Wedding Planning, Part VI

It seems that more and more brides are opting for “theme” weddings. You know what I mean – those winter wonderland weddings... those nudist colony weddings... those Klingon weddings... What ever happened to a simple white wedding? Now we all have to wear hula skirts and strategically placed coconuts to meet that Hawaiian beach wedding dress code. But I suppose tossing a theme into the wedding mix does certainly enable the bride and groom to truly tailor their special day to their own interests. So with that in mind, today I'll share some tips and techniques that should help you select that perfect wedding theme, and make your wedding a day to remember.

First, consider the date and location of your wedding. Sure it might be fun to host an outdoor Garden of Eden-themed wedding with the apples and the serpents... But if your wedding is set for January 14^th in Vorkuta, Siberia, you might want to rethink an outdoor wedding (or at the very least – the fig leaf dress code...). So choose a theme that lends itself naturally to your date and location. For instance, hosting a pumpkin patch – themed wedding in a beautiful old barn during the month of October would make perfect sense. As would hosting a masquerade wedding around Halloween. Although I have to say - the idea of attending a wedding in which the bridesmaids are dressed up like a murder of bedazzled crows doesn't necessarily appeal to me... But I digress.

Second, consider the cost. A champagne and caviar wedding would be great, particularly if your wedding is sometime around New Year's Eve. But before you get your heart set on that champagne-spouting fountain and that glistening statue of The David molded entirely out of beluga, think about how much those things will cost. If you can't afford them (or perhaps more to the point - if you're not Bill Gates' child), then select a theme that is more in your price range. I have attended many a wedding that was done on a budget. And in most cases, the best themes were also the cheapest.

And third, think about your personal taste and style. A summertime wedding, in a quaint southern pecan grove would be wonderful. Unless of coarse you're allergic to pecans... So think about who you are and what you like. Then, develop your wedding theme around that. And hey, if you don't like anything or anyone – there's no law out there that says you have to have a theme for your wedding day.

I hope that helps. And until next week, good luck with all your wedding plans.