A wedding is a joyful celebration of love where you’re surrounded by the people who have cherished and supported you and helped you reach this point in your lives together. Having a wedding that reflects these feelings is a beautiful and achievable goal.
Even the simplest micro wedding requires thoughtful planning if you want it to be perfect. There are so many factors and details in planning a wedding that it can be stressful. One of the best ways to limit that stress is to set a theme. A clear theme will give you established parameters to work within so that when a decision needs to be made, you or your wedding planner have a guide for how to answer it. A theme can be as simple or as complex as you’d like it to be. Renaissance Midnight Masquerade in Venice is a great theme – but so are backyard barbecues or sunflowers.
Here are our suggestions for some of the best theme ideas for your wedding. They all have variations that can be customized to your and your partner’s tastes.
Casino
A casino theme is one of the most fun wedding themes you can choose because it’s all about dressing up and playing games. The casino theme has two main variations: Las Vegas or Monte Carlo. While both are renowned casino cities, their vibes are very different.
A Las Vegas wedding is already a thing – eloping to Vegas and getting married in a tiny chapel is iconic. You don’t even have to have your wedding officiated by an Elvis impersonator to get the Vegas feel. There are many other ways to give your day the sparkle and flair of the Strip.
Another cute idea for a Vegas-themed wedding is to have tablets with various online casino games from a site available during your drinks hour before the reception. Being able to wander from game to game is a great way for guests to mingle and break the ice a bit. Monte Carlo has an air of old-world glamour and elegance that Vegas lacks. A Monte Carlo casino wedding can still have the casino games, but the focus should be on capturing the glamour rather than the glitz.
Monochromatic
A theme doesn’t have to be based on a place or activity. A theme can be any unifying item or idea around which your design can be based. Monochromatic is a great theme that is very simple. Because it is so simple, it can be adapted to suit any taste. Monochromatic black or white can easily be made to look ultramodern. We often think of modern monochromatic in relation to home design because it has become a popular trend in recent years. However, it can also be used to great effect in wedding decor.
Paired with a minimalist aesthetic, either or both of these base neutrals can create a striking effect. Similarly, black or white can be your base colours, with another tone providing dramatic contrasts. Red is an obvious choice, but a deep purple or cobalt blue would also bring the drama. On the other hand, monochromatic themes can also be very delicate and romantic. This doesn’t mean that you should make everything pink – you can easily have too much of a good thing. Using a pastel green or lilac as your primary colour, with everything else in warm beiges or champagne, would be beautiful.
This blue-themed wedding shoot provides an ethereal example of how to have a monochromatic theme without going overboard. Blue is the dominant colour yet it doesn’t dominate. The various blues used work well together, especially with the highlights of white, pink and gold keeping everything balanced.
Tea Party
There is something quite joyful about a tea party and if you’re not planning an evening reception, it can make a lovely theme for a brunch or lunch wedding. While you can insist on a black tie tea party, this theme does lend itself to a more casual dress code.
A classic Victorian-inspired tea party is the most obvious variation of this theme and is one of the prettiest possibilities. The mismatched china trend that has helped to rescue so many abandoned china sets from being thrown away or destroyed is perfect for this theme. With teapots and cake stands on each table, there is also less need for elaborate centerpieces. If you and your partner are real tea connoisseurs, presenting guests with teas from your favourite tea merchants as their gift is a lovely personal touch.
Woodland
A woodland-themed wedding can give your event an aura of tranquility. It doesn’t have to be any more rustic than you and your guests are comfortable with. The main elements to include are natural materials, diffused lighting and a color palette that avoids anything too bright.
One of the loveliest elements you can incorporate is a water feature, such as a small fountain or basins, rather than tall vases for floral centerpieces. The sound of running water is a subtle nod to the woodland and brings a sense of joyous calm that can keep your guests at ease.
Bouquets that foreground greenery has grown in popularity and are ideal for this theme. Wildflowers, fern fronds, and even thistles can be added to the bouquet to incorporate the theme. Consider also forgoing the classic veil and tiara and substituting a floral crown instead.
Local
The move towards buying local has been spreading over the last decade. Having a locally-themed wedding doesn’t mean it needs to be touristy or over the top. It’s more about having a sustainable and eco-conscious approach to your planning. Whether you’re getting married locally to where you live or are having a destination wedding, basing it around local foods, flowers and decor is a great way to support independent small businesses and to introduce your guests to the area. Using native flowers in your bouquet is a beautiful, sustainable way to celebrate your wedding location. If you live in British Columbia, Pacific Bleeding Hearts, with their delicate rows of pink heart-shaped blooms, are a perfect choice.
Modern farmhouse
The modern farmhouse wedding theme is all about combining simple elements into an aesthetic of relaxed charm. Seating your guests at long farm tables rather than small round tables encourages conversation and the feeling of being at home with family. Wrought iron details are one of the farmhouse touches that don’t feel overly rustic. Wrought iron wreath frames partially wrapped in flowers and ivy or used to hang fairy lights or tulle canopies make for lovely additions to the decor.
