Choosing a Theme

In the past (think back to your parents' old wedding photos) weddings were based around colors. But over time, weddings have morphed into major events that center around unique concepts and styles, not just colors.

Take, for example, a recent bride for whom NWD created a custom inspiration board (photo at right). Her theme? Peacock. Here are some tips to help you select the perfect theme for your wedding.

1. Consider your budget. The amount you have to spend on your wedding will definitely be a deciding factor in how high-concept your wedding will be. If your budget is small, take heart: a hugely popular theme right now is DIY, so you can still have a memorable event at a small price.

2. Talk with your fiancé. You may be doing all of the planning for your wedding, but your fiancé would probably not appreciate a Disney Princess theme (nor would most anyone else). Getting your fiancé's seal of approval is key. Take into consideration things that you have in common.

3. Start with the basics. If you're at a loss for where to begin, color is still a good place to start. If you love the idea of black and silver together, try expanding on that. A Hollywood-style wedding, for example, would fit well with those colors. Likewise, this can help you weed out ideas that won't work. Black and silver would probably not be the best if you're planning an outdoor ceremony in a garden in June.

4. Research! Scour the internet and magazines for inspiration. You'd be amazed at how finding one element that you love helps you build an entire theme. Example: the buttons in the photo at right could lead you into a quirky, artsy theme for your wedding. Have your guests take Polaroid photos with fake mustaches for the guest book. Have a caricature artist at the reception. Turn the font in the buttons into a classic font for your entire wedding, all the way down to the invitations and programs.

5. Choose your passion. Your guests are going to attend many weddings in their lifetime. What will make yours stand out? Selecting a theme that you're passionate about is the best way to make your wedding enjoyable for you and your guests. NWD has seen weddings from brides that chose themes from the most unusual concepts: The movie The Princess Bride; Aspen; a carnival, Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream; science (yes, you read that right!); cultural celebrations...the possibilities are endless. Choose something that makes you smile and your guests will be smiling, too!