Consider choosing a theme that revolves
around activities you enjoy together.
“This could be anything from the
mountains you love hiking in, the bright
colors from the botanical gardens you
like to visit or the board game you play
together every Friday night,” said Morgan
Miller, wedding planner for Oakland,
Calif.-based Spreading Lovely.
Like sailing? Consider a nautical theme
with a blue-and-white motif, sailboatshaped
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centerpieces and seashell place
cards.
Maybe you spend lots of time watching
classic movies on Netflix. How about
styling your wedding in Old Hollywood
glamour? Use vintage film reels as the base
for centerpieces, serve retro-glam cocktails,
such as Gibson martinis, and walk down a
red carpet for your entrance.
DO pick a theme and
venue that work together
Let’s say you’re considering holding your
wedding in a sleek urban loft with exposed
pipes and concrete floors.
A beach theme with swaying palm trees
and pina coladas would look out of place.
A chic Parisian motif with a lily of the
valley bouquet, lots of champagne and
a majestic Eiffel Tower wedding cake,
however, would fit in perfectly with the
setting’s streamlined aesthetic.
DO explore different
sources for inspiration
“You can find inspiration and create
an overall theme from just about
anything, be it actual patterns and colors
or a meaningful motif,” Miller said.
Though Pinterest is an incredible source,
you might want to avoid it in the early
stages of planning. “It can flood you with
too many ideas and push you in too many
directions,” she said.
Look at other inspirational places that,
depending on your motif, could include
garden shops, your parents’ attic, old
photos of you, bridal planning blogs, eBay,
Etsy, flea markets or even dollar stores.
DON’T turn it into
a Halloween party
Costumes easily could put a trick-ortreat
spin on your special day, and, unless
it’s Oct. 31, that’s not the vibe you want.
Instead of masks and outrageous outfits,
dial it back and concentrate on theming a
few elements, such as stationery, table
settings, flowers, the food and drink,
wedding cake and music.
DON’T go overboard
While you want your theme to make an
impression, avoid creating a look that’s
contrived, corny or over-the-top. Every
element of your wedding doesn’t have to
be defined by your theme.
“Your invitations don’t have to match
the napkins, which don’t have to match
the flowers, which don’t have to match the
groomsmen’s ties,” Miller said.
Aim for balance. For example, say you’ve
chosen a citrus theme. You could line your
envelopes with a citrus-colored paper, then
bring that element into your tablescape,
such as a lemon on each place setting, and
have a citrus-flavored signature cocktail.
“Always remember, less is more,”
Miller said.