An At-home Christmas Wedding with a Rustic Cabin Feel: A Planning Guide

October 4, 2020

With all the goodwill and cheer of the holidays, there’s no happier season to celebrate a wedding! Especially since intimate, at-home nuptials are the recommended option at this time, let your wintertime wedding day be all about the love and warmth of family surrounding you as you start your life together.

And when you say wintertime, what more cozy setting could you choose than a rustic woodland cabin recreated right in your home? Perfect for a small wedding with those nearest and dearest to you, and the traditional yuletide spirit all around!

Charming Basics for a Winter Cabin-inspired Wedding

Bring in the colors and textures of Christmas—wood, evergreen foliage, tree bark, berries plus the homey vibe of buffalo plaid—worked into lovingly handcrafted wedding elements like these.

Even a simple, at-home wedding deserves the special gesture of guest invites. Order customizable ones like these Cozy Plaid Wedding Invitations (1) from Basic Invite to set the cabin feel.

Continue the rustic vibe with delightful DIY wreaths (4) that use winter greenery and blooms, following this how-to on The Real Flower Company. And stitch up your own plaid ring pillow (2), as seen on a lovely winter wedding featured on Martha Stewart.

Then, for the intimate reception, have a unique Woodland Christmas Yule Log Cake (5) baked by family members following this recipe from Dr. Oetker UK. Such a charmer with its rolled-up tree log effect, trimmed with chocolate "bark" rolls, raspberries, blackberries!

In an outdoor patio, seat guests at a festive Cardinal-themed Christmas Table (3) inspired by this tablescape from Home Is Where the Boat Is. Note the plaid table linens in keeping with the cabin feel. And make the newlyweds’ "couple’s chairs extra special with fresh evergreen garlands (6), inspired by one of our own wedding sets.

Winter Cabin-themed Goodies, Wedding Activity & Favors for a December Wedding at Home

Combine holiday food, drinks, and sweet treats both of your families love to make this occasion truly memorable—plus a wedding activity and guest favors in keeping with the rustic theme.

Warm your guests up for the main winter wedding menu (more on that in the last section below). Set up an inviting wine and cheese selection on a bar cart (2), featuring a variety of cheeses labeled with DIY food flags (3), along with fruits, nuts, and your choice of signature wedding wine. Looks fancy, but so easy to prepare!

Then, for everyone’s favorite wintertime goodies, why not have a S’mores station with an outdoor fire pit (1) as seen on Home Depot. Plus a hot chocolate bar (5) to get everyone warm and toasty, as they step back indoors to serve themselves from a festive dessert table (4)!

By then, it will be time for some family wedding fun. If tree decorating is a treasured holiday tradition, have each guest write well-wishes on Christmas ornaments for the couple’s first Christmas tree that serves as both a wedding activity and an alternative guest book idea in one!

Finally, a lovely gesture would be to give homemade or home baked wedding favors perfect for the holidays. Package them prettily in these dainty gift bags and hang them on a small tree for guests to pick.