Theme Weddings: Make Yours an Affair to Remember

“Traditions and expectations are loosening up, and there are so many options now.  If you want a circus wedding, you can find someone who will pull it off.”  Kristin Koch sees every type of wedding imaginable in her role as senior editor of The Knot.  From circuses to pirate ships to creepy Halloween masterpieces, more couples are opting to make their big day even more memorable.  Themes can help personalize the day – and ensure your guests never forget it.

Tara and Paul Adkins took their love of goth – and each other – to a new level.  Tara wore a red and black 18^th century-inspired dress.  Tara did give a nod to traditional bridal white; she wore contact lenses that made her eyes appear completely white.  Their venue was an old barn, which they decorated with fake tombstones, a casket, and a fog machine for effect.  When it came time to “kiss the bride,” Paul sank his teeth into Tara’s neck.  The blood capsule hidden in his mouth was an excellent touch.   Guests, and most importantly, the couple, were thrilled with the entire affair.

The idea of a theme may have been a little stuffy a few years ago, but more couples are adopting this fun approach to their weddings.  It can be all-out, like the Adkins’ wedding, or more subtle: wine lovers may have a cork and bottle décor or a wine-tasting reception.  Couples who love the ocean may incorporate a seaside look and feel.  Beach, garden, and Victorian themes are the top choices for 2012, but the point is that couples should never feel constrained.  As Ms. Koch says, “Traditions and expectations are loosening up.”  Maybe it’s time we loosened up with them!

Besides appealing to the bride and groom’s sense of fun, whimsy, or romance, theme weddings can also appeal to those who are embracing another top trend of 2011-2012: budget weddings.  When you think creatively about your theme, you can also think about ways to cut costs.  Venues do not have to be the typical country club or reception hall.  The Adkins used an abandoned barn; you might use your backyard or a cheaply-let city or town park.  Food, flowers, and decorations can be equally inexpensive.  From going potluck to DIY, you can cut costs and still produce a memorable theme wedding.

Luckily, the intrepid bride and groom have a wider variety of resources in planning their unusual nuptials.  Scour the internet for offbeat ideas, consult your own imagination.  Don’t let traditions restrict your big day.  More ministers and officiators are amenable to unusual weddings, so if at first you get a no, try, try again.