A wedding theme creates the right atmosphere, visual design, and experience for the special event. It also reflects the style and personality of the couple, and how they present an event that will create lifetime memories for them and all their friends and family.
Our top 15 classic wedding themes work great when you want a great wedding but don’t have time to think over the details. These themes are easy to pull off once you have venue and budget options available and have a few ideas in mind.
1. Rustic Wedding Theme
Rustic wedding themes highlight beautiful, organic colors and decor that bring to life simple, rural-influenced visuals and set designs. Instead of high-profile modern events that are lavish and extensive, rustic themes highlight earth colors, nature, organic items, and warmer, more relaxed color palettes.
This kind of wedding can be either practical or design-based. It is much simpler and non-extravagant, but can still look opulent.
Rustic looks like a classic European still life painting. There are no super bright modern colors, in favor of wooden, earthy themes, flowers, and a vibe that we can describe as a comfortable rural manor owned by cool grandparents or parents.
2. Boho Wedding Theme
The boho and rustic wedding themes are like cousins with many common interests. Many of its art direction elements share the same sentiment and visual appeal, mainly focusing on warm, subdued earth colors and nature or organic-based set designs and composition. Venues include outdoor areas, gardens, “green” spaces, and other organic settings,
Boho, or Bohemian culture, stemmed from Europe in the 19th century, when people started to reject the norms of typical fashion and lifestyles. They wanted a freer and more life-based culture rather than the burgeoning modernization and industrialization that was soon to sweep their countries. It became a part of the hippie culture of the 60s and 70s, when younger generations focused on love, peace, environmental awareness, and close ties to nature. “
This theme also extends to the fashion choices of the couple and everyone in attendance. Bono styles, and also Greek-style fashion, are some of its top fashion influences, giving it that distinct, organic, nature-based look full of charm and loose comfort.
3. Glamorous Wedding Theme
If Boho and Rustic wedding themes focus on organic, natural, and practical design and visual elements, then Glam or glamorous-themed weddings are the antithesis. Think of Brad and Jen or Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas’ weddings: rich, opulent, extensive, and glorious. It’s the “pull out all stops” kind of once-in-a-lifetime event that also means big budgets and longer guest lists.
Hotel and mansion venues, elaborate dinner sets, gourmet catered food, with gold, silver, platinum accents, and expansive set designs with luxury decor; These elements create an atmosphere of decadent, royal, and high-end celebrations.
4. Country Style Wedding Theme
From one end to another, we go to different contrasts when it comes to wedding themes. A country wedding theme is both fun and simple. Just like its style and design cousins, Boho and Rustic, country weddings often include similar styles.
Organic, very casual, nature-based, outdoor, and rural elements create a lovely, lively atmosphere. Fun venues such as farms, barns, gardens, and other natural and rural elements are very welcome.
Stylistically, we have fun local themes in these events that highly contrast typical weddings: beer instead of wine, line dancing instead of slow dances, or even an upbeat country fiddle band instead of a jazz or pop band for entertainment.
5. Alternative Wedding Theme
This wedding theme sets itself apart from the others for having broader, more unconventional, and non-traditional set designs and decorative elements. Dresses and fashion often include non-commercial and custom designs, 80s or 90s fashions, including goth, rock, and new wave. Costumes, individual fashions, and non-uniform dress codes and decor are just some of the elements you can combine in your theme.
Venue-wise, there are also no limits. From beautifully decorated gardens and backyards to bar celebrations or house parties with local bands and simple comfort food menus, this theme is exciting and different, offering a unique and casual experience for everyone.
6. Forest Wedding Theme
A forest wedding theme can be a pure standalone event, or one of the elements of a Boho or rustic theme wedding. Nature presents us with many distinct atmospheres and experiences unique from most of the typical wedding theme events. The presence of trees, flowers, lush green vegetation, blue skies, and starry evening skies rivals many modern indoor venues.
Day or night, being close to towering trees and vegetation with minimal non-organic and non-natural elements grounds us to Mother Earth. It also looks so breathtaking when celebrating your wedding close to nature. However, for night weddings, make sure to install a few fans and insect killer lamps just to be sure.
7. Fairytale Wedding Theme
Fairytale weddings share many lavish and fantastical elements and royal, regal art direction. It’s similar to the glamorous wedding theme with added elements of fantasy. Royal decor, mansions, castle venues, and fantastical indoor venues are common places for these celebrations.
Fairy tale weddings are a little more exaggerated, stylistically. The venue can be indoor or outdoor, and features extensive, often unconventional decorations, combining many traditional decorative motifs with modern and elegant designs. From an intricate cake design and Cinderella ball dances, to unique wedding favors and rich designer clothing, it’s bound to be an unforgettable time that everyone will talk about and remember for years.
8. Dark Colored Wedding Theme
Dark colored wedding themes look great for indoor and evening receptions. Some call it anti-sun, preferring the comfort of the indoors after an afternoon wedding.
The color themes and palettes are a little more subdued and do not use bright, wild colors. Super colorful and lively color visuals and decor take a backseat to an evening indoor ball or prom night event style.
Evening dresses, all black suits, or bow and tie tuxedos are perfect, with elegant, old-school decor. There is often a band playing dances, ballads, or celebratory tunes.
