Themed Weddings - Hot and Getting Hotter All the Time

There's a growing trend in weddings lately: themed ones. What exactly is a themed wedding?

That's simple to answer. Just like any event, a themed wedding is merely a wedding with an overriding, uniting theme. It isn't your typical, classical wedding. It can be quite different and unique.

There's a large variety of wedding themes out there. It really depends on your own creativity and preference. Here are just a few examples.

There are seasonal wedding themes. This may seem obvious in some cases, or may seem that it happens a lot already when people pick certain aspects of the season to amplify, like beautiful flowers or a nice winter or summer setting. But it goes beyond that. Autumn can be about a beautiful display of reds and oranges, while winter would be a much more serene wonderland of snow and ice.

Then there are nature themes. Much like seasonal themes in a way, these focus on more specific aspects. For example, you might design your wedding around your favorite animal, butterfly or flower. Your theme could also be a certain location or type of scenery. Maybe you have a soft spot for waterfalls, rivers, or water in general. You might also love a certain type of tree, gemstone or rock, or even a certain time of day like dawn or dusk or night.

Then, there are cultural themes. These can be very old custom and tradition-filled weddings that tip the hat to your heritage. It's all about embracing where your ancestors came from, and who you are inside. Even if you can't afford to have the wedding in the old country where your parents, grandparents, or other ancestors were born, you can create your own little Japan or China, England or France, or whatever country that serves as your "hometown" or city. Bring in unique decorations, wardrobe, food and music to make the wedding more personal.

There are historic themes. Did you grow up loving times long ago and far away? Maybe the glamorous 20s or the imperial ages of exploration float your boat, or perhaps medieval times, or even ancient times. Whatever the period is, you can revive it in your wedding and bring more creativity to an important personal day.

There are hobby/interest themes. If you're an artist like me, then an artistic theme may be your preference. Liven the place up with colors, paintings, and elaborations of creativity. You may be more into writing, going with a poetry theme, or maybe even music — not just tickling the ears with wonderful sounds, but delighting the eyes with shining instruments, beautiful scores, and other creative items. There are also activity themes based on things like horseback riding, kayaking, or other outdoor exertions. Sports themes, like baseball or golf, are increasingly popular.

The important thing is to pick a wedding theme that fits your personality and interests. Don't pick something just to be different. Pick something to express yourself in a different and more personal way.

And yet, you don't want to go overboard. This is still your wedding. You want the theme to complement the unity of two people, not overshadow it. It's not about seeing how many objects or items about the theme you can jam into the wedding. It's about creating a balance, to genuinely express yourself in a more unique way to your friends and family.

Have fun, make it personal and romantic, and your wedding theme will be a hit. Just enjoy yourself. It's your special day after all.