The time is finally here!!
What a wide variety of wedding options for today’s merriers! With so many unconventional ideas coming up every day, combined with the enjoyment / stress of Pinterest boards, you could have the perfect vision in your mind. But your vision is key.
Before you begin scheduling tours all around town, the first thing you must have: a vision.
Visions will give you the adjectives you need, very quickly.
Example, when you see yourself walking towards your (soon-to-be) spouse, do you see yourself in a leather Harley jacket and ripped jeans, or do you see yourself in a dress or tuxedo?
Not only do you want to decide what type of scene you will be setting on one of the most significant days of your life, but it will also be captured on pictures and videos.
So the first thing to do is decide the ambiance you are wanting:
Classic, romantic, bohemian, glamorous, beach, fairytale, modern, rustic, traditional, elegant and intimate.
If your ideal look includes lots of white flowers with heavy greenery, nothing spectacular to stand out, and don’t want to stray far from the chicken dance and hokey pokey, you may have the desire for a Classic Wedding. It usually includes light colored linens and often, there are no current trends that really happen. The name says it all. It’s Classic. There is really nothing unusual about these events and without a standout moment or venue, it is likely your wedding will be unforgettable to you, but your guest’s memories will be gone as soon as the wind blows. For your bouquet or boutonniere, you will want to include the Calla lily, hydrangea or peony.
There is nothing more beautiful in pictures, or in a memory, as the colors and ambiance of a Romantic Wedding. Think soft pinks, mauves, creams. Focus on texture, candles, dim lighting. Do not be shocked to see velvet tablecloths with cascading roses or pink invitations to set the theme. The romantic flower of the night: of course, roses, but not red. Set the theme all the way, with pink or white roses and orchids or Call lilies of some sort. Also remember, the age of romance came from the Victorian era, so even incorporating lace is a great addition to the romantic theme. Even the way you style your hair or hair jewelry can make a big statement with this theme.
A Bohemian wedding is an eclectic mix of all things earthy and relaxed. It throws all cliché wedding isle walking to the wind – literally. Bohemian weddings are the epitome of the “DIY” type bride that uses all things nature as their picture-perfect background. Think wood, pampas grass, macrame, etc. At the end, bohemian is very much about spirituality and the love of freedom and self-expression. With no real formal dress code, the vibe is laid back and chill. Think Bob Marley/70’s vibe. But they traded tie-dye with flowy white/cream/natural-colored sheets, floating dresses and wide brimmed hats. But again, all of this is just the heart of bohemian. There are several subcategories of the bohemian style that you can find online and really narrow down your niche.
Glamorous weddings are for the couple that loves to go over the top and – and everyone knows it. At least one of the merriers at a glamorous wedding is no stranger to the limelight and is most likely already a fun person. The very first thing you must do to match your vision is to have a venue that hits it, spot on. Glamorous venues are formal, large & come with almost a sense of prestige. Think country clubs, ballrooms, marble flooring, chandeliers, high ceilings and sometimes, depending on the lighting, draped ceilings. Glamours attire is usually black and white for the guests and both decorations and flowers are usually the same color: white. Of course, the best way to up the ante at a glam wedding is to opt for uplighting! This is a very easy and sure way to WOW your guests!
Beach weddings are almost self-explanatory, but there are still a lot of choices that need to be made and there are several things that may slip through the cracks without proper research – such as beach permits. The vibe is going to mimic the reception venue that you pick, meals (a fresh seafood option is a must) and décor. Colors are often blue hues with white & natural colored (often organically placed as well) pampas grass. The dresses are usually flowy, spaghetti strap or halter-style and as far as footwear, well, flip flop city, sweetheart. Don’t forget the two things that you can’t control at the beach: Mother Nature and Father Time. Once that sun goes down, the show’s over as far as the beach scene is concerned. And there can be a lot at the beach in one day (especially depending on the season) including wind, rain, storm, heat, chilly, prep accordingly.
For an ultra-luxury beach experience, may I personally suggest The Grand Cayman Ritz-Carlton.
Fairytale weddings are by far the most whimsical of them all! And here’s the good news -- contrary to what people believe, you don’t have to get married in a forest to make this happen! Bring the forest into your (ideally a large castle or castle-like venue) by adding lots of dark greenery anywhere you can. And, wherever you place green, make sure to also add a touch of gold! Also, fairytale weddings are seasonal. Yes, that’s right. You can have them in the spring or in the summer, but just say no to the fall and winter wishes (if you are trying to follow the fairytale tradition). Both seasons come with their own color hues, quirky details, calligraphy and dramatic attire.
