Choosing a theme is the first and arguably one of the most crucial parts of your wedding planning, but it can be difficult to know where to start. No need to panic though, as we’ve put together this useful guide to help you choose a theme that reflects you and your partner and will wow your guests.
Do I Really Need a Theme?
A better way of thinking of a wedding theme is to think more about a stated style. Not many weddings have a distinctive theme (such as ‘nautical’ or ‘Disney princess’) after all, but most will nonetheless have a distinctive look and feel. You don’t need to do anything gimmicky on your big day (unless you want to, of course) but it is important to at least choose a colour palette, mood or some influences you’d like to include.
This will make planning the wedding easier, as all the key elements and smaller details – decorations, flowers, invitations – will be based on the theme.
At this very early stage, you need to have an idea of what your dream wedding will look like. Once you can envisage it, you can start to make the choices that bring your vision to life.
The Season Can be a Great Starting Point
When choosing your theme, a crucial consideration is the time of year. If you’ll be getting married in December, a winter wedding is an ideal theme. However, if you’re keen to include certain colours, flowers or food in your wedding, make sure it fits with your choses seasonal theme. For example, pastels and spring colours don’t work quite so well when it’s cold, grey and rainy outside, whereas rich, dramatic tones are perfect for moody winter weather.
Source: https://www.maxpixel.net/Bouquet-Flowers-Celebration-Spring-Wedding-Bouquet-267743
Create a Mood Board
It can sometimes be difficult to visualise your dream wedding. There’s just so much choice, and it can be a little overwhelming. An ideal way to narrow down your options and get to the heart of what you really want is to create a mood board.
Grab your partner and make some dedicated time to work out what you both like and don’t like. You can use whatever inspiration you like, whether it’s wedding magazines, Pinterest boards or even non-wedding-related things. Start with colours, deciding what you love and what you definitely don’t want. You can pick out your favourite flowers, fabrics, foods and drinks. While making your mood board, it’s just as important to eliminate things you don’t want as it is to line up your favourite things.
Personalising Your Big Day
If you’d like to make your wedding more unique to you and your partner, it’s time to delve a little deeper. Sit down together to answer the following questions:
- What is your décor like at home? What kind of colours have you chosen for your walls and soft furnishings, and what artwork do you have on the walls?
- What fashion sense do you each have? Do you both tend to prefer a casual look, and if so – would you like to push the boat out with a more formal, glamorous wedding?
- What are your favourite things? (for example, film, art, food, travel etc.)
- How and where did you meet?
- Is there a particular place you love to go on holiday, or a place you associate with a romantic moment in your history as a couple?
- Is there anything that particularly defines your relationship, such as a shared love of something?
- Would you like to celebrate your family’s cultural heritage?
The answers to these questions can help to steer you towards a wedding theme, or at least the bare bones of one. At the very least, you’ll better understand the kind of wedding you both want (or don’t want). You may discover that you and your partner both want to include elements representing a shared love of a place, such as the location of your first holiday together or the spot you first set eyes on each other.
Think About the Venue
Your wedding and reception venues will have a big impact on the kind of wedding you have, so it’s important to factor this in when choosing your theme. The venue needs to work with, rather than against, your theme. A grand, high-ceilinged space will work well with a glamorous, rather lavish celebration, whereas it wouldn’t be such a good fit for something high-concept or particularly themed.
If you’re stuck for inspiration for your theme and you have the venue already booked, take a closer look at it. Pay particular attention to its ambience and the features the space offers, as these can steer you towards a theme that will suit.
Theme Ideas
There are lots of ways to express yourselves and have a wedding that suits you. Here are just a few from us to get you thinking:
- Garden party. If you’re both laid-back and don’t want the fuss of a grand or formal wedding, you can keep it simple and have a party in the garden. If the weather’s nice, it could be a glorious day. If it’s not, simply pop up some marquees and enjoy the rain.
- Wedding in the woods. Do you both love nature? A simple ceremony and party in the woods could be incredibly romantic, but make sure you prepare for the weather.
- Vintage. If you love the style of a particular period, you can incorporate elements of it into your wedding. For example, you can choose a vintage wedding dress, table decorations inspired by the period and theme your invitations.
- Ballroom. If you’ve always dreamed of a lavish black-tie wedding and you have the budget, why not hire a glamorous ballroom for the reception and have a strict dress code?
- DIY. A wedding where you, your partner, friends and family all chip in to make the cake, decorations and other elements can be really charming. It can make the occasion even more special when you’re working alongside loved ones to pull together an amazing party.
Source: https://www.pexels.com
If You’re Stuck, Keep it Simple
There’s no law that says you have to pick a particular wedding theme, or that it has to be complicated. You don’t need to tell the whole story of your relationship in the décor you choose, nor does your wedding have to be formal. It’s your celebration, so it’s up to you how you approach the planning. The best way to choose a theme is to keep it simple and be true to yourself, not forgetting to listen to each other during the planning process.
Once you’ve selected a style for your wedding, why not check out our mother of the bride/groom dresses and full range of accessories here at Compton House of Fashion.