Attention all brides, planning a wedding can be time consuming. Not to mention it can cost a lot of money as well. Are you looking for ways to make your wedding planning a little easier? Choosing a theme for your wedding and pre-wedding events can help ease some of the stress of planning your big day. Knowing what theme that you are going to use can cut down on all of the guesswork. After you have decided on a wedding theme, it is best to use this theme as a common thread throughout the pre-wedding events as well. Your theme should extend from your bridal shower, Bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, bridesmaids gifts, and lead up to your wedding day.
For example, if you choose a beach-themed wedding, then it would be a great idea to have a beach-themed bridal shower. What makes this easier? First, using the theme of your wedding for your bridal shower makes it easier for the bridesmaids to coordinate the event. Often times, it is difficult for the bridesmaids to decide on what type of bridal shower to host not to mention the bridesmaids gift to the bride. When you use a common theme, it cuts out all of the guesswork. Secondly, you can use some of the decorations from your bridal shower for the wedding reception as well. Now, that is what the experts call multipurpose!
Traditionally, the bridesmaids contribute funds to buy the bride a gift for her bridal shower. It is sometimes difficult for the bridesmaids to determine what to buy the bride. Using the theme of the wedding can be helpful. If they are hosting a beach-themed bridal shower, the bridesmaids gift to the bride should be something related to the beach. Some suggestions are a swimsuit and cover-up, a straw hat, a tote bag filled with things necessary for the beach, sunglasses, beach bridal jewelry etc.
Another aspect of hosting an event is deciding on what menu to serve the guests. Again, if you have an overall theme, the task will be a lot simpler. An ideal menu for a beach-themed bridal shower would be Crab Salad (can use imitation crabmeat), Tuna Salad with Sea Shell Pasta, Shrimp Cocktail, Croissants (they resemble seashells), Strawberry Lemonade, or other Tropical Beverages. Be sure to offer an alternative, in the event that a guest has seafood allergies. The bridesmaids are sure to earn brownie points (i.e. bridesmaids gifts) with this great menu!
It is time for the fun stuff! Every bride looks forward to her Bachelorette party. This too can follow the theme of the wedding. The bridesmaids may consider throwing a party at the beach (depending on the time of year and location of course). This would be a wonderful opportunity for the bride to give her bridesmaids gifts. If going to the beach is not an option, an alternative is to rent a hotel suite or a clubhouse and convert it to a beachside getaway. Whether it is during the day or in the evening, the bride is sure to enjoy herself at this event. Planning a wedding with a theme can make the task a lot easier than going about it blindly.
Nicole Lindsey
http://www.articlesbase.com/marriage-articles/choosing-a-theme-for-your-wedding-day-128502.html
November 13th, 2009 at 3:34 am
How do you decide the theme of your wedding?
I am trying to figure out what I want but the more I shop around the more overwhelmed I become. We chose the locations, now choosing the theme is becoming more and more diffcult. Any suggestions?
Im getting married at my university chapel and having the reception at the Botanical Garden. I picked Tiffany Blue and White as my colors but now I am questioning everything. Both locations are beautiful alone so i did not want to overwhelm them in regards to decorations. I just want simple yet elegant.
the wedding is in mid may by the way…
November 13th, 2009 at 8:36 am
After searching through magazines (and ripping pics out or tabbing them), I began to see a trend in what I liked. What was difficult was prioritizing what was important for me. For some brides, flowers are extremely important. For others, it may be the quality of the food. You have to think about what you like.
One idea is to have an inspiration board. When a picture, color (or even ribbon) inspires you — stick it on that board. Then you’ll begin to see an overall theme and elements that are important for you to incorporate.
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November 13th, 2009 at 8:38 am
Write a list of all things you like and what you have liked in other weddings you’ve been too! Than go from there to get your ideas and a theme! Sometimes just from the things you like make up your own special theme! Which is usually alot better then just one theme! Good Luck! Check out the book!Weddings on a small budget and maybe you’ll get some really cool ideas from that and safe money at the same time!
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November 13th, 2009 at 8:40 am
ah for us it was more than simple.
we are both very "country casual"
so for our wedding we knew right off the bat we wanted to be married outdoors.
we knew we would have our reception at the fire house banquet hall where my fiance is a member.
so our theme, for lack of a better phrase, is country casual
we are having tall topiary centerpieces with lots of flowers
the guys are in white button down shirts and tan slacks
i’m wearing a wedding dress that is very simple in it’s detail but so so pretty
my girls are wearing any color (that matches my dress) they pick out of about 5 dresses that i like at davids.
his family is doing all the food for us. it will be more like a sunday dinner than an over done over sampled catered meal.
it’s just perfect for us
oh yeah – they are playing beer pong at the reception- eesh lol
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b2b 9-20-8
November 13th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Well we pick to have are wedding outside on the farm, so we decided on a western / country style, plus we both are a little redneck. Go with something thats your style don’t change your style just for your wedding be yourself.
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November 13th, 2009 at 8:44 am
What location did you choose? That might help you narrow your theme. (Art deco doesn’t work so well in a rustic barn, just as a Western theme isn’t suited for a Victorian mansion.)
There are online quizzes to help you find a theme – i.e. http://www.theknot.com has one.
Or browse through wedding mags to find what you like and don’t like.
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November 13th, 2009 at 8:46 am
Go to http://www.askginka.com and see what catches your eye. What season are you getting married in? What reflects who you and your fiance are?
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November 13th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Hi I dont undertsand why poeple have themed weddings? that puts way more stress on you, becuase now every thing has to be well for exsample wester lets say, why?because now EVERY THING must be wester or it wont match the theme! dont stress over that just pick out the stuff you like and theres your theme! Your Wedding!
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B2B May 31st, 2009 Non themed wedding just stuff that we think is cute!
November 13th, 2009 at 8:50 am
A wedding doesn’t need a theme as the wedding is the theme. You’re stressing yourself out over nothing.
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November 13th, 2009 at 8:52 am
We were married in the fall so I went with that.
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November 13th, 2009 at 8:54 am
The "theme" can be as simple or grand as you want it. It depends on your personal style. My fiance and I are having a Shakespearean-inspired theme (no costumes or anything, just in that spirit). We chose that because we met at a Shakespeare play and have studied it in classes together, etc. In other words, it fit us and our style.
That said, I think the best way to pick a theme is to think about what you two enjoy doing together. If you like to travel, some people will have pictures of places they’ve traveled to decorate the tables and such, or if you’re foodies, build it around that. Movie lovers? Go glam with a Old Hollywood, red carpet kind of theme.
Another idea, since you will be in a botanical garden in May is to choose a flower that will be in bloom there that you both love. Choose one you can decorate with that will carry on the natural feel your event is likely to have. Make a date and visit the garden to see if inspiration strikes.
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November 13th, 2009 at 8:56 am
I just went with my fave color, orange! I have orange bouquets, teal dresses for the girls though. I am having margarita glasses(big ones) as the centerpieces filled with oranges, clementines, and a candle in the middle. I want it to be bright and cheery. We are not naming our tables 1,2,3, etc. My fiance and I are huge football fans, we go to different stadiums every year for vacation so I bought mini pennants and we are naming each table for a different NFL team, I love it!!
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November 13th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Choose an exotic flower from the Botanical Gardens where you are holding your reception and use that as the theme. Stop over analysing, you have booked what sounds like a lovely venue for both your wedding ceremony and reception venue, stop thinking about those things now and concentrate on the details that are still outstanding, if you keep going back over and over decisions you have already made then you’ll drive yourself insane.
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