Theme your wedding - some ideas to get you started

All great wedding tend to have a particular theme – a stylistic thread running through everything so that all the different elements, from the invitations to the table decorations and the canapes to the bridesmaids dresses, are in perfect harmony.  You obviously want your wedding to be a unique expression of your particular personalities and relationship – so “picking a theme” may sound like it’s going to cramp your style.  Most brides, however, find the reverse is true.  One of the biggest problems with planning a wedding is that there are too many ideas and options to choose from – it’s easy to overload yourself, get confused and make choices you later regret.  A theme gives you a frame of reference and enables you to focus.  When you have a theme in mind it suddenly becomes much clearer why this dress/cake/venue/band/photographer will work…and why all those others won’t.  So, what are these themes?  This list isn’t comprehensive but it will hopefully get you started.

Romantic

Every wedding has an element of romance to it (that’s the whole point of the occasion, right?!).  However, you can accentuate this aspect and set an especially romantic tone by picking a venue that has some history and grandeur – a imposing stately home, a fairy tale castle, a magnificent ballroom, an ancient walled garden or vineyard perhaps.  Then decorate it with lots and lots and lots (as in you can’t have too many!) of fresh flowers and candles.  You want to create a cosy and warm atmosphere with soft lighting, understated pastel colours and lots of champagne and rosé.

Rustic

This can take many different forms but the overall look and feel should be inspired by nature and the great outdoors.  The ideal setting would be a renovated barn, an ancient farm house, a French chateau or a marquee in a field – the further from any town or urban vibe the better!  Think lots of natural textures, like bare wood (no table cloths!) and exposed brick and stone, natural fabrics like wool, hessian and cotton, and flowers that look as if they’ve come straight from a hedgerow or field. 

The colour palette should feature neutral and soft tones – the vibe is charmingly unsophisticated and shabby-chic.  A semi-naked wedding cake goes well with this style of wedding along with floral arrangements in jam jars (rather than vases), wedding invitations and menus tied up with gardener’s twine, mismatched furniture, a live folk or ceilidh band, straw bales for seating around the dance floor.  Food should be hearty and healthy rather than dainty and sophisticated, with real ale and cider to hand. 

Classic

A classic wedding is quite close in style to romantic, but more formal and traditional – it’s a style for the bride who prefers timelessness over trends.  Go for a vintage venue that has a bit of history and stature, like a stately home or somewhere with a magnificent ballroom.   Consider arranging a champagne cocktail hour with jazz music in the background or a string quartet for guests to enjoy in between the wedding ceremony and the meal.  Perhaps make it a black-tie occasion with everyone dressed to the nines, a full sit down dinner, a very traditional style cake, delicate white florals, plenty of lush greenery, light linens and minimal décor.   

Bohemian

Boho weddings manage to look incredibly chic with minimal effort.  The vibe is casual and comfortable, fun and playful, but effortlessly sophisticated too.  Keep the decor humble but eye-catching and the colour palette in harmony with nature.  For the bride that’s proud to be a free spirit and who treasures her inner hippy.   One idea is to have mismatched bridesmaid dresses or wedding party attire that shows off everyone's style without looking too put together. With the floral arrangements go for blooms that are wispy and wild, like pampas grass, pressed palms or baby's breath. Your reception should feature a cozy lounge area, complete with mismatched tepees and poufs - decorative pillows or hanging macramé decorations work well.  Tarot readings, someone playing Tibetan singing bowls and lots of incense will all add to the laid-back atmosphere. A naked cake covered in fresh blooms will add the perfect finishing touch.  For your venue think vintage walled garden, a botanical greenhouse or even a wilderness setting – popular options are tipis in a woodland, a wildflower meadow or the Mojave Desert (really!).

Nautical

The venue should obviously be on the coast, whether that be on a beach, in a yacht club, a beach resort or a seaside house or hotel.  The décor will feature all things nautical –lots of blue and white tones (especially stripes) paired with beach motifs like shells, anchors, ropes, and model sailboats to exude a maritime style.  The menu should feature plenty of seafood and rum cocktails will add an appropriate touch.

DIY

Everything has to be personalised and done by hand – It’s a lot of hard work but probably saves the pennies.  Whether it's a hand-sewn pennant flag banner, a bar knocked together out of reclaimed wood, a cake you’ve baked yourself or  handwritten signage, your personal style will really shine through.  Details might include a lino-cut stamp that prints your monogram on each invitation, a handcrafted paper flower bouquet and favours packaged with personalized notes of thanks.  A make-your-own food station is pretty much a must for the wedding reception – think a cheese and charcuterie table, a salad bar, a spread of tapas choices and a big spread of desserts.  You’ll discover you are becoming incredibly creative with old pallets, straw bales and vintage wooden ladders!  As for a venue – know anyone with a big garden?

Fantasy

With this theme you pick a favourite show, movie or book – think Harry Potter, Frozen, Pride & Prejudice, Batman and Wonder Woman, Game of Thrones…let your imagination run riot.  This is not for the faint hearted or the traditionalist.  It’s ideal for extroverts who want to have a lot of fun and break free of convention.

 What will your theme be?

These are just a few of the main themes.  There are many more (vintage, whimsical, modern, eco-friendly, outdoors…) but they tend to be variations on those we have covered here.  Hopefully this post will give you useful food for thought but if you’d like any further input in terms of ideas, or how best to turn these into reality, just give us a call – the team here have bags of experience and are only too happy to help.