Selecting a wedding theme can take your traditional nuptials from typical to terrific with just a little extra planning. Use your wedding style to determine the best theme that fits your personality and incorporate elements from that theme throughout the ceremony and reception.
Popular Themes for Weddings
Picking a popular theme makes planning the perfect wedding easy because you're sure to find plenty of supplies and accessories for everything from invitations to attire to reception decorations.
Rustic Country Theme
Rustic country themes can be done anywhere even if you don't live on a farm. Perhaps you'll incorporate country western cake elements like cowboy boots or horseshoes or go with a country BBQ wedding style featuring gingham and grills. Alternatively, an elegant country chic theme might feature decorated barns with chandeliers and burlap and lace throughout the ceremony and reception. Either route needs plenty of country music to keep everyone dancing at the reception!
Fairy Tale Theme
A fairy tale theme is sometimes referred to as a Cinderella wedding. Weddings with this theme incorporate elements that will make the couple, and their guests, feel like they're a prince and princess. Horse-drawn carriages, rhinestone-studded ballgowns, orchestra music, and more are all frequently incorproated into this wedding. Sometimes pop culture comes into play through Disney songs and invitations.
Garden Theme
Spring and summer are the perfect season for hosting a garden themed wedding. The wedding might be inside a greenhouse, at a park, in a gazebo, or at a botanical garden. Backyard weddings aren't out of place, either. Butterflies, flowers, and greenery are front and center with this theme. You could even add vintage or Victorian elements, depending on your personal wedding style.
Beach Theme
A beach themed wedding is often dictated by the location: the beach of a lake, river, ocean, or sea. Starfish, sandcastles, and seashells are prominently displayed throughout the spaces. Lightweight netting and tulle with tropical centerpieces and flowers help bring the beach to an indoor reception at your destination beach wedding.
Seasonal Themes
Seasonal themes provide a cohesive aspect to the wedding without overwhelming it. Additionally, picking up seasonal wedding flowers and decorations helps lower the wedding budget because they're easy to find and frequently on sale. Simple wedding themes by season include:
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Winter wedding - A winter wonderland wedding theme may include snowflakes, snowmen, or even ice skating. Hot chocolate and comfort foods are key!
- Spring wedding - Birds, gardens, flowers like daisies, or even baseball can be incorporated into a spring wedding. Fresh pastels bring this theme together.
- Summer wedding - Summer weddings feature vibrant hues and frequently incorporate beach or even ocean themed ideas.
- Fall wedding - Autumn themes have a rich color scheme. The theme often includes fall leaves, harvest bounty, and pumpkins.
Holiday Themes
Couples who plan their weddings close to a major holiday may use the celebration as their wedding theme. Christmas themed weddings, Valentine themed weddings and Halloween weddings are all commonly used holiday themes. Weddings near the 4th of July may have a patriotic theme.
Historical and Vintage Themed Weddings
Perhaps you feel like you were born in the wrong era. If so, use your favorite historical period as your wedding theme. Nostalgic 1940s wedding dresses and delicious plated dinners with beef Wellington and mashed potatoes might be right up your alley. Vintage is really anything from about 50 to 100 years ago, so even the retro 1960s can give rise to a fantastic theme for your nuptials! Go even further back in time with a Colonial or Renaissance wedding that features traditions of old paired with modern flair.
Creative Wedding Themes
Go beyond the popular themes and come up with creative, almost whimsical, wedding themes that highlight your personality as a couple.
Great Gatsby Theme
Channel the roaring twenties and Daisy, Nick, Jay, and their entire crew for your wedding. Opulence is key here, with golds and blues taking center stage. Plan on feather accents for your decor, jazz music, and lots of cocktails to keep guests happy. Flapper attire will look great on everyone in the bridal party. Make your entrance and exit in a vintage car.
Woodland Forest Theme
Get back to nature with a woodland forest themed wedding that is almost organic. This theme is for people who love the great outdoors, camping, and adventures. Have it in an actual forest and hang lanterns, set up large pillar candles, hang lightweight fabrics, and position flower arrangements for the ceremony. If you move the reception to a cabin, wedding canopy or tent, or other indoor space, make sure you bring the woods inside with branches, leaves, and stumps throughout.
Romantic Pink Theme
Utilize a color scheme to set the mood and be your wedding theme. Red is often thought of as the color of love, but pink is a romantic alternative to the bold color, lending a sweet touch to your event. Pair pink with grey instead of black to keep the look soft. Teal, turquoise, baby blue, and sage are also good options that won't overpower the romantic theme. Add tulle and flowers throughout the wedding to create an ethereal effect. Your wedding lighting will also come into play; have pink spotlights and candles throughout to continue the theme.
Rock 'n' Roll Biker Theme
Skip the basic music theme featuring black and white notes. Instead, bring out your bad side with a rock 'n' roll biker themed wedding. Play ceremony music with an electric guitar, hire a live cover band, and make sure your attire has a little edge to it by skipping the tux in favor of leather jackets and jeans, selecting a street style gown, and wearing your best kicks down the aisle. Ride off on your motorcycle for an exit that won't be forgotten! It's sure to be a memorable and rocking good time for everyone.
Baseball Wedding Theme
Turn your love of the ballpark into your wedding theme. Plan a baseball wedding complete with white and red decorations, vows to love one another "till the game is done" and a reception in a box at the ballpark. If baseball isn't your game, incorporate whatever gets your shoes on the field, from soccer to football.
Plan Your Theme in Advance
Hosting a wedding with a theme is a big task that requires a little extra planning to bring it all together. Couples need to access their inner wedding planners or consider hiring a wedding planner to help bring a large-scale theme to life.
