If Christmas wedding isn’t already a major trend, I’m 100% sure it should be! Nicole and Mitch tied the knot on December 8 at Excelsior Covenant Church. ECC was totally decked out with Christmas trees, red ribbons and twinkle lights galore. That would’ve been reason enough to get married there, but as I entered the church that morning Nicole pointed out the group photo of her confirmation class gracing one of the hallways. A church with family history AND the perfect Christmas decor? A match made in heaven.
Nicole and her ‘maids were cozy and cute as they got ready that morning in their matching pajamas. (I’m so down for PJ’s as a bridesmaids gift! What could be better than a full fleece outfit of goodness?) When it was time to get dressed though, they went from cozy cuties to absolute stunners! The bridesmaids had forest green gowns, some chiffon and some fully sequined. I think the green sequined dresses are probably my dream formal event dress so I was definitely on board with the look!
As her mom buttoned up the delicate buttons on the back of Nicole’s dress, I marveled at the detail of the dress that her grandmother had worn on her wedding day. It fit Nicole like a glove and was such an amazing way to honor grandma! Nicole is so beautiful that she could’ve rocked any style of dress, but the fact that she chose this one is a testament to her sweet nature!
After the ladies were dressed, the day really kicked into gear! Mitch and Nicole shared a beautiful first look in front of the Christmas tree, and then bravely took photos outside with me for a while! Their bridal party joined them too – my kind of people! Braving a few minutes of cold for a lifetime of beautiful outdoor photos is the way to go! Afterwards, we all warmed up in front of the big fireplace inside the church – such a perfect set up! We stayed there until it was time for Nicole to walk down the aisle to Mitch!
I don’t normally write about ceremonies in these posts, but I have to share that the candelight portion of the wedding service was one of the most special I’ve witnessed. Mitch and Nicole’s moms entered the dark sanctuary with their lit candles and worked their way up the aisles, starting the flame on each guests candle. When the flame made it all the way up to Mitch and Nicole, they used it to light their unity candle. A cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” by Pentatonix echoed through the space as everyone raised their candles to the bride and groom…and that’s some Christmas magic if I’ve ever seen it!
Chaska Event Center was the perfect reception spot, with their twinkle-lit Christmas tree outdoors and the cozy but chic fireplace inside the room. It was during the reception that the Christmas spirit really let loose – with special visits from Santa Claus, guests holding hands and singing “Welcome Christmas” from the Grinch, and a huge mistletoe stick that was shaken over the bride and groom in order for them to kiss for the guests. Nicole said “this is going to be the most perfectly tacky wedding ever” over the phone during our planning process. If tacky means absolutely so much fun, then she was right. It was the perfect party to celebrate love and the season, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Mitch and Nicole, thank you so much for including me in your wedding day. I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed it and how much I’ve loved watching you two get closer and closer over the years. May every Christmas from here on out be just a special as this one
Finally, a note from Nicole: “Our two favorite parts of the whole day were taking pictures and the ceremony. Taking pictures was a time for us to play and show off all we had prepared for so many months. I knew Nina would make the photos look beautiful so I had no worries about how they would turn out. The ceremony was such a deep representation of Mitch and I that is ended up being our favorite part. We had a candle lighting ceremony which was our favorite part of a Christmas service and it was more beautiful then we could have imagined. We are so grateful for everyone that was there both in person and in spirit.”
Thanks to the vendors that made this day even more special!
Ceremony Venue: Excelsior Covenant Church
Reception Venue: Chaska Event Center
Florist: Rachel with Festivities
Cake Artist: Buttercream Cakes & Desserts
Hair Artists: Kelly and Kate from LEVEL Salon
Bridesmaids Dresses: Macy’s
Tuxes: Heimie’s Haberdashery