Get Into the Theme of Things
Sandra Mardenfield
Imagine having a fairytale wedding—literally. A horse-drawn carriage carries you and your prince to a magical ball where the glittering candelabra seems to stretch to the ceiling. Sounds fanciful? It could be a reality if you choose to incorporate a theme into your wedding—a popular trend these days that injects an original flair through that special day.
Finding a Theme
You want your theme to reflect your personality, so before choosing one consider what appeals to you. Singer Toni Braxton loved Tiffany & Co. so much, she threaded it throughout her wedding—using the company’s colors in the decor and serving a cake that looked like the famous blue gift boxes stacked high. Make sure you merge your two backgrounds with whatever theme you choose though. Some grooms might not want to play Prince Charming to your Snow White, just as you may not exactly embrace an all-sports theme. Don’t worry that a theme complicates things; it actually makes your wedding and reception easier to plan since you already know specific needs such as colors and dress styles. You’ll want to weave your concept throughout the ceremony and reception. This means choosing clothing, flowers, decorations, music, food, and, even, favors based on your overriding premise. Location is important, too, since it provides the backdrop for all the festivities. When actress Lela Rochon wed director Antoine Fuqua, they opted for an Old Hollywood Glamour theme, choosing to marry in an early 1900s gothic cathedral with a reception at the famous Biltmore Hotel, which featured beautiful hand-painted ceilings. Even your invitations can reflect your theme. For a fairytale wedding, for instance, find Cinderella and her Prince invites. For a Renaissance-themed event, use parchment scrolls with calligraphy. The options are as limitless as your imagination.
Some Suggestions
Cultural Themes
Do you have strong ethnic ties? Why not opt for a cultural theme, wearing wedding attire from your origin country. Be sure to include appropriate foods, music, and favors. Take the colors from your country’s flag, and use them in your decorations—you can even add miniature flags to floral arrangements for an extra patriotic touch. For bilingual couples, doing the ceremony in the language of the culture is also an option.
You can adopt a culture for the day as well. Go Latin and salsa the night away, serving dishes such as paella or tamales. You can even hire professional dancers that show your guests how to swerve their hips like Ricky Martin.
Snowball
Who says that white is only for the bride? With a snowball wedding, everyone wears white—the bridesmaids, the flower girl, even the mother of the bride and groom, sometimes. The trick here is to make sure the whites don’t clash and that you use vibrant bouquets to add a splash of color for contrast.
Formal
Strictly a black and white affair—with men in tuxes and all the attendants in pretty black gowns with white trim, the formal wedding takes everything to the nines. We’re talking serious glamour here—vintage Cadillac, an orchestra garbed in fancy dress, and soft candlelight. With so much black and white, you’ll want to add a dash of color or everything will look flat rather than festive, says Diane Warner in her book, The Best Wedding Ever (Career Press). So use loads of ribbons, flowers, and lacy tablecloths—just keep it classy.
Holiday
Christmas
With decorated trees, holly, poinsettias, strands of multi-colored lights, and flickering candles, a holiday theme adds vibrancy to an already happy occasion—‘tis the season to be jolly, after all. With a red or green velvet cape draped over your ivory dress and poinsettias in your bouquet or hair, you’ll reflect the spirit of the season as you leave your reception by horse-drawn carriage or sleigh. A big plus—most reception halls have holiday decorations and can string strands of garland and ghts around the room. Who knows? Maybe the caterer can even serve up a traditional holiday meal. Your florist can fill baskets with pinecones and evergreen or place poinsettias on the tables for the centerpieces, and favors can be lovely wrapped presents or stockings filled with candy or a little gift.
Valentine’s Day
What could be more romantic than Valentine’s Day for a wedding? Just imagine pale pink invitations with cascades of hearts and flowers and a red and white themed reception decked with hearts, cupids, and dozens of candles. Your florist can design romantic bouquets and center pieces of red and pink roses tied with matching velvet ribbon. With red-clad bridesmaids (have the ushers wear matching ties), perhaps a red velvet wedding cake and music that encourages cheek-to-cheek waltzing. What could be more perfect?
Time Period
Victorian
Ah, the Victorian age inspires nothing but romance with its yards of lace and trailing ribbons, bustled gowns, and high-button shoes. With this theme, your florist can truly have fun, creating an era-appropriate bouquet, using sprays of peonies, roses, and hydrangeas tied together with strings of black velvet and filling ribbon-strung baskets with rose petals for centerpieces. With this theme, flowers and lace should be everywhere—on the tables, in baskets by the sign-in book, and tied to the pews. Consider holding a high tea rather than a cocktail hour or reception dinner with silver settings, floral china, and lace tablecloths.
Renaissance
Think medieval castles, renaissance fairs, valiant knights in shining armor and you get the gist of this theme. Here, location is everything. Find a historic Tudor home, stone building or manor house—ask your historical society or library for help. The age-appropriate architecture gives ambience and sets the tone for this wedding. Your clothes should feature rich embroidery with tight bodices and full skirts, with lace vests for the men. The fare can consist of mutton, venison, fowl, or other type of game. Mead is the drink of choice or mulled wine. For more authentic Medieval/Renaissance traits, contact, the Society for Creative Anachronism, a group that holds medieval and renaissance fairs throughout the USA (http://www.sca.org/).
20’s or 50’s
In fact, you can pick any time period, and adapt that era for your party. A roaring 20’s wedding might feature the Charleston and strings of pearls. The 30’s and 40’s might inspire you to buy clothes that are retro—maybe a long white dress with a princess neckline and a Tuxedo with tails for your very own Fred Astaire. For the 50’s, create a hop feel with Chuck Berry music and swirling skirts. Research your era by looking at old magazines and newspapers to find out what they were wearing, eating, and listening to.
Garden
You don’t have to get married in the spring for a garden wedding. Bring the sunshine indoors with white benches, trellises, and fencing for decoration; placing potted plants with blooming flowers—real or silk—around the room. Use gingham or flowered tablecloths and serve lemonade with strawberry shortcake for dessert. Favors such as bulbs or burlap-covered trees allow the guests to bring your theme home.
Our Romance
Take your guests on a journey of your love affair. Dot the tables with photographs from the different stages of your romance. Write down your story or vows and leave it by the sign-in book for your guests to read.
Beach
Who can resist fun in the sun? A beach wedding, whether close to home or on some Caribbean Isle, offers a back-to-nature feel with a sun-kissed backdrop. Depending on your desires, anything from a simple sundress for you and a linen suit for him to swimsuits can serve as your wedding garb. Seashells, tropical colors, even a mariachi band will set the scene. Remember to give guests useful favors, such as beach bags filled with sunscreen, hats, or flip-flops.