Festive Holiday Floral Designs for Weddings

There are certain seasons, in particular the winter holidays, that are simply best left to tradition. As I recall Christmases past, I can't think of a time without a green tree decorated with white lights... without jolly red stockings on the mantel... without pine cones in a bowl... without candy canes and hot cider... without pretending that we're really at the North Pole while taking the family photo in our red wool sweaters in front of the stucco, light switch-operated fireplace...

Alas, base the foundation for your Christmas wedding in tradition and you can't go wrong. Make it a celebration framed in evergreen, lit with white lights, accessorized with pine cones and candy canes, toasted with hot cider next to an open fireplace. Offer your bridal attendants swinging pomander balls of red cranberries on red satin ribbon swoops to sway down the aisle. Carry a nosegay of red Amaryllis and "Charlotte" sweetheart roses mixed with bittersweet and holly. Hand wrap your bouquet with a tartan plain grosgrain ribbon and detail it with pewter scotty dog charms at the seam. Create an area for exchanging vows encircled with spiraling evergreen topiaries bedecked with dangling red apples and treated with a little tasteful flocking – yes, I said “flocking,” but just along the tips! Gather guests at tables draped with red velvet and overlaid with sheer black tartan plaid squares. Center your tables with full, textured, stylized collections of pine cones and chestnuts; pomegranates and red apples; and Amaryllis and paper whites arranged in rustic honeysuckle-bound bird's nests. Take your first dance as life partners while white feathers drop from the ceiling cascading down upon you. Toast yourselves with hot mulling cider in antique pewter goblets detailed with jingle bells at the stems. Escape in a horse-drawn black carriage with candlelit lanterns and an evergreen wreath with your married initials monogrammed in white against a huge red velvet bow – it will be beautiful when you mail the photo with next year's Christmas cards!

Happy holidays.

Opening photograph by Dalal Photography