What to Wear for Christmas Photos at The Meadow
If you love the look of Christmas trees, rich seasonal colors, and natural, timeless family photos, The Meadow is such a beautiful setting for your Christmas session.
When it comes to choosing outfits, my biggest recommendation is to start with the greenery. Forest greens, burgundy, warm browns, and soft neutrals all complement the trees beautifully, giving your photos that cozy Christmas feeling without competing with the setting.
Whether your style is classic and festive or more earthy and understated, here are some ideas to help you plan your family's outfits.
1. Choose a Color Palette That Complements the Trees
When you're surrounded by evergreen trees, you don't have to avoid green. In fact, deeper greens can look beautiful in Christmas photos! The key is mixing different shades and textures so your outfits don't disappear into the background.
Here are three palettes I especially love for The Meadow.
**Classic Christmas:** Burgundy, forest green, cream, and chocolate brown.
This is a great choice if you want your photos to feel traditional and unmistakably festive. Think burgundy dresses, cream sweaters, dark green accents, and warm brown shoes.
**Earthy and understated:** Ivory, taupe, chocolate brown, and muted sage.
For families who prefer a softer, more natural look, this palette keeps the focus on your family while complementing the surrounding trees. Textured knits, corduroy, and flowing fabrics add plenty of visual interest.
**Romantic and colorful:** Dusty rose, burgundy, cream, and warm brown.
If you love a little color but don't want a traditional red-and-green palette, this is a beautiful alternative. The pink adds softness, while burgundy and brown keep everything grounded in the season.
You don't need to match the trees or the flowers exactly. Choose colors you love that work well together, and let the setting do the rest.
2. Three Family Outfit Ideas for The Meadow
Rich and festive
Try a burgundy dress for mom, a cream sweater and dark denim for dad, and outfits for the kids that incorporate forest green, ivory, or warm brown.
This combination works beautifully with the Christmas trees and gives your photos a classic holiday look without feeling overly coordinated.
Natural and cozy
An olive or muted sage dress, a chocolate brown sweater, cream knits, and corduroy pants create a warm, earthy palette.
This is a great option if you love natural colors and want your photos to feel relaxed and timeless. The mix of textures keeps the outfits interesting without relying on busy patterns.
Soft and romantic
Try dusty rose, cream, burgundy, and brown throughout the family. One person might wear a flowy rose-colored dress, while the others wear neutral knits, dark denim, or rich brown layers.
This palette feels a little softer and more unexpected while still fitting beautifully into a Christmas session.
These are starting points, not rules. You can make any of these palettes more casual, more formal, or more colorful depending on what feels like your family.
3. Should You Wear Green Among the Christmas Trees?
Absolutely! Green can be one of the prettiest choices for this setting.
I recommend looking for a shade that contrasts with the trees rather than choosing the exact same green as the surrounding branches. Forest green, olive, sage, and deeper jewel tones all offer different looks.
You can also create contrast through texture. A forest green velvet dress or a chunky olive sweater will have more visual depth than a thin, flat fabric in a similar shade.
If you're unsure, add cream, burgundy, brown, or denim to the palette. These colors help separate your outfits from the greenery while keeping the overall look cohesive.
4. Mix Textures, Not Just Colors
One of the easiest ways to make coordinated outfits look thoughtful is to mix textures.
Consider incorporating:
- Velvet dresses or skirts
- Chunky knit sweaters
- Corduroy pants
- Soft cardigans
- Denim and classic button-downs
- Flowing dresses and skirts
These fabrics add depth and dimension to photos, particularly against the texture of evergreen branches.
You can also include one subtle pattern, such as plaid, if it fits your style. Pair it with solid colors so the overall look doesn't become too busy.
6. Coordinate Without Matching
Everyone wearing the same color can make a family look feel a little flat, especially in a setting that already has plenty of greenery.
Instead, choose a palette of three or four colors and distribute them throughout the family.
For example, mom might wear burgundy, dad might wear cream and brown, one child might wear forest green, and another might wear ivory with a small burgundy accent.
The outfits work together without looking identical, and each family member still gets to wear something that feels like them.
One practical tip: lay everyone's outfits out together before your session. You don't need to create a perfect styling board. Just check that the colors feel balanced and that no single outfit feels completely disconnected from the others.
7. Keep Comfort in Mind
Christmas sessions should be fun, especially for little ones!
Choose shoes your children can walk in comfortably, layers that are easy to move around in, and outfits that don't require constant adjusting. A beautiful outfit is only helpful if your child can actually enjoy wearing it.
And remember, you don't need to buy an entirely new wardrobe. You may already have the perfect sweater, dress, or pair of boots sitting in your closet.
Sometimes a little thoughtful coordination is all it takes.
Your Family, Your Christmas Story
The Meadow offers such a lovely backdrop for Christmas photos, whether you gravitate toward rich burgundy and forest green, soft neutrals, or a more romantic palette with dusty rose.
My favorite advice is to choose outfits that feel like your family and complement the setting, rather than trying to make every detail match perfectly.
These photos are about more than what you're wearing. They're about the way your little ones look at you, the way your family fits together, and the memories you'll revisit long after this Christmas has passed.
Planning your Christmas session at The Meadow? Start with a color palette you love, pull a few favorite pieces from your closets, and let the Christmas trees provide the perfect backdrop for the rest.
