8 amazing wedding themes for inspiration
What is a wedding theme? This is an idea or concept that flows throughout the whole wedding. This creates uniformity in decor, so that it doesn’t cause decoration clashes.
Wedding themes are worth discussing and deciding with your partner which theme works with you both before looking for inspiration. This could be your favourite movie that brings you both together, or your cultural background, or even the place that you both have travelled together, or even got engaged at!
Below are 4 common wedding themes with tips, with 4 bonus wedding themes afterwards that are movie-related to make your wedding more unique!
Beach theme
This is a perfect theme as a destination or summer wedding, or beach-lovers.
Different pastel colour palettes can be used, such as coral or peach, light green, sky blue, lavender.
Light-weight and flowy long dress would be perfect for the bride, so she doesn’t feel weighed down while walking on the sand.
Ceremony decor can be completed with a wedding arch with flowers (of the chosen colour palette) and drapes loosely wrapping around the arch.
Have embellishments throughout the ceremony and reception (especially tables), such as starfishes, coral, sand and shells.
Night-time beach reception can have fairy or festoon lights hanging over the guests, with candles at the centre of the tables with further embellishments.
Have wedding rings in a seashell instead of a ring bearer box.
Southern Weddings
Just Fab
Hand Painted Weddings
2. Winter Wonderland theme
To create a snowy-fairytale feel, consider a colour palette of white, silver and blue.
The wedding ceremony could ideally have white or clear chairs with white tree branches along the sides of the aisle, accompanied with candles (of different sizes) and florals on the ground, and hanging crystals from the branches. The room light of the function space should be switched off, and to have fairy lights either hanging from the ceiling or around the white tree branches.
Continue the concept of either having a small white tree branch or small cluster of candles as a table centrepiece for the reception, completed with either faux feather or small crystals.
Have clear, silver and white cutlery.
Have indirect blue lighting in the background at reception.
Have a smoke system for the bride and groom having their first wedding dance.
Elegant Wedding Invites
Shawna Yamamoto
Design Mill Co
Elegant Wedding Invites
3. Garden theme
There can be a wedding arch with loose drapes and flowers, or an large isolated tree as the backdrop.
The entrance of the ceremony can have opened doors, surrounded by foliage, flowers and lanterns of different sizes.
Have a small bunch of flowers or foliage on the chairs next to the aisle, with loose petals on the aisle (if permitted).
Integrate a lot of foliage and flowers throughout the reception including table runners.
Have fairy lights across trees, so that it hangs over the dancefloor as the guests are dancing.
Have giant lawn games to entertain the guests.
Elegant Wedding Invites
Ruffled
Mod Wedding
4. Rustic theme
This theme has a strong country, garden or farm-like feel, making this theme the best portrayed in vineyards, barns, and farms.
To create an earthy, relaxed and natural vibe, use seasonal fruits, wood, wildflower, foliage, lanterns and barrels throughout the ceremony and reception with a colour palette of blush, sage green and crimson.
Have a bar decorated with wood crates, barrel with greenery garland.
A live band would be great entertainment at reception.
Elegant Wedding Invites
Elegant Wedding Invites
Elegant Wedding Invites
And below are ideas for 4 movie-related wedding themes!
Alice in Wonderland
This theme is best taken place as a garden wedding, with an Alice in Wonderland twist. This can have cutouts of cards, golden keys, clocks, pocket watches and real-life red roses incorporated in green bushes.
The ceremony aisle can either have book pages glued together, or have a paper runner of a quote or a musical score from “Alice in Wonderland”. Have large sized chess pieces as props at the ceremony entrance and part of the backdrop.
Have the flower girl wear Alice’s dress and toss out loose red petals.
The bride can have hints of blue, whether it be part of her dress or on her hair (if she does not want to wear Alice’s dress). The groom can wear Alice in Wonderland themed cufflinks as part of his suit, and also a top hat.
The centrepieces can have vintage books piled on top of each other, with vintage teapots, tea cups, saucers, along with red rose petals.
Use playing cards as table numbers with keys as wedding favours.
Use teapots for flowers (instead of vases) and vintage cutlery.
Have black and white checkered board (like a chess board) as a dancefloor, along with giant lawn games including croquet.
Decorate the walls with mirrors with antique bold frames.
Chloe Lee Photography
Chloe Lee Photography
Alice in Wonderland Net
Sam and Bee Event Design
2. Great Gatsby
This theme is defined by art-deco patterns, diamonds, feathers, and metallic accents with 1920’s feel.
A great venue for this theme would be a glamorous ballroom, with a champagne tower.
The bride can have a beaded cape, V-neck fit and flare bridal dress, with a birdcage veil and fine embellishments. The groom can have a lightweight tweed suit (for summer) or velvety suit (for winter). Bridesmaids can wear a metallic colour slim-fit dress.
Have gold art deco chairs in ceremony and reception.
The reception decor can have lots of gold detail, including lush towering centrepieces (such as large tree branches), gold cutlery, along with vintage velvet couches.
Live entertainment including performers and live jazz bands are a must!
Top the wedding night with sparklers and fireworks.
The bridal party can travel in antique vintage cars throughout the day.
Emily Wren Photography
Terri Baskin Photography
Inspire Me Imagery
3. Game of Thrones
Have a natural woodland setting as the ceremony location, otherwise decorate the ceremony space with aged logs, moss, lush florals and tall candles.
The bride can have a crystal wedding tiara and faux fur wrap over her wedding dress. The groom can wear the cloak.
Incorporate “moon of my life”, “my suns and stars” and “I am yours and you are mine” quotes into decor, such as the bride and groom’s reception seats, and even in wedding vows.
Have greenery in centrepieces, along with lannister red and/or baratheon yellow to pop out some colour. Another centrepiece option could be a small Weirwood tree, with white branches and red leaves.
An alternative to a photobooth could be a replica of the Iron Throne, surrounded by fur cloaks, swords, and other props for guests to take photos at the throne.
Have medieval-style goblets or wine glasses instead of traditional wine glasses at reception.
Christy Cassano
Elisa Watkins, Design by Purple Events and Whimsy Design
Mollie Tobias Photography
4. Harry Potter
If the wedding occurs during the winter, the bride and groom can each wear the Hogwarts cape with their favoured Hogwarts house logo.
Have a Deathly Hallows-inspired ceremony arch, decorated with flowers and foliage.
Have a venue similar to the Great Hall in Hogwarts if you would like an indoor reception. Look out for arches, wooden details and candles. If it is an outdoor reception, have either hanging festoon, fairy lights or hanging (artificially flickering) candles over the guests’ tables; otherwise you can have tall flickering candles as part of the floral table runner across each guest table.
Have 4 long rectangular tables and the bridal table at the front of the reception. Name the tables by different houses in Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Ravenslaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin.
If pets are involved in the wedding, they can also wear a collar with a Hogwarts tie.
Guests can have wedding favours in the form of chocolate frogs in their 3D hexagonal packaging.
Have sparklers as the wedding couple exit the reception, where the guests hold the sparklers up like wands.
Serena Star Photography
Ashlyn Savannah Photography
Lara Rios Fine Art Photography
Ashlyn Savannah Photography