With twinkling lights, cosy fireplaces and the possibility of snow, it’s no wonder that December is such a popular month for a wedding!

If you’re getting married at this time of year, chances are that you love all of the above too. But one of the biggest dilemmas I see December couples face, is whether to embrace the festive theme and celebrate all things Christmas, or whether to go down a different route.

While it might be expected that you have a Christmas theme for your day, I completely appreciate that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, especially as you may feel a bit restricted with colour palettes and decor.

You probably won’t be able to avoid the Christmas theme altogether because your venue will likely be decorated for the festive season but if the traditional red, green and gold isn’t quite the look you’re going for, why not throw the rule book out of the window and find something that suits you as a couple? Your wedding is all about you after all!

To give you some inspiration, here’s a look back at a shoot at Hinwick Hall. with a completely modern and fun twist on the Christmas wedding. Organised and photographed by the talented Nikki Watkins Photo & Film, these photos are proof that festive weddings don’t have to be stuffy and traditional. With rich navy, pops of bright pink, a generous helping of gold and a big sprinkle of glitter, hopefully you’ll see that your December wedding can be whatever you want it to be.

STYLING & FLORALS

The styling was dreamed up by the wonderful Alice from Fleur de Lace. With her signature hanging lanterns, bright colours and flair for all things fun, she truly put a contemporary and unique spin on the Christmas theme. Sadly, Alice closed the doors to Fleur de Lace earlier this year but thankfully we can still enjoy her work through photos from past weddings and shoots. 

The talented Kirsty from The Flower Mill was brought on board to work on the florals. With navy, hints of gold, an abundance of spruce and white roses for a classic touch, Kirsty’s designs truly brought a touch of elegance and glam to the contemporary theme.

THE STATIONERY

I was a little out of my comfort zone with the bold colours and contemporary style of this shoot, but I loved working on a brief that was just so different to my usual.

For the tablescape, we opted for alternating navy and pink menus with a minimal calligraphy design and modern arch shape. These were paired with navy and gold round calligraphy place cards, adding an elegant touch.

The invitation suite followed suit with a nod to the navy and pink colour scheme, with hints of white and gold featured too.

BRIDAL

There were two bridal looks on the day (as we had two female models), one was part of our talented model couple and the other was for the editorial part of the shoot.

Both brides were flawless, with hair and makeup by Charli Smith Hair & Makeup. The former had an effortlessly glam look, with a touch of red lipstick to keep things festive. The elegant beaded gown was from Burr Bridal in Cambridge. I just loved the delicate bows on the shoulders! The dapper groom was wearing a classic black suit and tie to finish the look.

Our stunning solo bride had a more neutral makeup look, paired with classic Hollywood waves, to complement the stunning sequin bridal jumpsuit and statement headband.

THE CAKE

And last but by no means least is the cake. The wonderful Nina from Erzulie Cakes created a festive glitter ball in cake form. With two tiers of cream coloured icing, lovingly adorned with flecks of sparkling gold. The white snowflake is the ‘cherry on top’ of the design, really tying in the modern festive theme. 

You should now hopefully have some inspiration for a contemporary and colourful Christmas wedding. Don’t forget to toss that rule book and any traditions that don’t suit you, right out of the window.

Credits:

Photography: Nikki Watkins Photo & Film

Venue: Hinwick Hall

Styling: Fleur de Lace

Florals: The Flower Mill

Cake: Erzulie Cakes

Stationery: Olive & Millicent (me!)

Hair & Makeup: Charli Smith Hair & Makeup

Accessories: Botias Accessories

Dress: Burr Bridal

Chairs: Rosetone Event Furniture

Models: Forrest and Fam & Charlie Bracher