After you get engaged, you’re immersed in a whirlwind of excitement for the wedding and marriage to come. When the elation wears off, and you sit down to plan the wedding, you may feel overwhelmed with the number of details you need to consider. From flowers to decor to food, you have lots of items to consider and endless options for each one.
To save yourself the stress and streamline your planning, consider establishing a wedding theme. A theme doesn’t restrict you to a certain topic or focal point — it simply groups your vision into a specific category. You can use this category to help make decisions, define your wedding goals and give each detail a personal touch.
Do I Need a Theme for My Wedding?
Wedding themes aren’t required, but they’re extremely helpful. When you dive into venues, invitations, centerpieces and more, there are infinite options. Your theme can help you narrow down options, make a choice you love and give your day a cohesive look.
There are many ways to incorporate your theme into your planning, including:
- Dress style: Your dress selection should be an outflow of the style you love, and so should your theme. Naturally, your dress and theme are intertwined. If you favor a sleek, minimalist dress style, you may want to consider a modern theme. If voluminous ball gowns catch your eye, consider a romantic theme. Pay attention to the fabrics, styles and silhouettes you love in order to showcase your theme.
- Decorations: Decorations are one of the most prominent ways to convey your theme. From your centerpiece designs to your floral arrangements, decor offers unique ties to your colors and motif. For example, you may incorporate wooden log pieces for a rustic theme or shells for a beach theme.
- Colors: Wedding colors are important for many of the decisions you make during the planning stage. The theme you choose may help you narrow down the perfect color palette. For example, a classic wedding theme would incorporate clean white, whereas a vintage theme may work better with soft ivory or cream.
- Music: Whether for the ceremony or reception, music plays a big role in your wedding. Your theme can help you pick appropriate pieces for the day. A classic theme may feature traditional wedding songs like Pachelbel’s “Canon in D,” whereas a rustic theme may use modern country songs.
- Food: If you have a preference between a formal or informal meal, you can tailor your theme to match. A rustic theme works well with a casual comfort food menu, and a modern theme could incorporate a multiple-course meal.
- Venue: There are many kinds of wedding venues, and each space has a different feel. Your venue serves as the backdrop for a majority of your wedding photos, so picking a place that lines up with your theme can add that extra touch to your wedding albums. A modern theme may work perfectly in an elegant hotel, and a rustic theme may work well in a barn venue.
How to Pick a Wedding Theme
You want your theme to express your style, but you also need it to coordinate with other details. When you’re browsing theme ideas, consider the following questions:
- What do you like? Your wedding theme should make sense for your personality, personal style and preferences. If you love sunflowers, consider coordinating your flowers and color scheme around them. If your style and personality are sleek and simple, lean into them with a modern minimalist theme. Your wedding is a celebration of you and your partner, so don’t be afraid to personalize it to yourselves!
- What do you and your fiance enjoy together? If you and your fiance have special hobbies, passions or travels together, you may want to incorporate them into the theme. Think about the elements that make your relationship unique to find a theme that expresses your individuality.
- When are you getting married? If you desire, you can draw inspiration from the appropriate season for your wedding month. Whether you’re embracing spring, summer, fall or winter, you can incorporate elements from nature to craft a gorgeous theme. You should also consider whether your wedding month makes sense for certain themes. For example, a botanical garden theme in December may be difficult to achieve without a large budget.
- What is your budget? Your budget will help dictate what you can and can’t do for a certain theme. If you’re stuck between two theme options, you can take a look at your budget and assess which theme will be most appropriate.
- How formal do you want your wedding to be? If you want a formal wedding, you’ll want to pick a theme that lends itself to elegance and extravagance. If you prefer something low-key, a more casual theme will work best. Keep in mind that formal wedding themes tend to cost more than informal themes.
List of Wedding Themes and Ideas
One of the best ways to decide on a theme is to browse photos and descriptions of what other people have done. As you read through this list, consider what are some wedding themes that stick out to you the most. Apply your answers to the above questions to help narrow down a theme that feels fitting for your event. Remember that you can always pull elements you love from multiple themes to build a look tailored to you.
1. Classic Wedding Themes
A classic wedding theme encompasses the elements you imagine when you think of a wedding — black tuxes, white veils, a full dinner and more. If you want to look and feel like royalty on your special day, this is an excellent theme choice. Classic themes tend to be on the traditional side, but you can always pull in non-traditional elements if you’d like.
