AIBU December wedding ..

[Clangers23]

Hi ladies (and gents!)

Would like your feedback on something …

How would you feel about being invited to a wedding on the first weekend in December?

I ask because my OH and I have been looking at venues and found one we love but a winter wedding at our venue is £2,500.00 cheaper than spring/summer plus our venue décor works out cheaper if we go for winter. At first, I hated the thought of a December wedding but now I am growing to love it, especially as our venue will be so Christmassy. I would hate to put anyone out so close to Christmas and would be specifically requesting NO gifts. We will be laying on return coach transport (venue is 20 mins away in the next town) to cut out expensive taxi’s, and canapes, 3 course choice meal, 4 drinks PP and an evening buffet will be paid for by us, so really, guests wont be out any money unless they want more than 4 drinks (we’re Scottish so it’s likely they will lol!)

I know it’s our day, but our friends and family mean a lot to us and I wanted an outside opinion.

To add, we will be inviting 90-day guests and a further 25 in the evening.

Thanks!

I’d love this, an ace get together with everyone!

Your update says it’s Christmas NEXT year? Absolutely go for it! It will be absolutely beautiful. This year might have been cutting it fine, next year is 100% fine. You might find people don’t go because of their businesses or jobs, which is understandable. But it sounds beautiful. I’m in

It sounds like a lot of travel, especially if the weather is bad and people in heels.
My ds wedding is all in the same venue so no having to go outside.

We got married the saturday Christmas a few years ago. Sent save the dates about 9 months out and then main invites about 4/5mths out.

No one declined and it was lovely if I do say so myself!

You answered the only question I had which was what year because this year would be way too late notice but next year with enough notice would be ok. Is everyone coming from same area? Because if someone had to travel and wanted to be there for Christmas it could be a no. Basically with enough notice I wouldn't mind.

I’m getting married extremely close to Christmas - we’ve specified no gifts though like you!

I sounds like an excellent start to the festive season. Congratulations [santa]

I have never been to a winter wedding and would absolutely love it! Definitely not too close to Christmas but venue already Christmassy - perfect.

In an ideal world I would have had a humanist ceremony and reception in the one venue, but its simply not possible due to my OH families catholic beliefs, which I and my family respect, plus my aunt married her husband in the same church which would be a nice little nod to them.

You have all really put my mind at ease. Thank you so much! Best book this winter wedding then!!!

Same date as me, @KittyVonCatsington. We had almost universal confirmation from guests, but in the end lost a few as they couldn't get down to London from more rural areas that were snowed in.

Go for it OP!

We would be inviting guests from down south and the states, we don't believe our guests from across the pond would make it regardless of season due to their holiday allowance and very young families.

A 20 minute bus ride is hardly a lot of travel. My venue was almost an hour from the church. 180 people were happy to make the trip and we didn't even provide transport.

Op your wedding idea sounds lovely - very generous to provide coaches and drinks as well as all that food. Youll be giving lots of notice with your save the date so people can organise themselves around work, if needs be. If people can't make it, so be it. You can't accommodate everyone's schedule so chances are there may be a few refusals. Enjoy the planning!

We got married between Christmas and New year.
Was fab and no one declined!

I think it sounds lovely and very thoughtful actually. Drinks and travel paid for - that's generous compared to some of the weddings I have been to! Christmas is a lovely time to have a wedding. You can make it look cosy and romantic. I would definitely go.

The thing about heels is irrelevant. All weddings involve standing and dancing. If you're not going to be comfortable in heels, don't wear them.

One of the best weddings I've been to was Edinburgh the week before Christmas, it was snowing and magical. Yours is a whole month before, wouldn't even cross my mind not to go because too close, that's taking Christmas obsession a bit far I.M.O!

We got married in the beginning of December. I remain happy with that choice.

@Clangers23

I would go to a wedding in the first week of December yes. But be careful about inviting people from more than 15 to 20 miles away. It's not unheard of to get bad weather/deep snow/hard frosts in early December, and people may not come if the roads are bad to drive on, or the trains are irregular/cancelled/few and far between...

Perfectly fine, especially since you're not asking people to travel far. I've been to some really lovely winter weddings.

Awww thank you everyone for your lovely comments.

Hopefully the bus ride doesn't deter anyone but tbh, there are 2 wedding venues in our town, one is tiny and one is huge so we really cant have a reception at home, it needs to be in the next town, but the views across the river are to die for and worth the compromise!

It's fine. You have taken into account cost for your guests and it is far enough away not to interfere with xmas plans.

We went to a December wedding, it was dark early, wedding started at 3pm so only an hour of light. It snowed heavily, loads of people didn’t get there, country hotel at one point completely cut off. We crashed our car getting there due to snow.

If it’s accessible and in day light I would totally come.

I got married on December 4th 26 years ago so I'm a bit biased It was very easy to decorate and it was lovely in the church. No one expressed concern that it was near the holidays and no one declined the invite. My SIL was expecting her first child so we wanted it on the 18th but we moved it to the 4th to accommodate (kid wasn't burn till Jan 10th!)

I went to a wedding on the 23rd Dec. It was really lovely, a great way to start Christmas.

I was married on Dec 8th. I've been to 2 weddings that took place just after Christmas. One was nearly cancelled because of snow, but that risk isn't just limited to December.
People will come to your wedding or they won't the time of year doesn't matter.
And you won't always be limited to inside photos. The day we were married was cold but very sunny. The outside photos look like they were taken on a summer's day.

I wouldn't see any issue with it at all.

Honestly, I find weddings exceptionally dull and feel resentful that I have to waste a precious day off going to one (sorry!). But I'd be less resentful about a December one than a summer one as there's not much less to do in the winter.

I also think a winter wedding could be really lovely. I've often thought if I ever get married I'd do it at Christmas.