December is here:)  My Christmas tree is up and I am slowly pulling out the decorations! I love Christmas – it is a beautiful time of year and a beautiful time for a wedding as well. Today I was surfing eBay for some fun, affordable Christmas wedding ideas and found a few that I want to share – check these out!

Christmas is a great time to incorporate classic Christmas decorations into your decor for a gorgeous look that is both unique and seasonal. I really love these two options. The first is my favorite – snowflake Christmas ornament placecard holders – they are both elegant and affordable ($52 for a set of 48).  These would work well for any winter wedding.  The second find is pretty fantastic as well – they are Christmas ornament shaped vases and they are bigger then they seem – about 5.5 x 5 inches. They would make really nice vases for Christmas wedding table centerpieces.

Poinsettias are another beautiful part of Christmas that can be incorporated into a Christmas wedding.  I love this silk flower set that I discovered on ebay – I am completely in love with the Poinsettia bridal bouquet – a lovely mix of deep reds, whites and golds – and it comes with a maid of honor bouquet, 4 bridesmaids bouquets, a toss bouquet, a grooms boutinniere, 9 boutinniere’s and 4 corsages – all 21 pieces for under $140. That’s insane – you’d pay more for that just for the bridal bouquet in most flower shops.

And last but very much not least – I found a great eBay store with a fantastic collection of Christmas wedding cake toppers – including the three shown here. Wedding Cake Toppers & Decor has some unique and adorable wedding cake toppers including some absolutely adorable Christmas themed toppers for fairly decent prices.

Spreading The Joy!

I love this Save The Date design from Ginger P Designs – it is obviously a great choice if you’re getting married at Christmas time, but it would also make a great save the date if you are planning a 2011 wedding and are going to send your Save The Dates close to Christmas time because these can double as both your STD and Christmas card, saving you a little money!

Merry Hair Pieces!

The Holly & Berry hair pins from The HoneyComb are a great way to add a little Christmas to your wedding day hair style and they are small enough to also be used for your attendants or flower girl. I also really like the Wintry Floral hair comb from The Red Magnolia – it’s a great statement piece, very elegant.

Flowers & Pinecones!

Pinecones add a great winter touch to this red, white and gold rose bouquet from Amore Bridal.    The Holly & Pinecone boutonniere from Which Goose is another great combination and it makes a fantastic, unique choice for brides looking for a flower free alternative for their Christmas wedding.

The Kids Are All Decked Out!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this Candy Cane Princess tutu from Tiara’s & Tutus – it would be fantastic for an adorable little Christmas flower girl! For a more traditional Christmas feel, I really like this little candle lantern from April Hiler Designs. It makes a great alternative to a flower girl basket and could be used instead of bridesmaids bouquets as well.

And a little something for the table!

These Birch Heart Vases from  Go Rustic are just adorable!! They could be used for a lot of different wedding things – fall weddings, camo weddings, vintage weddings, garden weddings, Christmas weddings, etc – just by changing the bouquet up.

These are perfect for a Christmas wedding candy buffet! The first is adorable mini glass candy jars with personalized labels that guests can use to fill with candy at the buffet – of you can fill for a adorable favor – as little as $1.10 from Beau-coup.  The second is chocolate dipped fortune cookies with an adorable snowflake pattern which are available for 99 cents from Beau-coup.

Christmas ornaments make great – reusable wedding favors. I particularly like these to options because they do double duty – making them a budget bride’s best friend.  The first is a selection ceramic snowman ornaments that are surprisingly affordable at about $1 each from Beau-coup – add a tag with your guests names on it and it’s also a placecard – or pull a napkin through the string for a lovely napkin holder.    The second option from our store is a lovely set of Christmas themed placecard holders that are available at $2 for a set of 3 and obviously – they can be both a placecard and a favor for your guests.

I love these two classy options for a Christmas wedding. The red damask print favor boxes which sell for $1.35 each are a wonderful holiday twist on the popular damask pattern and can be filled with the favor of your choice. The holiday tea sachets are $20 for 20 from Beau-coup and the elegant print packaging gives them a very classy look and feel perfect for a formal Christmas wedding.

And two more that just really really deserve a mention   The first is a beautiful angel bookmark, especially fitting for a religious Christmas wedding or an all white winter wedding theme and they are $1.41 each.  The second is a set of Christmas tree candles that come packaged in clear boxes to give as favors but they could also be used as part of your decor for a romantic candle light wedding – $8 for 6.

