Everyone wants their wedding details to feel personalized to them but a lot of couples struggle with where to begin.
I always start by getting to the core of what is authentic about my couples. This could be common interests, unique life moments, or it could be the thing that their friends would say is “so them”. Once you have this established you want to tailor it to the venue and the amount of “formalness” you want out of your event. Do you want your event to feel casual and low key, formal and high end, or incorporate any parts of your cultural or ethnicity? Will your celebration be on a mountain top or in ballroom or on a boat? Themes should always fit the space and bring out the elements of the venue and the scenery that you want to highlight. And once you have your theme start to branch off of it with the individual pieces of your event, such as the linens, stationery, favors, cocktails, appetizers, lighting, etc.
How many of your wedding details need to tie in with your theme, and how much is too much? I like to pick a few key components and focus on those, then make the rest of the design choices to compliment but not necessarily match. This could be deciding on a color scheme for the linens and the uplighting and then making sure the stationery coordinates, or in bringing a literal element like my couple’s love for travel into the guest book, table names, and a photo display but not taking it any further than there. Little nods here and there are all you need to properly personalize your wedding and showcase the best pieces of the two of you as a couple.
Here are some examples of themes from some our past weddings –
Boho Chic: Cotton wedding dress, natural hair and makeup, floral bridesmaids dresses, crystals, loose floral arrangements, and farm tables
Classic/Preppy/High End: Upscale resort, black tuxedos, bowties, linen napkins, vintage chandeliers, specialty linens, and late night fireworks
Winter Wonderland: Fuzzy boots, fur coat, long lace sleeves, evergreen and berries, hot chocolate station, and vintage skis as guest book
Summer Camp With Glam: Cabins, camp sweatshirts, mess hall, team sports, sequins, and sandy beach
Adirondack Mountain Theme: Chairlift ride to ceremony, birch bark, plaid, driftwood, and ADK chair cake toppers
Some fun themes that we are in the midst of planning –
Carnival Theme – Welcome event – food trucks, lawn games, a balloon artist for the kids, and multiple bounce houses for kids of all ages. Wedding day – a rainbow of brightly colored flowers in the centerpieces, signature drinks named after the bride and groom’s favorite amusement park rides, and a popcorn station at the end of the night.
Summer Solstice/Starry Night – Welcome event – Local astronomy guide and telescopes, luminary bags with star cut outs lining the property’s paths. Wedding day – Star projector illuminating the reception ceiling, celestially named table ‘numbers’, deep blue color stationery, fairy lights in jars and hidden in the centerpieces.
East vs. West – Wedding day – a craft beer tasting comparing East Coast and West Coast IPAs, separate stations highlighting east coast foods (Maine lobster) and Pacific Northwest foods (salmon), and a late night after party where guests will get to sing karaoke to Seattle grunge and NYC punk bands.
The Great Outdoors – Guest check in – Nalgene water bottles filled with maps, info sheets, and snacks given as ‘welcome bags’. Welcome day – Guided hiking trips, campfire with s’mores. Wedding day – Table numbers named after the Adirondack High Peaks, custom stationery with a watercolor of the ADK Mountains, “party animal” moose place card holders, plaid socks for the groom and groomsmen, breakfast buffet with pancakes and maple syrup as a late night food station.
Music Festival Theme – This might be my personal favorite (if you didn’t already know, I hit as many summer festivals as I can, in between wedding weekends of course)! Invitations – custom invitations that look like a band lineup poster. Guest check in – festival wristbands issued in welcome bags, glamping available, guests encouraged to bring their musical instruments. Wedding day – vinyl records a charger plates on their tables, specialty lighting of the reception band on an elevated stage, and a VW photo booth bus. It will be a rocking weekend!
Need help creating your theme and pulling the right elements together to pull the whole thing off? Our planning packages include our help with this, and much more. If you are interested in learning how we can work together feel free to contact us for a complimentary consultation.
Related posts –
Tips For A Stress Free Wedding Day
What Does A Four Day Wedding Look Like?
Photos above by Ali Kaukas, Laura Harris Photography, Elario Photography, Matt Ramos Photography, Jack Loves Mary Photography, and YTK Photography
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