Great Wedding Themes
When I was getting married, which wasn’t all that long ago, theme weddings were something that crazy people had. Well, maybe crazy is a strong word, but you know what I mean. People that were really really into Star Wars or Renaissance Faires had theme weddings, average brides, not so much. Now, it seems like everyone has a theme. It makes sense because it is something that makes everything else make sense, it brings together in harmony. So here are some popular themes and ideas for carrying them out.
1. Vintage. Ok, this is a broad theme and I tend to laugh inside when brides tell me they want a vintage wedding. There is a huge difference between a 1920′s vintage and a 1950′s vintage. Are you looking for the old hollywood romance of the 1940′s, the classic americana fun of the 1950′s or the sexy excess of the 1920′s? If you are considering a vintage theme, decide what atmosphere you are trying to create. Are you wanting an event that is exactly like a wedding from that era, or a modern wedding inspired by the style of that time? Bring the vintage into every aspect of your wedding – clothing, decor, food, flowers and even entertainment. Vintage themed weddings remain popular because it is a theme that everyone can participate in freely. Who wouldn’t love to go to a 1950′s themed wedding with a checkerboard dance floor, burgers and shakes for dinner and car hop waiters on roller skates! Name your tables after icons of the time or create your own drive-in movie feel
2. Wine. OK, I’ve already professed my love for wine themed weddings on another post, so I’ll avoid repeating myself and put out some ideas for carrying it out. First of all, the colors of wine are inspiring in themselves. You could go with the deep purples and greens of the vineyard or the burgandy and golds of the wine itself. Decorate with wine barrels, grapes and wine corks. Name your tables after wines or vineyards or both! And of course, don’t forget to serve some amazing wines at the cocktail and reception. A really special touch would be to bring in a sommalier to do a tasting with your guests during cocktails.
3. Fairy Tale. The trick of the fairy tale wedding is giving it that fantasy feel in a sophisticated way that does not feel like a 6 year old’s birthday party. The idea is to recreate Cinderella’s experience, not create an homage to Cinderella. Look at it this way, instead of using a Disney cartoon as inspiration, use the Palace of Versailles. It creates an old world, European feel that a real princess might have experienced. See if your area has a Cinderella carriage to make your grand entrance and for some amazing pictures.
4. Beach. There are so many fabulous ways to go about this! You can go with everything very fresh and light in varying shades of blu – or be inspired by the sunset in beautiful purples and oranges. You can bring in sand and shells or water features to give that ocean feel. If you want, you can even include fish in your centerpieces – just make sure there is somewhere for them to go after the event! The important thing to distinguish your wedding from every other beach wedding. Think about the feeling you get from the beach and try to recreate that.
A theme doesn’t have to be cheesy. Take something that you love, that speaks to you as a couple and weave that idea throughout the wedding. Do you love books, have a cake that’s a stack of books, or bring in a library. Do you love music, work it into your centerpieces and decor. The key to any theme at a wedding is to work it in consistantly and subtley. You want it to be the unifying factor without hitting your guests over the head with it. Happy planning!
By Heather Brandon of Agape Weddings in Bakersfield, CA
