A Christmas-Themed Wedding at Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland

Visiting the ICE! show at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is how Francesca Leo (28 and a registered nurse) and James Crandall, Jr. (27 and a credit trader) celebrate their Christmases together as a couple. So when they chose a December wedding date, they looked no further than the resort for their venue. Because they knew Gaylord Resort would be decked out for the holiday season, Francesca and James decided on a Christmas-inspired, "Winter Wonderland" theme and used pops of claret, ivory and silver throughout the day. 

After a heartwarming ceremony in the resort's atrium, guests proceeded to the red-hued reception, complete with crystal chandeliers. Vases filled with glittering ornaments, white votive candles and silver table linens added to the festive theme without feeling over-the-top. As wedding favors, Francesca and James gave their guests mason jar mugs filled with the ingredients for peppermint hot cocoa, and even the cake sported snowflake details and red ribbon accents. The most Christmas-y detail of all? The adorable Santa-themed taper candles the couple used for the unity candle ceremony.