straight after the wedding and we were both ill! Don't change the date it sounds like such a lovely wedding! If people can't afford to come then they won't. Don't worry it will be a brilliant day

Oh I forgot I actually went to a wedding on the 22nd dec last year and it was amazing! Everyone was singing Christmas songs and it was just so much fun! Crackers on the table are very fun!

It all sounds so lovely, don't change a thing. We had our honeymoon 18 months after we married. It was wonderful, we had a very romantic week away without the children.

I’m getting married on 22nd Dec this year. It’s in a pub and will be low key. I did worry it would be a total pain in the arse for guests but we’re only having close family and very close friends and we consulted with them about the date before booking (well over a year in advance) and they were all happy with it. I’m not arsed about the anniversary really, and we are aiming for a couple of nights away somewhere (probably uk) between Christmas and New Year as a honeymoon but we’ll see what is left in the pot nearer the time. We’ve got the rest of our lives together for holidays is how I see it.

I totally get the doubts and questioning yourself, I’ve done it too - but then if we booked any other time of year I’d probably be doubting/ wishing I’d give for the Christmas wedding I really fancied! Your plans sound lovely so have faith in them and enjoy your day (but maybe do see if there’s any way you can stretch to some table wine - even a glass per person?).