Couple Has Pink Christmas Wedding Complete with Carolers, Santa Claus and a Giant Nutcracker! (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Santa Claus, Cole Cunningham and Alex Glockner.Photo:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotography

Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotography

Santa Claus is coming to town — for a wedding!

Alex Glockner, 22, and Cole Cunningham, 27, got married in a “pink and green Christmas”-themedweddingatThe Greenbrierin White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, on Saturday, Dec. 14.

“I have dreamed of a Christmas wedding for as long as I can remember,” Glockner tells PEOPLE.

Cole Cunningham and Alex Glockner.Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotography

The bride and groom have been pouring their hearts “into every little detail” since September 2022 — which is almost a year before their engagement in August 2023.

She continues: “There’s something so magical about this time of year, and it holds a special place in my heart. Over the years, Cole and I have grown to share a deep love for the holiday season, making it even more meaningful to celebrate our wedding during this time.”

For years, it has been a “cherished holiday tradition” for the bride to visit The Greenbrier. So she didn’t have to think twice about where to say “I do” this Christmas season.

Wedding details.Wedding details.Dinner table details.Wedding details.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotographyWedding details.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotographyDinner table details.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotography

Wedding details.Wedding details.Dinner table details.

Wedding details.

Dinner table details.

Wedding details.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotographyWedding details.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotographyDinner table details.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotography

“[The Greenbrier]’s timeless beauty and festive charm made it the perfect setting to bring my dream of a Christmas wedding to life,” says Glockner, who isa fashion designerand launched a sold-out Christmas collection earlier this year.

You would think Glockner was one of Santa’s workshop elves, considering the countless hours she spent working onDIY wedding projects. Two hundred of her closest family and friends made it on the nice list and were invited to her winter celebration.

Santa Claus.Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotography

The bridesmaids’ cottage was decorated with a pink Christmas tree, and the mother of the bride, Monica, embroidered stockings filled with gifts with the women’s names. Glockner designed one-of-a-kind Greenbrier nutcracker sweatshirts using Dorothy Draper napkins for them to wear while they got ready with her in the Princess Grace Suite. They all additionally had custom Christmas needlepoint bracelets with their initials fromStitch Girls.

The groomsmen’s cottage also had stockings with their names, plus personalized gifts such as old-fashioned kits with hand-painted bourbon bottles and military nutcrackers.

Alex Glockner with her bridesmaids.Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotography

On the day of the wedding, Cunningham, who joined the United States Navy right after graduating high school, gave American flag lapel pins to active-duty service members and veterans to wear. That morning, all wedding guests were delivered newspapers calledNewlywed Times.

The ceremony took place inside The Greenbrier Chapel. Programs looked like Christmas cards and were held in a green mailbox.

Christmas carolers.Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotography

Bridesmaids held hot pink flowers and wore emerald green one-shoulder gowns. They walked down the aisle to John Williams' “Somewhere in My Memory,” which is featured in theHome Alonesoundtrack.

Stockings.Hand-painted pink gingerbread handbag.Snow globe party favors.Stockings.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotographyHand-painted pink gingerbread handbag.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotographySnow globe party favors.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotography

Stockings.Hand-painted pink gingerbread handbag.Snow globe party favors.

Stockings.

Hand-painted pink gingerbread handbag.

Snow globe party favors.

Stockings.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotographyHand-painted pink gingerbread handbag.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotographySnow globe party favors.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotography

The newlyweds left the chapel in a horse-drawn carriage with a giant pink bow on the back.

At the reception, gifts were placed in a sleigh and cards in stockings. Pink and green Santa ornaments with guest names and table numbers acted as escort cards.

Alex Glockner and Cole Cunningham.Alex Glockner next to a giant hand-painted nutcracker.Alex Glockner and Cole Cunningham.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotographyAlex Glockner next to a giant hand-painted nutcracker.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotography

Alex Glockner and Cole Cunningham.Alex Glockner next to a giant hand-painted nutcracker.

Alex Glockner and Cole Cunningham.

Alex Glockner next to a giant hand-painted nutcracker.

Alex Glockner and Cole Cunningham.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotographyAlex Glockner next to a giant hand-painted nutcracker.PHOTO:Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotography

On every table was a gingerbread house with its dedicated table number on it. Place cards were pink and green nutcracker sugar cookies frosted with each guest’s name. Meanwhile, the dinner menu was displayed on individual paper stockings. Hanging above were pink ornaments and green garlands.

Snow globes with the wedding logo on one side and a polaroid of each couple on the opposite side acted as party favors. Before they left, guests signed a pink and green Christmas quilt, which the couple kept as a keepsake.

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Alex Glockner and Cole Cunningham’s wedding reception.Kelli Carrico Photography/@kellicarricophotography

Even though the newlyweds — who are stationed in Destin, Florida — both grew up in Wheelersburg, Ohio, it wasn’t until the fall of 2020 that the couple met through mutual friends. They got engaged three years later on a “magical” sunset horseback ride during a family vacation to Montana and Wyoming.

Now, they are taking their Christmas spirit with them to their honeymoon.

“Our love for Christmas does not stop at The Greenbrier,” Glockner says. “We will be honeymooning in London and Paris in hopes of seeing all of the beautiful Christmas lights and displays. We are doing many Christmas activities such as a Mini Cooper light tour, building our own ice sculpture, ice skating, Disneyland and much more.”

Additional Credits:

Florals and Decor: Martha Gillespie Sams @gillespieseventsandflorals

Event Planner: Laure Richter @the_greenbrier

Rehearsal Photographer: Brittany Stone @brittstone_photography

Content Creator: Kevan D’Damery @smittencontent

Videographer: @toyboxweddings

Graphics Designs: @saramauk

Hand-painted Greenbrier-Inspired Nutcracker: Rachel @Rachelswanart

Band: @attractionbandevents

DJ: @dj_frankyfrank

Ceremony Music: @thegreenbrierentertainers

source: people.com