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Dream themes and how to put that pizzazz into your party!

From medieval banquets to Caribbean beach barbeques, themed weddings are becoming increasingly fashionable. You can even include your favourite hobby, film, time period or country into the celebrations to create a one-of-a-kind event that’s truly yours.

Inspiration may be taken from anything that has happy memories for you as a couple. For example, a French theme could be linked back to an engagement proposal made during a holiday you shared in Paris or perhaps you both just love the rat park era for example... any thing goes.

Once you’ve decided the premise you would like your wedding to take, it’s time to consider possible ways of bringing it to life on your big day. Your choice of venue, transport, cake, decorations and outfits should all be carefully considered when striving to create a particular theme.

If for example, you decide to take on a fairytale theme, you could create this by hiring a castle or stately home as your venue. Instead of classic cars, you could arrive in a horse-drawn carriage and your cake could be designed in the style of a castle too. Decorations could consist of pillar candles with ribbons around the base and crystal slipper place card holders and of course you would have to wear a beautiful princess fairytale gown. Any little bridesmaids could perhaps wear wings and even hold magic wands.

Your choice of menu may also be influenced by the theme. A medieval banquet of roasted meats, breads and cheeses would really set the scene for a period themed wedding, while Thai, Indian or Chinese cuisine would certainly help conjure up an Eastern feel. Just remember to coordinate your theme with your wedding party outfits. There are so many gorgeous wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses reflecting almost every period in history and / or reflecting fashions from all over the world.

Consider incorporating the theme into your evening entertainment as well. Why not get everyone dancing at a swinging sixties wedding by hiring a ‘Beetles’ band? Alternatively, you could invite the ‘Rat Pack’ along to dance the night away to in a 1950s styled event. Equally a line dancing teacher or bucking bronco would be great at a Western wedding! Guests can always be included into the theme by requesting they dress aptly for the occasion too. Just make sure this is clear on your invitations.

Many couples also choose to have a themed wedding abroad to save on costs. Paul Crumpton, Head of Retail at Midlands Co-op Travel says: “The Caribbean is the number one venue for a beach theme. Here couples can take the beach theme to the extreme and get married in flip flops and swimsuits if they want to!”

On the other hand, those seeking something a little more lively may choose an outrageous Viva Las Vegas wedding complete with pink Cadillac and white Elvis suits. Different strokes…

Paul states: “In general, any theme goes and we are seeing many couples now looking for something a bit different. This includes going to far flung countries, such as Australia or Lapland. Nowadays there is so much choice; the world really is a couple’s oyster when it comes to choosing a theme.”

This Years Dream Themes Include:

Caribbean Beach Party

If you’ve got a hot day and you have a big enough garden to host your reception, nothing could be more fun. Make a beach by putting tar palling down and covering it with sand. Hire a steel band, light up the barbeque, start mixing those cocktails, get everyone doing the limbo and you’ll soon feel like you’re in sunnier climes. Of course you’ll need a wedding cake that looks likes a sand castle and at night light bamboo torches around the dance area. Your invitations could even be written on coconuts and bridesmaids can wear pretty summery dresses.

Winter Wonderland

Nothing says Winter Wonderland better than frosty white branches and thousands of tiny white lights. Make sure you have lots of Christmas trees with white decorations and you could even have fake snow. Poinsettias in red or white would make wintry centrepieces and Christmas tree baubles or crackers would be perfect festive favours. If you can, arrive on a sleigh complete with reindeer and wear a fabulous white faux fur coat.

King Arthur’s Camelot

Invitations should of course be a medieval scroll. Hire a bagpiper to head the procession and arrive in a horse-drawn carriage. You can have real fun with the costumes as there is a huge selection of medieval bridal and bridesmaid dresses available. The high waists and long sleeves are very flattering to all bosy shapes. You could have the ushers, complete with swords make an arch for you to walk through on your way in to the reception. Rent two suits of armour and place them on either side of the top table. Candelabra centre pieces covered in flowers and fruit could be completed with swords made out of cardboard and wrapped in silver foil as your table numbers.

New Years Eve

It doesn’t need to be 31st December but you should have a countdown to ‘the beginning of the rest of your lives.’ Make sure the champagne is flowing freely and have sparklers as your favours. Your bridesmaids could wear glamourous sequins and the ushers, tuxedos. Attach netting above the dance floor filled with balloons to be dropped at midnight followed by a fabulous firework display.