Also, fun fact: Did you know the meaning behind the fairytale wedding? It’s for the merriers to feel like kings and queens on their special days! Who knew?
Maybe you are a modern style merrier. Perhaps geometric shapes and simple décor is the plan for you. Sleek, sophisticated elegant and refined. If this isn’t you naturally, don’t worry. This is the most popular theme for weddings, featuring a monochromatic color palette and the latest in today’s florals. It’s very similar to a classic wedding (minus some of the cliché music choices), but almost a level up decoration. There is always a comfort in consistency and this style of wedding is a safe bet. You really have the freedom to customize everything for your wedding, and not break any “style rules”. Flowers can be big, bold and colorful, or they can be small and minimal.
Your color chart will be whatever it is you choose, as trends won’t affect this simple, yet still eloquent style. It is exactly as described: a modern wedding; like a classic one, but a more up to date, and no crazy over the top themes or venues.
So, if bohemian weddings are supposed to be all things earthy, then what’s going on with the Rustic themed wedding? Easy. It’s very, very similar, but instead of taking place outside in the free air of nature, these weddings usually take place inside of a barn. If not a barn, then definitely still on a farm, in a farmhouse or even a mountain. Yes, a mountain. The common thing to emphasize is the natural nature element of the event. Rustic details can always be incorporated into your event in several ways. However, the most traditional rustic décor year and year over: The mason jar and sunflowers. The atmosphere is always relaxed, and the colors match the vibe, with neutral tones of greens, browns, oranges, reds and gray. The reality is, if you are from the Midwest, this is usually our color palette set right at the same time as the pumpkin spice latte comes back to Starbucks every year. For your attire, “just dressed up” usually suffices for your guests. As far as a bridal dress, this theme is fitted for lace and cowboy boots. Rustic weddings are, in my honest opinion, the best vibe you could get. Everyone relaxes, has fun, drinks some, eats some, and remember when you go home, watch for deer.
Traditional weddings have honestly just become a thing of the past. They inevitably begin on a lie anyway…entire white dress. While planning your own wedding, certain elements are normally “picked out” of traditional weddings and twisted to fit the wedding being planned. Traditional weddings are usually a safe route to take when you don’t have a creative side, or a lot of help. These weddings are also a great choice for last-minute unplanned weddings. Why? Because they’re traditional. Everyone knows what to expect and there isn’t a lot of thought that must go into it. The only thing you really need legally is an officiant and witnesses. The traditional wedding is perfect for the aunts and grandmas that love to help. This is a simple and fast wedding to put together, if you need to do so on a whim and on a smaller budget. If you were to ask anyone to “describe a wedding”, it would be incredibly possible that their description is riddled with traditional examples.
An elegant wedding is very similar to a traditional wedding, but with just a bit more of the intentional, natural flare. The venue really must be on point to achieve this theme. Whether it is a chic barn or an ornate mansion, just make sure the venue is stunning. Keep a classic black and white, navy or an all-white color scheme and make sure your flower game is elevated and on point. You want to set the tone of elegance from the beginning, by being very intentional with the vibe of the invitations and save the dates that you send out. For decorations, the 4-post arch is a timeless look that will never grow tired in pictures. Traditions aren’t everything at an elegant wedding, however you can certainly take current trends and put your own spin on them, which is always fun. Make sure you have an over-the-top sweetheart table to accommodate the spectacular flowers. The elegant wedding certainly gives beautiful Rolls Royce exit vibes, but without the tin cans tied to the bumper.
The intimate wedding. I could be a part of one of these every day. Intimate weddings are my favorite, hands down. Only the most special people are going to be with you on this day. The family members, the best friends that have been there for 30 years, the ones that know all the skeletons in the closest, and they’re there anyway. No matter how you want to say it, it’s the familiar people, or those closest to you, that get invited. Usually no more than just a couple dozen guests for the entire event, including dinner. It isn’t necessarily a wedding done in haste. These weddings can have more details or even come at a heftier price tag than traditional weddings. On the flip side of that, with the wedding and reception so small, you are potentially able to save thousands of dollars. However, just because it’s a small guest count overall, doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t be spending the dollars where they count.