Wedding Theme Conundrum: Finding Your Unique Style

Choosing a wedding theme can be a daunting task, but it's important to remember that the theme should reflect the couple's personal style and preferences or elements of their relationship. If you're struggling to pick a theme, there are several questions you can ask yourself to help guide your decision. Consider your interior design preferences, the way you met your partner, your family heritage, the season of your wedding, your fashion aesthetic, your favourite food and colours, and the atmosphere you want to create. You can also think about how you want to remember your wedding and what your dream venue would be. Another approach is to first decide on a colour scheme and plan everything around that. Ultimately, the best wedding theme inspiration comes from your relationship, so pick a theme that feels authentic to who you are as a couple.

Reflect on your relationship: Think about how you met, shared interests, and important memories

Reflecting on your relationship is a great way to choose a wedding theme that represents you as a couple. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Think about the circumstances that brought you together. Did you meet at a concert, a sports game, or through a shared hobby? You could incorporate these elements into your wedding theme. For example, if you met at a music festival, you could have a festival-themed wedding with floral crowns and live music. Or, if you bonded over your love of a particular sport, incorporate sports-themed details into your decor or favours.

Consider your shared hobbies and passions. Do you both love the beach? A beach or nautical theme could be perfect, with seashells, driftwood, and breezy linens. Are you both avid readers? Choose a literary-inspired theme, with stacks of books, parchment paper, and antique quills as decor. If you're both foodies, you might want to focus on creating a unique menu with creative dishes or a food station-themed reception.

Your wedding is a celebration of your relationship, so incorporating meaningful moments can make your theme even more special. Did you get engaged during a vacation? You could draw inspiration from that location, whether it's a tropical destination, a cozy cabin in the woods, or a bustling city. Perhaps there's a place that's significant to both of you, like the city where you first met or your favourite vacation spot. You could incorporate elements of that location, such as the local flowers, architecture, or cuisine, into your wedding theme.

Remember, your wedding theme should represent your personalities and style as a couple. By reflecting on your relationship, you can create a theme that is not only unique but also filled with meaningful details that you and your guests will cherish.

Consider the season: The time of year can help determine the colour scheme, food, and venue

Choosing a wedding theme can be a daunting task, but considering the season of your wedding is a great way to narrow down your options and make decisions about the colour scheme, food, and venue.

Colour Scheme

The time of year can greatly influence the colour palette you choose for your wedding. For example, a spring wedding lends itself to a palette of purple, peach, green, and pink in varying tones and textures. Summer weddings often feature vibrant colours like magenta, berry, and tangerine, while autumn weddings are perfect for warmer colours like mauve, tan, navy, maroon, and cream. If you're having a winter wedding, consider a cool purple hue like heather purple with grey accents for a winter-ready alternative to a spring garden aesthetic.

Food

Seasonal ingredients can play a significant role in your wedding menu. For a spring wedding, consider a lighter, fresh menu with roast baby lamb or fresh fish, grilled asparagus, mixed leaf salad, and baby new potatoes. Summer menus often feature colourful canapes like chilled gazpacho shots, smoked salmon blinis, and mozzarella basil skewers. Autumn menus can include roasted pumpkin soup, goat's cheese and root vegetable tartlets, roasted chicken or rabbit with mushroom sauce, and a selection of cheeses served with figs and fresh apples. For a winter wedding, opt for comforting dishes like coq au vin or beef bourguignon, served with creamy mashed potatoes or roasted root vegetables.

Venue

The season will also influence your choice of venue, especially if you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors. Summer weddings are ideal for outdoor celebrations, making use of beautiful weather. Consider venues with gardens, vineyards, or beachfronts. For autumn weddings, look for venues that showcase the colourful autumn leaves and provide a cosy atmosphere. Winter weddings are magical when the night sets in, so choose a venue with a charming indoor space, perhaps with a fireplace or fairy lights. If you're having a spring wedding, opt for a venue with blooming flowers and lush parks nearby for those picture-perfect moments.

Be inspired by nature: Bring the outdoors in with a forest, garden, or botanical theme

If you're looking for wedding inspiration, why not bring the beauty of nature to your big day? Whether you opt for a forest, garden, or botanical theme, here are some ideas to help you plan your dream wedding.

Forest Wedding Ideas:

• Take advantage of the natural scenery by having a photoshoot among the towering trees and mossy floors.
• Set up long dinner tables within the trees, with string lights hanging from the canopy above for a magical atmosphere.
• Choose a venue with an outdoor chapel or exchange your vows in a clearing surrounded by tall pines.
• Create a unique altar using trees, greenery, and flowers, or suspend a chandelier from a tree for a whimsical touch.
• Decorate your aisle and altar with an abundance of taper candles and rose petals for a romantic and elegant look.
• Incorporate wooden elements such as wooden folding chairs, rustic farm tables, or bark escort cards to pay tribute to the forest setting.