Often, purple, violet, black, grey, crimson, and dark blue play major roles in creating “nighttime” or evening party or prom vibes, with a touch of extra elegance. It’s not uncommon to see wedding cakes with black, purple, deep red, and silver hues and colors, instead of white or other more prominent colors.
9. Garden Wedding Theme
In rich contrast to the nighttime vibes of the previous wedding theme, garden weddings are one of the most popular themes. It can also be very practical, foregoing expensive venue rentals in favor of your own space where there are fewer limits. Preferably, larger gardens are the best options. But smaller ones are also great for more intimate events.
Often, a great garden already is a major part of the set design and decor, with lush greenery and colorful flowers and decor, beautifying your wedding with organic loveliness. There’s more freedom to decorate and more time to spare, leaving those time and space constraints behind.
Many closely-related themes, such as Boho, rustic, fairy tale, fantastical, and even the more expensive high end themes work great with this theme. Plus, it’s often done at your home, castle, or mansion, so there is much more privacy and fewer worries because you can take your time and have the most freedom in decorating and sprucing up your set design.
10. Vintage Wedding Theme
Older and vintage wedding themes are also beautiful and unique. In a way, they share some values with the other wedding themes we’ve discussed, such as Boho or rustic. Antique decor, color palettes that borrow from Boho, rustic, and garden themes, and traditional design approaches can mean a more practical approach. However, it can also be a more old school but lavish approach to set design, but is still in the realm of opulent and expensive all-out weddings.
11. Minimalist Wedding Theme
In contrast to many of the excessive and over-the-top wedding themes, it’s nice to feature minimalist wedding themes. It’s basically a more stripped-down, essentials-only wedding set design and visual composition.
The minimalist theme can be a practical approach, with only the basics in the ceremony event, the design and decor, and the reception venue. Taking the nonexcessive and opulent approach also works.
Minimalist can also refer to the design, which features modern, “less is more” visual art direction. Minimalist color themes often do not involve many colors and minor hues. For example, a classic white wedding is the most popular minimalist style, which is stylistic, rather than practical. It all comes to the design which has less intricate motifs and more plain elements.
12. Retro Wedding Theme
Retro is a different approach than vintage, in the way that it has a certain focus on a particular era, fashion, and cultural cues and motifs. Often, these retro themes feature the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. These were cultural booms that feature distinct styles, music, fashion, set design, and overall vibe.
Going retro is also another great way to escape current realities and trends in favor of true style that has become timeless. People want to revisit these simpler and more fun times that reminded us of our youth and the particular fun feeling of living (or at least celebrating) in a certain past time or era.
To recreate these classic retro eras, authentic and vintage decor, set design, and fashion play key roles to create special atmospheres in your venue. Music plays a big part in keeping the feeling and design very solid throughout the event.
13. Nautical Wedding Theme
This outdoor wedding theme is on par with glamorous or high-end wedding themes. It can also be a standalone theme on its own, only that it involves spectacular bodies of water. This is one lavish way to celebrate your wedding by providing breathtaking views of the ocean on your private yacht or boat.
A nautical wedding theme can be for just the after-party or reception. It can also host the whole event on the boat or yacht.
These on-location weddings are spectacular, high-end affairs, and can also be part of a beach or seaside wedding. The attire can be formal or informal, as nautical weddings can incorporate casual beach attire, or even specially designed fashion pieces, depending on the design and themes of the event.
14. Whimsical Wedding Theme
The whimsical wedding theme shares common ground and interests with fairy tale themes, glamorous themes, and other themes that involve extravagant and over-the-top elements. it is dreamy, magical, and prone to excess and sensory overload at times.
Wide and wild color palettes, incredible flower and greenery combinations, an exquisite menu, unreal decor, and set design are just some of the basics you can build upon this theme. It can be even more over the top than the most celebrated fairy tale wedding themes and events.
There are no set rules or limitations defined by whimsical wedding themes. Cosplay, extravagant and unique entertainment, the most dazzling cake and set design, and wonderful venues are just some of the highlights you may find upon attendance.
15. Beach Wedding Theme
Last but not least is the classic beach wedding. Often, beach weddings happen in the afternoons, to give everyone the most glorious sky and sunset panoramic views. Space is also often expansive, and can accommodate anywhere from 5 to 500 guests, and it will often be uncrowded.
These types of weddings are also very open and compatible with many of the theme templates we’ve discussed. The majestic view of the beach, sky, and sun is already one of the most perfect backdrops for a wedding, rivaling many indoor and outdoor events. You can adopt elements of Boho, rustic, glamorous, whimsical, garden, fairytale, or even alternative style wedding themes.
The simple and glorious beach venue already provides one of the best outdoor venues to celebrate your wedding. Only your creativity and your allotted budget can dictate the limits, It’s your wedding, and you can have as much fun and celebration as you want.
Talk to a Wedding Expert
Weddings are fun and life-changing. They can also be very extensive and can rack up your brain with so many things to plan on, decide, include, or consider.
Talk to a wedding expert to help you navigate the multitude of options. They can provide advice and guidance on many aspects, including design, planning, budgeting, logistics, and organizing the event.
Fill out the form below and talk to us today!
