Should Your Wedding Have a Theme?

More and more brides are asking me if they should have a wedding theme. I always tell them to remember that it is their wedding and anything they want to do within reason is up to them. The key to making this decision is to identify the reasons for a theme and then figure out if these reasons will work for you.

Choosing a theme will unify your special day with a personal touch. There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a theme. There are all of the personal memorable reasons you want to include like hobbies, family traditions and pivotal moments in your relationship. However, there are also less personal themes I like to incorporate into weddings. Sometimes, I like to help brides choose a theme based on wedding attire, location and time of year.

The most important part of your wedding will be your commitment to one another. The next important thing is making your wedding a memorable event. This is where a theme can be handy. Choosing a theme isn't necessary. However, by expressing your passions and interests in a theme, you will personalize your wedding and give it your signature.

One of the first things you will want to do when choosing a theme is take the time to plan it together. Since marriage is the introduction of your partnership to your loved ones, you want to make sure that both of your ideas are displayed in whatever theme you pick. Together you will incorporate elements unique to you as a couple. Don’t forget that establishing your theme is something you and your future spouse will do together. Therefore, this is yet another opportunity during this hectic time to bond.

I recently planned a wedding for a couple with a theme that was only obvious. They were both outdoor people and both environmentalist. Since they had both dedicated so much of themselves to a "green" lifestyle it was extremely easy to choose a theme. So, I planned a summer outdoor wedding, with gifts made from recyclable materials. Now, I am planning a destination wedding for a couple that met on vacation in France. It has been phenomenal transforming the reception location into the French town where they met. The food, decor and music will all take them back to the time and place where it all began. Of course not every wedding will have such an obvious theme. The key is finding what characteristics or interests you have in common, and then finding a way to ensure it highlights your commitment to one another.

If you decide you want to have a wedding theme, sit down together and ask each other questions like:
1. What do we want our guests to know about us as a couple?
2. What would some of the highlights of our relationship be?
3. What are some of the defining moments in our relationship?
4. Are there things we have in common that help define us as a couple?
5. What do we want our guests to remember most about our wedding?

Answering questions like this is a great place to start. After that, the ideas will begin to flow and you are on your way to design the personalized wedding of your dreams. Congratulations and happy planning!