Deciding when to have your wedding can be the biggest decision for a newly engaged couple to make. Choosing a specific time of year that is appealing to you can be an easy way to narrow down your options. Many couples dream of having a white wedding during the Christmas season filled with snow and cheer. December is certainly a special time of year and many couples want to memorialize their love amidst the holiday celebrations. Having a Christmas wedding can be an unforgettable experience, yet it is important to consider the good and the bad when planning the most important day of your life.

While having a winter wedding can present some challenges, there are also many benefits to incorporating this season into your wedding plans. Christmas weddings are often unique, filled with holiday music and decorations. The weather is romantic and makes a lasting impression. A bride may enjoy the various themes and colors available during the winter months that are not offered during spring and summer.

An important benefit of having a Christmas wedding is cost. Because winter is considered an “off month” for the bridal industry, a couple can save hundreds of dollars when booking a venue, a band, or a caterer. A Christmas wedding is also cost effective because many locations are already decorated for the holidays. This would be an easy way to incorporate the holiday spirit into your special day. Many families have also already made plans to spend Christmas together. By planning a wedding during your family’s visit, more money will be saved on airfare and lodgings.

Another great part about having a winter wedding is venue availability. It is more likely you will be able to book that special church, or restaurant since most people don’t get married during Christmas. This can be the deciding factor in when a bride chooses to get married, making a Christmas wedding more appealing.

A winter wedding is also a way for a couple to show their love for a certain time of year and to celebrate with they’re closest family and friends. Christmas weddings are always memorable and make a lasting impression.

While a Christmas wedding has its benefits, there are also some disadvantages every couple must consider before planning the big day. The weather can be as unpredictable as a bride’s mood during December, which can make it difficult to make plans. If you live in California, you may have nothing to worry about, but for those who live in a Northern climate, the weather can present a real problem for guests. Snow, or rain can prevent guests from arriving on time, which could delay the wedding, or even flights.

On the other hand, the weather may be too mild. A bride may be envisioning a snowy, white wedding with a horse drawn carriage, yet no snow. Unpredictable weather could potentially ruin a couples’ idea of a Christmas wedding. It’s also important to consider that travel arrangements during the holidays are very expensive and some guests may not be able to afford it.

Having a Christmas wedding can be a beautiful way of saying “I do.” Many of these seasons disadvantages can be avoided with proper planning and scheduling ahead of time. When done right, this can be the perfect time of year for a couple to tie the knot.

Writing for us today is Sarah Danielson of Wedding Planning Advice where you can download a free wedding planning checklist to get organized for the big day!

A wedding day for a bride is one of the biggest days of her life. They’ve been dreaming of this day since they were little, have it all planned, and just hope that it goes smoothly and doesn’t rain! If you know someone that is having a Christmas wedding, you probably know all the stress that comes along with it!

One thing brides and family members often think about is the children. Although children are cute and wonderful to have around, they don’t quite know when it’s ok to scream, cry, and behave. So, if you’re looking for ways to keep children entertained, we’ve got you covered! Listed below are some ideas you can consider!

• Treasure hunt: If the bride is getting married in a church, a treasure hunt is a great way to keep the little ones entertained. Most churches are rather large, so it calls for a great place to hunt for things! Set up some clues, create a map of the church, and set up little prizes and candy at the end to keep the going!
• Color: What kids don’t love to color? This is a simple, yet affordable way to keep the kids entertained for an hour or two. Bring out the Christmas coloring books and some markers, and send them on their way.  (You can find free coloring pages online as well like these ones at The Kidz Page)
• Babysitter: It wouldn’t hurt to get a babysitter if the children are younger. Have someone come for a few hours so everyone can help set up last minute, get into their places and so you all can have a worry free and cry free ceremony.
• Crafts: Children love crafts! Check out some cool Christmas crafts online that are easy to make. Then, get some of the supplies at your local craft store, and let them use their imaginations!

As you already know, weddings are some of the most stressful events out there. Although they are beautiful, almost every family, and bride worries something won’t go as planned. So, to make it easier on yourself and on the bride and groom, make sure the little ones are taken care of ahead of time!

This is a guest post written by Lauren Dzuris. Lauren runs FindMyCarSeat, a website on Car Seats that can help new parents find a great car seat, while giving them tips, and advice on everything from pregnancy to parenting.

Photo Source: Flower Design Blog