These details typically define a classic wedding theme:
- Colors: Soft hues, specifically white and pink
- Flowers: White roses, lisianthus, ranunculus, hydrangeas and other flowers in tightly packed, symmetrical arrangements with little greenery
- Decorations: Plenty of floral arrangements, tulle, crystal and gold
- Dresses: Classic ball gowns and A-line dresses with timeless styles and detailing
- Venues: Churches and large ballrooms
- Formality: Formal, perhaps even black tie
- Budget: Medium to high, depending on how you decorate
2. Romantic Wedding Themes
Romantic wedding themes utilize soft colors, fabrics and designs to create a gentle, ethereal atmosphere. If you’re looking for something delicate and sweet, a romantic theme may capture your vision. A romantic theme is flexible, based on your preference and style. You can craft a romantic theme with a fairy tale vibe, or you can keep it simple with an overall delicate focus.
These details typically define a romantic wedding theme:
- Colors: Soft colors, earth tones, pastels and pinks
- Flowers: Florals that match your color palette in beautiful draping arrangements
- Decorations: Chandeliers, candles, tulle, soft string lights, ribbon, sequins and more
- Dresses: Flowy sheath, A-line, ball gown or mermaid dresses with wispy layers and lace detailing
- Venues: Outdoor areas, gardens, country clubs and churches
- Formality: Semi-formal, although the formality may vary based on your decorations and venue
- Budget: Moderate to high depending on the number of floral arrangements and DIY projects you have
3. Whimsical Wedding Themes
A whimsical wedding theme weaves a special air of magic and wonder through the decor and design. You could highlight fun colors, channel a dream-like atmosphere or even emulate a mismatched “Alice in Wonderland” vibe. The key to a whimsical theme is capturing a playful spirit by keeping the style light and fun. As a less-defined wedding theme, you can customize your choices to match whatever your whimsical vision may be.
These details typically define a whimsical wedding theme:
- Colors: Bright and unique hues like fuchsia, teal, mustard, purple and more
- Flowers: Florals that match your color scheme, like dahlias, ranunculus, yellow button flowers, peonies, hypericum berries, gerbera daisies and more
- Decorations: Trinkets, teapots, unique furniture, confetti, balloons, lanterns, larger than life floral arrangements and more
- Dresses: Tea-length, A-line or sheath styles that may feature unique colors or details
- Venues: Garden, museum and outdoor areas
- Formality: Informal to semi-formal, based on how you interpret the theme
- Budget: Medium to high depending on how you decorate
4. Modern Wedding Themes
Modern wedding themes draw inspiration from contemporary architecture and minimalism to create forward-thinking designs. You can choose to push your modern theme in out-of-the-box ways, or you can lean into the elegant and minimal side. Either way, your venue choice is key to help draw in modern elements. If you want a wedding theme that steps away from traditional details and is truly one of a kind, modern may be for you.
These details typically define a modern wedding theme:
- Colors: Striking colors like deep emerald, navy, or a simple palette with white, gold and black
- Flowers: Unique bouquet arrangements with a mix of atypical florals, branches, unique greenery, and uncommon shapes
- Decorations: Geometric shapes, minimalistic styles, clean lines, dramatic lighting and unique seating
- Dresses: Satin sheath, A-line and mermaid gowns or a pantsuit with extremely clean lines and shapes
- Venues: City rooftops and venues with industrial brick interiors
- Formality: Semi-formal to formal
- Budget: Moderate to high depending on whether you go minimalistic or dramatic
5. Vintage Wedding Themes
A vintage wedding theme pays homage to styles of the past with sophistication and class. You may want to choose a general vintage theme or target a specific era like old Hollywood or the Roaring ’20s. If you have an old soul or a love for vintage items, this wedding theme could be the perfect expression of you.
These details typically define a vintage wedding theme:
- Colors: Ivory, cream, gold and black
- Flowers: Choices that match your centerpieces and dress
- Decorations: Pearls, typewriters, lace, velvet, vintage artwork, vintage furniture and feathers
- Dresses: Vintage tea-length, sheath and A-line styles with capped sleeves, lace, sheer long-sleeves or vintage beadwork
- Venues: An old theater, historical building or church
- Formality: Moderate to formal
- Budget: Moderate
6. Rustic Wedding Themes
Rustic wedding themes incorporate a homespun farmhouse feel into the decor and venue elements. If you love DIY projects, simplicity and a homemade touch, a rustic theme could be your winner. You can modify a rustic theme into a country vibe with cowboy boots and folk music, or you can focus on elegant, homey elements to give your day an intimate feel.
