The holidays are a magical time of year, filled with twinkling lights, cozy vibes, and celebrations with the ones you love. But if you're recently engaged, the holidays can also be the perfect opportunity to start planning your dream wedding—without the stress!

Sure, wedding planning can feel overwhelming, but trust me, with the right mindset and some organization, you can get a head start on your wedding vision while soaking in the festive season. In fact, planning your wedding over Christmas can be the best gift you give to your future self.

So grab a cup of cocoa and get ready for some holiday wedding planning tips that’ll help you create your dream day while staying merry and bright!

Step 1: Take Advantage of the Holiday Cheer to Set Your Intentions 🎯

The Christmas season is a time for reflection, gratitude, and setting new goals—and what better time to think about the kind of wedding you want to create? The spirit of the season can help you and your fiancé clearly define your wedding vision and prioritize what matters most to you both.

How to do it:

• Reflect on your love story. Think about how your relationship has grown and the values that matter to you as a couple. Are you a couple that loves the idea of a cozy, intimate winter wedding, or are you envisioning a grand celebration surrounded by family and friends? Christmas is the perfect time to reflect on those values and get clear about your priorities.
• Set your wedding intentions together. Grab some eggnog, sit by the Christmas tree, and chat about the wedding you both dream of. Think about the atmosphere you want to create—romantic? Joyful? Elegant? Fun? This is a great time to align on your goals.
• Establish a vision for your wedding. Whether you want a Christmas-themed wedding or just want to capture that cozy holiday vibe, creating a clear vision for your wedding will help guide your planning.

Taking some time to set your intentions will create a strong foundation for your planning journey, and you'll be more focused when it’s time to make decisions later on.

Step 2: Use the Holidays to Gather Inspiration Without the Overwhelm 📋

The holidays are packed with inspiration—think Christmas lights, snowy backdrops, winter florals, and rich holiday colors. There’s so much beauty around, so why not use this time to gather ideas for your wedding?

While the Pinterest wedding vortex is tempting, it can also be overwhelming. The key is to focus your inspiration gathering, so you don’t get lost in the endless scroll.

How to do it:

• Look for holiday-inspired wedding details. This doesn’t mean you need to have a full-on Christmas wedding (unless that's your vibe, and I’m here for it!). But you can incorporate touches of the season in your color scheme, décor, and florals. Think about warm tones like gold, burgundy, and emerald green, or classic winter whites and metallics.
• Watch holiday movies for design ideas. Okay, I’ll admit it: this one is a little fun, but hear me out. The holidays are full of cinematic wedding moments, from the magical "falling snow" moments in The Holiday to the elegant winter wonderland in Love Actually. You can pull subtle design inspiration from these films to bring a little holiday magic to your wedding.
• Start a Pinterest board with holiday vibes. Create a Pinterest board specifically for “Holiday Wedding Inspiration” where you collect photos of winter wonderlands, cozy indoor ceremonies, and glamorous Christmas décor. This board can help you visually define your wedding style and begin crafting your color palette, so you’re not overwhelmed later on.

Pro Tip: Be intentional with your boards. Avoid pinning random photos. Pin only the ones that really speak to you or reflect your vision. This will help you stay focused when it’s time to make decisions. Want more info on creating vision boards? Click HERE

Step 3: Take Advantage of Holiday Deals (And Shop Smart!) 🎁

Did you know that the holiday season often brings wedding deals and discounts? Many vendors run Christmas sales, and you can snag some great deals on wedding essentials like wedding dresses, tuxedos, florals, or even venues. Planning over the holidays could give you a head start on booking vendors before the new year rush!

How to do it:

• Look for holiday promotions. Check out local wedding vendors and venues for any holiday-specific discounts or packages. Many photographers, florists, and planners offer “holiday specials” or discounts for bookings made during the season.
• Start wedding dress shopping early. Wedding dress boutiques sometimes run holiday sales or trunk shows during December, so take advantage of the savings by shopping early. Plus, shopping during the holidays can make the experience extra festive!
• Buy items as you go. Instead of waiting until the last minute to buy everything, start purchasing some wedding décor or small details now. It’s a great way to ease the load later on, especially since so many items go on sale during the holidays. Think seasonal candles, ribbons, table settings, and keepsakes.

Step 4: Get Your Wedding Team Ready for the New Year 🎉

The holidays are also a great time to start thinking about the people who’ll help make your wedding a reality. Whether you’re hiring a wedding planner, florist, photographer, or DJ, this is the time to get your team together. The earlier you book your team, the more likely you are to secure your top choices and avoid stress later on.

How to do it:

• Create a wedding planning checklist. Whether you’re using a wedding planning app or a traditional paper planner, use the holidays to start checking things off your wedding checklist. You can focus on booking big-ticket items like the venue, photographer, or planner. In my course The Joyful Wedding Blueprint we give you a Vendor Comparison and Tracking Sheet to make finding your dream team easy-peasy!
• Start researching wedding vendors. Begin reviewing local wedding vendors and narrowing down your options. Check their availability, pricing, and reviews. If you can, get in touch with them before the New Year to get the ball rolling.
• Consult with a wedding planner. If you’re feeling a little lost on where to start, consider talking to a wedding planner. Wedding planners are often in high demand, so securing one now could save you from scrambling for availability later.

Step 5: Enjoy the Holiday Season Without Overthinking 👰🎄

I know, planning a wedding during the holidays sounds like a lot. But remember, it’s important to enjoy the season without letting wedding planning take over completely. Take time to relax, enjoy the twinkling lights, sip on hot cocoa, and create memories with your loved ones.

The best part about planning your wedding at Christmas is that it sets the stage for a memorable year ahead as you journey toward your big day. Don’t rush the process; savor the moments.

 

Want to kickstart your wedding planning in the most stress-free way possible? I’m here to help!
Sign up for my FREE class where I’ll walk you through how to plan your dream wedding during the holidays—stress-free and on budget. Get organized and start making decisions that align with your priorities!

👉 Save your seat for FREE class HERE