Insights · A December wedding
Lights everywhere, the town decorated, your loved ones home for the holidays. A Christmas wedding has a warmth you won't find at any other time of year. A celebration inside a celebration.
We have photographed a Christmas wedding, so we know how lovely it can be and where it needs careful planning. This guide covers which dates are allowed, ideas for decor and outfits, how we work with the short winter daylight, and where to take your festive photos.
Contents (8)
- Which days weddings can take place at Christmas
- The ceremony: candles, warm light and intimacy
- Christmas decor ideas
- Wedding dress and suit for winter
- The reception: a festive party
- Festive couple photographs and the next-day shoot
- What to keep in mind about the weather
- Frequently asked questions about Christmas weddings
Which days weddings can take place at Christmas
This is the first thing to check. The Orthodox Church does not hold weddings in the days before Christmas, usually from around 17 or 18 to 25 December, nor on the eve and day of Epiphany, 5 and 6 January. For the Twelve Days, from 26 December to 4 January, the rules vary: some Metropolises allow weddings, while others do not.
The exact dates are set by each Metropolis and may differ. Before booking anything, confirm your date with your parish or with the Holy Metropolis of Patras. For a civil wedding, check the town hall's hours, as it is usually closed on public holidays.
There is also the option of a wedding in early December, when the town is already starting to dress up for the season, or right after Epiphany, while the festive atmosphere still lingers.
The ceremony: candles, warm light and intimacy
In winter the sun sets early, and that changes a lot. The ceremony often takes place as the afternoon light fades, and the church is lit by chandeliers and candles. It is a warm, golden light that makes the photographs especially atmospheric.
So that you also have photos in natural light, we plan the day so that the couple portraits happen before sunset. See the sunset times in Patras for every month and plan your schedule around them.
Christmas decor ideas
- Colours. White with gold, deep red, fir green or champagne. Sticking to a few well-chosen colours looks more elegant.
- Seasonal materials. Fir branches, eucalyptus, pine cones, velvet ribbons, lots of candles.
- Lights. Strings of fairy lights above the tables or at the entrance. They make a lovely backdrop in photos.
- Warm touches. A hot drink to welcome guests, a blanket for those who step outside, festive wedding favours.
Wedding dress and suit for winter
A dress with sleeves, a cape or a faux fur stole suits a winter wedding beautifully and makes for lovely photographs, especially outdoors. For the groom, a velvet jacket or a suit in a deep colour matches the festive mood. The bouquet can include white roses, fir sprigs, berries and dried elements.
Think ahead about what you will wear over the dress when moving between locations, so you stay warm and feel comfortable in every photograph.
In winter there is less light, but it is softer. The city lights, the candles and the warmth of the people around you make the photographs look like a fairy tale.
The reception: a festive party
Guests arrive already in a festive mood. Many are in town for the holidays, some have flown in from abroad, so there is twice the reason to celebrate. A Christmas wedding often turns into the liveliest party of the year.
Because the holidays are busy for everyone, send your save-the-dates early so guests keep the day free.
Festive couple photographs and the next-day shoot
A Christmas wedding deserves photographs among the lights, too. In Patras, the tree and the Christmas village on Georgiou Square are usually lit in mid-December. Very close by, Nafpaktos decorates its Venetian harbour and castle and sets up a Christmas village next to Agia Paraskevi. For snow, Kalavryta is the closest option.
If you would like more time, a next-day shoot in a festive setting is a great idea. Find more ideas in our next day photo shoot locations and in our guide to a winter wedding.
One of our favourite places for winter couple photos is Achaia Clauss, above Patras: stone, wood and warm light, even in December. For those who want snow, Kalavryta is just a little higher up.
What to keep in mind about the weather
December can bring rain or cold. Always have a plan B: a reception venue with an indoor hall, umbrellas in colours that suit the wedding, and a little room in the schedule. And if it rains, don't worry. Photographs with umbrellas and lights reflected on wet cobblestones are among the most romantic.
Frequently asked questions about Christmas weddings
Can I get married on 24 or 25 December?
Usually not in church, as the days before Christmas and Christmas Day itself are excluded. Confirm with your parish or the Metropolis.
Are weddings allowed during the Twelve Days of Christmas?
It depends on the Metropolis. Some allow weddings from 26 December to 4 January, while others do not. Ask your parish before you set a date.
What time should the ceremony be in December?
Because the sun sets early, it's best to plan the day so the couple photos happen before sunset. We work this out together when we plan the schedule.
Where can we take Christmas photographs in Patras?
At the tree and Christmas village in Georgiou Square, and very close by at the decorated harbour of Nafpaktos.
Do you photograph winter weddings?
Yes, and we love them. Winter light and the festive atmosphere give the photos a character all their own.
Dreaming of a Christmas wedding?
Tell us the date you have in mind and where the wedding will be. We will help you plan the day so we can capture all its magic.
Photographs: Dimitris Stergiou and the studio team