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Original poster

Christmas Eve wedding

109 replies

RRK593 · 11/06/2022 20:22

Has anyone got married on Christmas Eve? My partner and I are in the very early stages of planning our wedding and we’re not sure on what we want at all at the moment!

The one thing we do know is that we want a smaller wedding (I hate the family politics of pleasing everyone!) so I think it will just be us, our two children and immediate family. (14 total)

We got engaged on Christmas Eve last year and love the idea of a small Christmas Eve wedding, maybe in the afternoon as it starts to get dark with lots of candles and a nice meal. Though the logistics of it might be a little tricky! (Sorting the children’s presents for the next day/ everything that comes the day after a wedding being on Christmas Day) or even if places cater for weddings on Christmas Eve.

Has anyone done this and can share how their special day went?

thanks! :)

OP posts:
MarmiteCoriander · 11/06/2022 23:42

OP- if you are looking at other dates, ask about January. Assuming you are in the UK- the weather won't be any better or worse the Christmas day- but the costs might be significantly less! Certainly worth asking the venue/photographer etc about January specials.

BanjoVio · 11/06/2022 23:50

Absolutely flipping not. I’d decline a Christmas Eve wedding invite and not even begin to feel guilty about it.

Katkinsgreyy · 12/06/2022 00:06

I once attended a Christmas Eve wedding.
It was awful. A lot of people didn't turn up as they were busy that day with children/family, getting ready for Christmas day.

suzyscat · 12/06/2022 06:43

On the basis that you're only inviting people you spend Christmas Eve with any way it might not be so bad as it first seemed.

That said, it is taking a very busy day, that should be about family and especially the children and making it all about you

I've been to a few late December but pre Christmas weddings and whilst they've been beautiful and fun they've also been a massive pain in the arse and involved us all missing other events that usually would have been a highlight of the season.

Original poster
RRK593 · 12/06/2022 11:31

Thank you for all your replies.

Again though, I’m not trying to establish views on whether my family will attend because I know they will.

I was more looking for opinions on the more practical aspects of the idea such as having to make Xmas lunch the next day or spending Christmas Day with a hangover! These are both things I hadn’t thought of and would definitely weigh in big on the decision.

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 12/06/2022 12:13

@RRK593 my father in law was so hungover the day after our wedding my mil had to pull over on the hard shoulder because he thought he was going to be sick. Imagine if that had been Christmas Day before a houseful of people! 😂

LookItsMeAgain · 12/06/2022 12:42

RRK593 · 12/06/2022 11:31

Thank you for all your replies.

Again though, I’m not trying to establish views on whether my family will attend because I know they will.

I was more looking for opinions on the more practical aspects of the idea such as having to make Xmas lunch the next day or spending Christmas Day with a hangover! These are both things I hadn’t thought of and would definitely weigh in big on the decision.

If it was my nearest and dearest invited me to their wedding and it was Christmas Eve, I would still decline the invite.

Christmas Eve is special to you and your OH as the anniversary of your engagement. That really isn't a thing though. A wedding anniversary is. I'm surprised that you can find a restaurant/venue that will accommodate you all that will stay open late so you can properly celebrate on Christmas Eve. What about the staff and their Christmas preparations?

There is absolutely nothing stopping you from keeping Christmas Eve as your engagement anniversary, but why not have your wedding day between Christmas and NYE or even on NYE and then you have two special dates in your calendar?

SunnyLobelia · 12/06/2022 12:44

I absolutely love the idea of a Christmas eve wedding in theory. Small, quiet, hopefully snow, all those lights.

But I would probably hate it if I were a guest and needed to travel for it.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 12/06/2022 12:50

I have a friend who got married on Christmas Eve; she had a lot of the same concerns about if anyone would go etc but she wanted a Christmas theme and loves Christmas Eve. 150 odd people went; and she's had a few anniversary parties on Christmas Eve too, and they are well attended. I think people will go if they want to.

cissyandbessy · 12/06/2022 12:52

It's a lovely idea in people's heads I think - but a massive pain in reality. Went to a family wedding very close to Xmas and was hard to enjoy and relax when there was so much else to do that week. The irritation crept in for me tbh and I wish they'd not been so obsessed with a certain date )same date as they got engaged) and just thought about what usual family life is like at that time of year. Also it wasn't snowy and beautiful it was cold and windy and miserable weather which is pretty likely. The pics look like we are all on the deck of a boat in a force 9 gale!!

namechangeanonymous · 30/06/2022 18:08

If we were close and it was close to home then I would love it, though I wouldn't want a last minute planned one as I would have to work around it... Everything is more expensive at Christmas though? My brother married 27th and it was premium and places he wanted weren't open etc.