These details typically define a rustic wedding theme:
- Colors: Soft hues, earthy wood tones and cream
- Flowers: Delicate flowers like peonies, baby’s breath, Queen Anne’s lace, roses and more
- Decorations: Mason jars, chalkboards, lace, twine, burlap, string lights and natural wood
- Dresses: Flowy A-line, sheath, and mermaid gowns with lace detailing
- Venues: Outdoor areas, backyards, barn, meadow or winery
- Formality: Informal
- Budget: Low to moderate, depending on how many DIY projects you complete
7. Beach Wedding Themes
A beach wedding theme is perfect for embracing your destination wedding to the fullest. You can draw inspiration from your surroundings to craft a look that accents the natural beauty of the ocean. If you’re planning to have your ceremony or reception on the beach or near water, a beach theme can create a cohesive, stunning look.
These details typically define a beach wedding theme:
- Colors: Light pastels, blues, corals and other ocean colors
- Flowers: Tropical flowers, lilies, orchids, palm leaves and more
- Decorations: Shells, driftwood, sand, bottles with corks, starfish, string or tiki lights and more
- Dresses: A-line and sheath dresses with an airy and Bohemian style
- Venues: Beach, waterfront or outdoor tent area
- Formality: Informal
- Budget: Low to moderate depending on how much you decorate
8. Nautical Wedding Themes
Another way to channel water in your wedding theme is a nautical focus. If you want to incorporate sailing but won’t be tying the knot on the beach, a nautical theme could be perfect for you. Nautical wedding themes call on iconic maritime colors and imagery to give your day a classy feel.
These details typically define a nautical wedding theme:
- Colors: White, navy, royal blue and red
- Flowers: Florals that match your colors, like hydrangeas
- Decorations: Anchors, rope, netting, stripes, sailboats and more
- Dresses: Airy sheath, A-line or mermaid styles
- Venues: Waterfront yacht clubs, boathouses or harbors
- Formality: Semi-formal to formal
- Budget: Moderate to high depending on the venue
9. Seasonal Wedding Themes
Seasonal wedding themes draw inspiration from nature to tie in gorgeous outdoor elements. No matter what season you’re getting married in, you can play up Mother Nature’s beauty. The formality, budget and flowers are all up to you in a seasonal theme. The rest of your planning will revolve around the season.
Seasonal colors include:
- Winter: White, silver, blue, red and green
- Spring: Pink, green, blue, yellow and pastels
- Summer: Yellow, purple, blue, pink and jewel tones
- Fall: Orange, yellow, red, brown and gold
Seasonal decorations include:
- Winter: Pine cones, fir tree sprigs, ornaments, velvet, and Christmas trees
- Spring: Flowers, flower petals and more
- Summer: Flowers, lanterns, string lights and more
- Fall: Branches, faux leaves, acorns, pumpkins and hay bales
Seasonal dresses include:
- Winter: Styles with long sleeves and lace or sleeveless dresses with a fur shawl
- Spring: Sleeveless or cap sleeve styles with flowing layers
- Summer: Sleeveless and strapless styles with plunging necklines and backless details
- Fall: Cap sleeve, long sleeve or elbow sleeve styles
There are plenty of options for seasonal wedding venues, but you’ll want to consider the weather when making your decision. Indoor venues are usually necessary for winter weddings and safer for a spring or fall wedding. You may want to consider a backup option if you could have inclement weather in an outdoor venue.
10. Creative Wedding Themes
A creative wedding theme encapsulates something close to you and your fiance’s heart, including a specific book, movie, destination or more. When you choose a creative wedding theme, your flowers, decorations and venue can all tie into your topic. Creative themes can be anything — the only limit is your imagination!
Examples of creative theme topics include:
- Movies, like Harry Potter or Star Wars
- Books and literary items
- World traveling
- Animals
- Superheroes
- Steampunk
- Celestial or space
- Rainbow
Your creative theme should capture your personality and bring you joy. Don’t be afraid to brainstorm a list of ideas before committing to one that fits you and your fianc best.
Find the Perfect Gown for Your Theme at Alexandra’s Boutique
Your dress is a focal point for displaying your personality and theme in a memorable way. At Alexandra’s Boutique, you can shop for a wedding dress surrounded by loved ones and consultants dedicated to giving you an unforgettable experience. We’re excited to help you find your dream dress, and we’re prepared to deliver.
You’ll love our large selection and comfortable atmosphere. Our experienced consultants are prepared to listen to your vision and help you choose a gown to match. To find the piece that completes your theme and stuns your significant other, schedule your appointment today!