A Wielki Dzień project
Winter wedding setting
Written by: Magdalena Raba
December ceremony and reception decoration, combining wedding lightness with a subtle winter character.
The winter nature did not obscure the wedding lightness
We have prepared a concept for a December wedding in Gdańsk, with a ceremony in a church and a reception in the hall. The idea was simple: references to the holiday season were to complement the party while maintaining its wedding character. December itself brings ready-made associations, so it is very easy to overdo it with such a decoration. We wanted the guests to feel as soon as they entered the wedding that they had come to the wedding, and the winter mood would warm up the whole thing, instead of becoming the main topic of the day.
How not to turn a wedding into a Christmas Eve dinner? Moderation helps. Instead of multiplying Christmas symbols, it is better to choose several motifs and repeat them consistently. Red was the motif here: in the draperies on the chairs at the altar, in the napkins and bows, and on the bride and groom's table, it turned burgundy. The fir tree, present in garlands, decorations and wreaths, had a similar effect. The festive mood was in the details, and the couple was in the foreground.
There were Christmas trees and stars of Bethlehem at the altar
The ceremony took place in a church and was decorated with Christmas trees, Bethlehem stars and the bride and groom's chairs decorated with red draperies. This is a set that requires no translation in December. Everyone associates Christmas stars with Christmas trees, and Christmas trees add height and frame to the space near the altar. Thanks to this, the place where the couple takes their vows stands out clearly from the rest of the interior and attracts attention.
Red draperies on the bride and groom's chairs are a small detail that makes a big difference during the ceremony. This is where the guests' eyes and camera lenses are directed for most of the ceremony. In a temple, the decoration is supposed to emphasize the interior, not compete with it, so it is worth focusing the color near the place of the couple. When red returns later in the hall, the transition from church to reception does not signal a change in mood.
Burgundy drapery and neon made the bride and groom's table stand out
The bride and groom's table is the point to which the guests' eyes return throughout the reception, so it needs a distinct character. In this project, it consisted of burgundy drapery, a fir garland with lights and a ring with a neon sign with the word "Love". Burgundy is a deeper, calmer shade of red that appeared on guests' tables. The couple's table stood out from the background of the room and at the same time belonged to the same color palette.
A fir garland connected the bride and groom's table with the rest of the room, because the fir came back in decorations and wreaths on the guests' tables. The lights in the garland are light that becomes a full part of the decoration on short winter days. The neon is legible even from a distance and looks good in photos. In a Christmas setting, such an inscription also reminds us that on this day we celebrate love above all, and the season is only a background.
The guests' tables were decorated with fir decorations and wreaths
The guests sat at round tables with red napkins, decorated with Christmas decorations and fir wreaths. A round table has its own logic: the decoration is usually placed in the middle and each guest looks at it from a different side. A wreath and headdress work very well here because they naturally have no back or front. The whole was completed with drapery under the ceiling, which visually lowers the interior and makes the room seem cozier.
Light appeared next to the wreaths and decorations: candles on a slice of wood, candles in glass and warm lamps. The glass protects the flame against air movement and accidental touching, which is practical when the table is full. The wood slice gives the candles a stable base and fits naturally with the fir tree. Red bows on the fir tree repeated the color of the napkins, thanks to which the compositions on the tables created a coherent whole.
We combined our own decorations with those that already existed
Not all decorations that day came from our studio and we do not take credit for every element visible in the photos. Our preparations included ceremony decorations, flowers and reception décor, and we agreed upon the decorations that the couple and venue already had available. This is a common situation, especially during the holiday season. The task of the studio is not to replace everything, but to arrange a coherent setting for the ceremony and the room.
How do we combine our own elements with what already exists? We start with reconnaissance, i.e. we ask the couple and the facility for photos or a list of decorations that will be in place. Then we check what colors and textures predominate and choose flowers and textiles to match them. The principle of repetition works well: if a certain color dominates the room, it returns in our compositions. We fill in the missing places, and where there are enough decorations, we consciously leave them out.
The short December day requires a well-laid plan
Each project begins with a conversation with the couple and a review of inspiration. Based on this, a concept with a color palette is created, and then we choose flowers and textiles. In December, there is also the issue of light, because there is only a short amount of light. We arrange the installation on the wedding day in such a way that as much of the work as possible is done during the day and leaves time to check what the decorations look like after dark, with lights and candles.
When the ceremony takes place in a church and the reception takes place in a hall, the assembly is divided into both spaces, each of which has its own rules. Access to the interior is agreed with the parish and the facility, and the order of work depends on the course of the day. Some of the decorations can sometimes be moved from the church to the hall, which requires an efficient team. After the reception, we return for disassembly, take our items, and leave the couple's and facility's belongings as agreed.
What advice do we give to couples planning a wedding in December?
It is worth starting planning a December wedding by asking what will be waiting in the church and in the hall. During this period, many interiors are decorated for the holidays, so it is a good idea to ask for photos from previous years and determine what will stay and what can be moved. Then the decorations can be planned so that they match the decor. We also advise you to limit your palette, because a few well-thought-out colors look calmer than all the Christmas colors at once.
Light also plays an important role. In December, darkness falls early, so lamps and candles create the mood and help the photographer. Candles in glass are a smart choice because rooms often have rules about open flames. Durability is important when it comes to plants: fir trees keep their needles for a long time, and poinsettias do not tolerate drafts well. It is worth adding festive accents so that after many years the photos will resemble a wedding, not a company Christmas Eve. It is better not to delay booking your date, because the demand for fir and Christmas plants increases before the holidays.
