Baseball Theme Weddings

"There are only two seasons — winter and Baseball."
    — Bill Veeck

You've figured it out — you both want to play on the same team for life. But how to play to the cheering crowd when it comes to your wedding day?

Here are a few tips for a wedding Lou Gehrig would love ... and a whole lot of experience below from baseball-loving brides.

Note to Guests: You've Got Box Seats

Try eBay for helpful stationers who can whip up elegant, personalized baseball theme wedding invitations. Or be super-chic and send your guests custom event tickets that look just like the real thing.

Baseball Decor

Happily, finding a few fun touches that show off your sporty side isn't hard!

A Rousing Reception

Try centerpieces featuring roses in your team colors. Chicago Cubs fan? Place bridesmaids' red and white bouquets in vases you've tied off with royal blue ribbon. Attach a handsome enameled team pin to the center of a bow, and you've got an elegant arrangement.

Another fun idea: fill large clear vases with mini baseballs, and top with floral "baseballs" made of densely petaled flowers, like white carnations. Adorable!

Add table numbers made from elegant vintage baseball cards — or simply name your tables after leading lights from your favorite team.

Tastes of the Game

Got a sweet tooth? A candy buffet in your colors can be a bold and beckoning statement. Concession picks are perfect here — so are regional treats. Don't forget to fill a jar or two (or scatter the linens) with a few chocolate baseballs. Personalizing striped takeout or pillow boxes with a cute custom label is half the fun. Or, go upscale and yet still stay on theme with a gourmet popcorn bar — or, dress up nostalgic Cracker Jacks boxes with a ribbon or sticker.

Ceremonial Touches

Don't forget the ceremony! A treasured mitt makes a wonderful ring pillow. And for fabulous photos, exit under a shower of pennants .... or ask your best men to line the chapel steps so you can duck beneath an "arch of bats" as husband and wife.

Last but not least — hand your guests some Sharpies and have them sign a few baseballs or a handsome bat instead of the usual (yawn!) guest book.

A Moveable Feast

Create an unforgettable cocktail hour and bring the astroturf indoors by offering a few outdoor vending classics to your delighted guests — available at major rental stores: soft pretzels with mustard and cheese (or nachos & cheese), ballpark franks, movie-style popcorn, or salt water taffy in waxed paper bags with personalized labels. The carts make these fabulous.

For the non-drinkers, serve up personalized bottled water ... and classic Coke with real sugar (no corn syrup!) in glass bottles. This will get guests cheering for days.

A fun addition to cocktail hour? Mock up some "sports news sections" to take to the printers, with headlines starring you and your honey:

Mark and Tori Named CCAC Couple of the Year
Baseball's Winningest Couple Returns To [Hometown]
Tori Selected To The NAIA True Love Team
Mark Earns Top Hitter, Matrimonial Distinction

Needless to say, happy stats and headlines like these are best served with fresh-cut cigars.

Baseball Favors

The baseball theme's a cinch to pull off when it comes to favors. Here are some fun ones:

If your guest list's intimate, offer up baseball caps for your beloved Cubs or Red Sox on a table near the door. Or, old-fashioned Crackers Jacks in the boxes makes a head-turning treat.

Team-emblazoned cookies or individual cupcakes can really dress to impress when whipped up by talented pastry artists. Set up a baseball-themed candy buffet. Or, hand out bags of favorite hometown treats: Cubs branded peanuts, Boston Baked Beans.Attach a cute tag with a favor saying, such as You Made Our Wedding A Hit or Our Love Hit A Home Run.

Talk Back!

Got some ideas for the perfect sports fan wedding? Share your inspirations below.