Garden Wedding Ideas:

• Opt for a garden venue, whether it's your own garden, a friend's garden, or a hired garden-based location, to immerse yourself and your guests in nature.
• Make use of natural backdrops such as ceremony arches and flower-filled backdrops for a whimsical and romantic setting.
• Guide your guests with creative DIY projects, such as signage directing them to different events and a creative seating chart display.
• Set up various drink stations to keep your guests refreshed, offering a variety of beverages like lemonade, tea, fruit-infused water, and custom-labelled mini water bottles.
• Opt for a casual and relaxed cake design, with fresh flowers placed elegantly on a blush and grey garden-themed cake.

Botanical Wedding Ideas:

• Embrace a colour palette inspired by nature, such as neutral tones of black, white, and brown, or bolder hues of emerald green and chocolate brown.
• Incorporate natural elements like fresh flowers, animals, trees, and other botanical components into your decor.
• Source locally for your wedding, from farm-to-table menus to ethically sourced flowers, to embrace the natural theme fully.
• Create unique centrepieces using moss, combined with colourful floral arrangements, or on its own for a simple yet elegant touch.
• Adorn your seating chart with foliage, such as a wire display decorated with eucalyptus and blush roses, to blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings.

Look to your heritage: Research and incorporate cultural traditions and aesthetics

If you're struggling to pick a wedding theme, why not look to your heritage for inspiration? Researching and incorporating cultural traditions and aesthetics into your wedding is a great way to honour your roots and add a personal touch to your special day. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Paper Elements

Incorporate your culture or heritage into your wedding paper elements, such as save-the-dates, invitations, and programs. Use emblems or symbolic colour choices that are meaningful to you. If you're including cultural traditions or rituals in your ceremony, you can also provide explanations of their significance in your programs, which will be especially helpful for guests from other cultures.

Fashion

Express your culture through your wedding attire and accessories. For example, a Hindu bride might wear a sari, while an Asian bride might change into a red gown – the traditional colour for an Asian wedding – for her reception. You could also fuse cultural traditions, like an Indian bride who married a Nigerian groom and incorporated a coral mangalsutra, a necklace that signifies marriage in both cultures.

Food and Drink

It's common to make an edible (or drinkable) reference to your culture during the reception. You could have a signature cocktail, select hors d'oeuvres, or a dinner option that pays homage to your native country or culture.

Decor and Music

Incorporate colours, patterns, and symbols that are popular within your culture into your tablescapes and other decor. For example, at Dutch weddings, there is often a tree branch near the couple's table instead of a guest book, with paper leaves for guests to write their wishes on. Music choices can also pay homage to your heritage, whether it's for your first dance or a special dance with a parent.

Choose a venue: The location can inspire the colour scheme, food, and overall vibe

Choosing a wedding venue can be a daunting task, but it's important to remember that it will significantly influence your theme, colour scheme, and overall vibe. The location you select will impact everything from the food you serve to the decor and entertainment. Here are some tips to help you choose a venue that inspires your wedding colour scheme, food choices, and overall vibe:

• Consider the location's natural features: The surroundings of your venue can complement your colour palette and theme. For example, a beach wedding might feature soft blues and sandy neutrals, while a mountain wedding could showcase earthy tones and rustic elements.
• Think about the season: The time of year you plan to get married can influence your colour scheme and menu options. A summer wedding might call for bright colours and light, seasonal dishes, while a winter wedding could evoke richer hues and heartier fare.
• Reflect your relationship: Think about what defines you as a couple. Do you share a love for adventure, vintage glamour, or eclectic artistry? Let these elements guide your venue choice and overall theme.
• Incorporate local flair: Don't be afraid to add unexpected touches that reflect the location. For example, themed cocktails inspired by the region or entertainment that showcases local talent can make your wedding unique and memorable.
• Draw inspiration from the venue's atmosphere: Whether you choose a chic rooftop terrace, a rustic barn, or a modern art gallery, the venue's atmosphere will influence your colour scheme and decor choices. A rustic barn, for instance, might inspire a colour palette of soft neutrals and natural elements, while a modern art gallery could prompt a minimalist aesthetic with bold accents.
• Prioritize your budget: When selecting a venue, consider your budget and where you want to allocate your funds. If you plan to invest in a luxurious venue, you might opt for a more simplified colour scheme and decor. On the other hand, a rustic or minimalist venue could be a blank canvas for a more elaborate theme and decorative elements.

Remember, your wedding venue is a crucial aspect of your special day, and it will significantly influence the overall vibe and atmosphere. Choose a location that not only aligns with your vision but also reflects who you are as a couple.

Frequently asked questions