Andrew and I bought our first Christmas tree last weekend! He wouldn’t let me put it up until after Thanksgiving (“It’s not even December yet!”) so a few nights ago we were finally able to put it up! We bought some lights and my good friend made us some garland to wrap around the tree as a Christmas present. (She is always so crafty and thoughtful!) We borrowed some ornaments from my grandpa who doesn’t put his tree up anymore, and then bought a few special ones this year.
Andrew wants to start a tradition of annually buying a new ornament for the tree. I really like this idea, so he picked out a dinosaur ornament and I got a cute little picture frame that has “2015” written on it. I thought putting a picture in would be a cute reminder of the year we got married. My mother also has this cute little ornament custom made for us back in July and I love it! All of my friends and family are truly so thoughtful!
I forgot to buy a topper (oops), and I’m still searching for some stockings and other small decorations for the apartment, but those details can come later. We had some extra lights so we hung those around the door. When we turned the lamps off, we were surrounded by the colorful glow. It was absolutely perfect, listening to Christmas music while we fluffed and decorated. We munched on candy as we went and it just felt magical. Christmas has always felt that way for me and I think that’s because I have so many great memories growing up around Christmastime.
As a child, my family went to a Christmas tree farm every year to pick out our tree. I remember running through the rows of trees and shouting “this one!” while my family criticized it. My mom was very particular – it couldn’t be too skinny or too fat, and she always seemed to find the tree that was perfect. My brothers would start to saw it and then my dad would intervene as it was about to tip. Then they would have a big machine that would trim the base and shake all the loose needles out.
After my dad had strapped the tree to the top of our van, we would get hot chocolate. They served it for free at the farm and it was always the perfect ending to the day. By that time, we were shivering from being in the cold so long and the hot chocolate would warm us all. I always hold these memories close and hope that Andrew and I can get a real tree in the future. But for right now, our tree is perfect, too.
What a beautiful tree. =) I’m curious to see what you choose for your topper! I love the picture frame in the back, how you’ve got your gift wrap paper out as well as the special ornaments.
My family has always put up a Christmas tree and celebrated the holidays. I kind of wished that we had kept more ornaments over the years. My mom is really into picking a different colour theme for our tree and sticking on Christmas cards that we get from family each year.
I think it would be a lovely tradition to buy an ornament every year. If my boyfriend and I end up buying a tree together, I would love to have a tradition where we buy each other ornaments each year. Maybe something that represents a memorable moment from that year. Hehe, I’m getting ahead of myself though. x)
You guys have such a beautiful tree, even if it isn’t real! I prefer to have fake ones to real ones because they don’t catch on fire easily (or so I’ve been told). I like the two ornaments that you got with your name on it and the wedding picture one. I can’t wait to see the tree topper that you guys get when you do get one. I went to a store near my apartment when I owned one, and I found a tree topper Angel that looked like my grandmother’s tree topper. It was on sale and of course I bought it. My apartment that year looked beautiful as I had decorated the place in a blue and silver setting and my landlady loved it. She said it was a Jewish/Christian theme. I forgot the exact term she used, but she was pleased with my decorating skills and made me a member of the decorating team. I hope you guys have a wonderful first Christmas together as a married couple. I am so proud of you and all of your guys’ accomplishments thus far!
Congratulations on your first tree. It looks lovely, and I love your custom ornament. I’ve never had a tree, but that’s been fine with me. I’d probably just leave it until March when it’s all brown and prickly.
i love how your christmas tree is so tall and colorful! the custom-made ornament from your mom is so cute, as well as the 2015 one with your photo.<3 it's like a christmas tree brimming with color and love. what do you plan to have on the topper?
ours is not even too tall and we only had simple ornaments (not much, really!)
anyway, i don't think we even have a christmas tree farm here in the philippines (or none that i'm aware of!) but thanks for sharing those childhood memories. and yes, you and andrew could get a real tree in the future and then have hot chocolate with your own family after that!
I’ve been keeping an eye out for a star to put at the top. Haven’t found one yet that I like!
You have such a nice tree! I like how well lit it is and it’s wonderful that you have it for your first Christmas together (as a married couple ;)). Christmastime is the best time of the year with all of the decorations, cheer, and happiness people have. It sounds like you had a wonderful tree-picking experience as a kid ;). Hope you find that award-winning topper for your tree!
What a beautiful tree and a beautiful new tradition! ^^
Your Christmas tree is beautiful! I love the idea of buying a new ornament every year
I really liked that you picked one that you could put a wedding photo in. The snowman one from your mother is so cute too!
That’s such a sweet memory of your family. That must have been so fun to pick out your Christmas tree every year. My family has always used a fake one, so we’ve never done that!
Oh it looks great! I love the snowman ornament! So cute!
And that’s a beautiful memory. It sounds like so much fun!
The tree looks lovely. I like the personalized Christmas decoration a lot, is so cute. It’s a wonderful idea to have something special made for your 1st Christmas together.