Holiday Wedding Additions: Cheers, favors and traditions!

In general, I am slightly opposed to celebrating two major events during any season...like birthdays and proposals...separate, or Winter holidays and weddings, is Santa walking you down the aisle?  I just feel each event is important enough to have its own special day and fabulous celebration.

But I will say, holiday weddings have the best, most tasty treats, are the easiest to decorate and people generally approve of the two for one event. So with all being said, here are a few good ideas to bring some holiday cheer into your holiday wedding without overloading on red and green and ho ho ho.
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{sourc: Frills and Thrills}

Holiday Cheer
Here is an oh so delicious Candy Cane Martini from Frills and Thrills Wedding and Event Planning that makes a great after dinner drink, perfect for toasting and warms against the winter chill!

Ingredients:

3/4oz. Vodka,
3/4oz. Peppermint Schnapps,
3/4oz. White Creme de Cacao,
1/4oz. grenadine,
half and half and soda water.

Directions: Pour Vodka, Peppermint Schnapps, White Creme de Cacao and grenadine into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Pour into a cocktail glass rimmed with crushed peppermint candy. Fill with half and half and top off with a splash of soda water!

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DIY Favors

Snowflakes, christmas colors, ornaments or something silver and shiny always come to mind when I think of holiday weddings favors....and for some reason scream "been there, done that!" When I think of the winter here in New England, I want something that warms my belly, melts in my mouth, tastes good on my tongue and is lovingly made

We {heart} this delish favor idea we found over at Delightfully Engaged: a sweet stack of gingerbread favors along with a favorite family recipe.

{source: delightfully engaged}

Here's what you will need: 

- Gingerbread cookies

- Fabric

- Greens

- Twine

- Scissors

- Cards+ Recipe

1. Stack the gingersnaps in piles of 4-5.
2. Cut a piece of fabric about 4 inches x 4 inches. When you cut the fabric, cut about an inch and then tear the rest; this gives the fabric a beautiful, raw and rustic edge.
3. Write out a family recipe for the cookies or another favorite and attach with twine or simply slide it underneath the entire packet.

{source: delightfully engaged}

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Draw flavor inspiration from your heritage

Mexican Hot Chocolate, a flavor made with cayenne pepper, is growing in popularity. Winter celebration ideas? Have it as a drink to warm up guests at the end of the night or as your featured cake/dessert flavor on a wedding dessert bar.

Here is a delicious, not-too-sweet recipe for Mexican hot chocolate, a mouth watering and powerful combo of cocoa and spices including whole stick cinnamon and cayenne pepper (already in the chocolate). Cinnamon stirrers come in handy, as the old-fashioned chocolate mixture settles if not stirred before drinking. The blend of cinnamon and chocolate flavors is oh so delish!

{Source: Taste of Home}

Holiday Centerpieces - Cranberries and Crystal

Flowers are expensive this time of year and Holiday accessories are overdone!  Cranberries are a beautiful and inexpensive nod to the season, especially in a color scheme incorporating shades of red. 

{source: The Gardener's Eden}

For a simple and striking centerpiece, fill a vase partway with cranberries, then add water. A floating candle can be added to the top, but be sure not to fill the vase to the brim. Either identical or unique vases can be used for each table (look at thrift stores and garage sales to find a variety of vases), or an etched glass bowl can be used. Brides using a bowl for this centrepiece may want to use several floating candles. {source: Suite 101}

These are just a few of our favorites you can add to your wedding to bring on the holiday cheer without getting too carried away. 

Happy Wedding, Happy Holidays!