Classy Ways to Incorporate a Holiday into Your Wedding Day

St. Patrick's Day just passed last weekend and OKOTA had a blast designing for Mallory and Barry's engagement party. Their party was not St. Patty's themed, but just happened to fall on the holiday this year. How did we nod towards the special day without making it a St. Patrick's Day engagement? We're letting you in on the tips and tricks to keep it classy and not too themed if you too are celebrating during a holiday.

1. Bring in the associated colors.

Obviously, green is associated with St. Patrick’s Day! It was simple to incorporate more greenery for the florals for Mallory and Barry’s party without overdoing it or taking away from their wedding colors. If it’s the 4th of July or Easter, you can do touches of holiday colors that also complement your wedding colors. Maybe try doing some pops of red if it’s the 4th of July or a pastels for Easter. If it works with your wedding colors, then it will look and flow naturally without looking like it’s too themed.

2. Use a subtle pun on less-formal pieces.

I love seeing creative takes on words and sayings that are also cute. Think of ways you can make a fun but cute pun out of the holiday on casual pieces. One tip for this: The way to make this less tacky is to have the pun be something people usually say anyway. For St. Patrick’s day, this could be "Lucky in love!” By taking a common saying but putting a twist and associating it with the holiday will make people smile without it being too corny or overdone. It’s the little things that will make guests laugh and connect it to the day.

3. Add the holiday to pieces that will not be in the venue, but that guests still see.

Another creative way to incorporate a holiday is on items that won’t be in the venue. This way, it isn’t quite all over the place, but like a gentle reminder about the day! One way Mallory and Barry had this done was on their invites. We printed with emerald green ink and a small shamrock was on the invite as well as the stamp! When guests receive the invite, it will be a polite nod to the holiday, while also being decorative and simple. Think of having an American flag or star for patriotic holidays or a snowflake around Christmas (a snowflake is also a neutral white color that can work with your theme).

4. Have tiny details here and there.

If you haven’t guessed it by now, it’s all in the details when it comes to incorporating a holiday in a subtle way. We loved these adorable shamrock sprinkles on the cupcakes that give them both character and color! Other cool details they could have utilized would be small shamrock confetti sprinkled on the tables or a printed name card with a shamrock on it. Small touches like these, without going overboard, can make incorporating a holiday classy no matter what time of year it is!