Wowcherarestalkingme · 30/06/2022 18:14

I got married on the 22nd. We were the last wedding at the venue before Xmas and we wanted to make sure anyone who had to travel was able to get home in plenty of time to organise their Christmas. Plus we spent Christmas Day on our honeymoon which was lovely

happyharpy78 · 30/06/2022 18:24

I got married on 19th December (34 years ago now!). Church was beautiful, weather was cold but bright, it was a lovely day. BUT the absolute downside has been celebrating our anniversary! Everywhere is either booked up with Christmas parties and if not, we are surrounded by revellers. It's too near to Christmas to want to go away for the weekend - we did Try it one year, too stressful as the kids were still young, and as I said, the hotel was full of Christmas parties and we ended up eating turkey as the Christmas party menu was the only offering in the restaurant.
So my advice would be to think carefully, I'd choose a different date if I were to do it again! 😀

QueSyrahSyrah · 30/06/2022 18:29

Against the grain here but so long as it didn't involve far to travel or an overnight stay obviously then I'd love to go to a Christmas Eve wedding!

If the family you want there are all onboard OP then I say go for it. Everything is achievable with a bit of forward planning.

SnowyLamb · 30/06/2022 18:30

If you've got young children why would you hijack Christmas Eve for yourselves, of a the days that you could get married?

If the guests don't have children it might be OK for them, but it's a horrible thing to do if any of them do. Or if any or if any of them might want/need to travel over Christmas.

worriedaboutmoney2022 · 30/06/2022 18:33

We went to a New Year's Eve wedding which was lovely and they had a 4pm wedding at the hotel then a big party, loads of us stayed and we had a big New Year's Day brunch it was lovely I would definitely say that would be better than Christmas Eve

Just the logistics of getting everything by ready for Christmas Day could be a problem unless you got married say 11am, had lunch and then afew drinks or even 1pm with afternoon tea - then went home and prepared for Christmas?? But it would cut the day rather short I suppose??

Namechanger1002 · 30/06/2022 18:44

For my sister or my children I would attend a wedding on any date she wanted (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year, my birthday etc) Any other family or friends I would decline.

Jinglebells21 · 30/06/2022 18:48

We tried for christmas eve but was in a church and they said they wouldn't have time for a wedding around mass etc.
I wasn't fussed about guests though, would of been happy it just being us two.
If I was a guest at a christmas eve wedding I would love it if it was a very close family member or friend but not so much for a distant relative.
We married a week before Christmas instead and in hindsight was a much better relaxed date, meant we could have a proper celebration instead of thinking oh we have to still do the Christmas eve traditions with the children, quietly bring presents downstairs and wake up at 6 in the morning with 2 excited children!
Not so appealing when hungover.

CrikeyAlmightyOk · 30/06/2022 18:49

Although Christmas Eve with us is family time and we usually plan something nice to do - i'd go to a wedding on Christmas Eve.
It sounds like it would be a lovely experience.

CrikeyAlmightyOk · 30/06/2022 18:51

BotterMon · 11/06/2022 20:57

One of the best weddings I went to was Christmas Eve. Church at 11 followed by a lovely country pub lunch - all over by 3pm. Probably about 30 people tops.
Bride arrived in horse and carriage, snow on the ground - absolutely beautiful. She wore white with the most beautiful scarlet velvet cape and looked stunning.

Oh this sounds perfect!!!!! 🥰

Favouritefruits · 30/06/2022 18:53

I doubt venues will take booking for Christmas Eve, it’s one of their busiest times, they won’t want the faff of a wedding, unless you are paying big bucks. I definitely wouldn’t attend especially if it wasn’t close by, too much to do and sort.

blueskiesrule · 30/06/2022 18:56

It sounds like for your particular family Christmas Eve would work but it may also just be a bit of extra pressure for everyone before Christmas. For what it’s worth my parents got married on the 28th in those quiet days between Christmas & New Year and I always thought it was lovely timing (they did manage snow on the ground and a winter cape outfit 😊) but go for Xmas eve if the venue can accommodate and your family are happy.

Roselilly36 · 30/06/2022 18:58

Christmas Eve is special to you, but think carefully about planning your wedding on Christmas Eve, firstly if you are wanting a church wedding, you will struggle to get a date I expect as other than Easter busiest time of year at Church. Guests even close family that have young children. Arranging a wedding is stressful as Christmas can be too, why put yourself through the additional stress. Hotels will have Christmas events on, guests booked for Christmas etc. Can’t think of a worse day to book a wedding, people knock off work early, I would imagine lots wedding services would be more expensive on Christmas Eve, premium time for DJ’s, bands etc

Pallisers · 30/06/2022 19:03

One of the best weddings I went to was Christmas Eve. Church at 11 followed by a lovely country pub lunch - all over by 3pm.

if it was like this - all over by 3 and I lived nearby, I'd be ok with it. otherwise I'd be stressed at the thought.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 30/06/2022 19:14

we had an amazing Christmas Eve wedding in a hotel, the weather was beautiful a sunny clear day , we had 50 special guests, ceremony at 1130, hot buffet lunch at 1330. Guests dispersed during the afternoon at their leisure and we moved to our local pub where we were joined by any others. It was so laid back, we requested no gifts & didn’t cater food for evening guests just a drink behind the bar.