Pulling off Elegant Theme Weddings ~ Guest Blogger Erin Hofmeister

At this time we would like to introduce another guest to our Burns Photography Blog readers!

Erin Hofmeister, with Alred Wedding Consultants, shares with us how to have a Theme Wedding with elegance:

If you’ve read any bridal magazine or watched any wedding show, you’ve at least run into a few “theme weddings”. However, you probably haven’t noticed that almost every  wedding features some sort of theme.  Whether it’s a color scheme, an inspiration element, or one of the couple’s favorite things – all weddings centralize around something.

Think about the most memorable weddings you’ve attended.  What elements stood out to you? Those elements are probably the elements that carried our the wedding’s theme.  However, think about some of the over-the-top weddings you’ve seen.  These weddings probably took the theme a little too far.  So, where is the fine line between elegant and over-the-top?

Here are five tips for carrying out a theme wedding with elegance:

• Keep the subtle! Is baseball the highlight of your wedding? Maybe you feature your favorite team’s primary color in your flowers and bridesmaids’s dresses.  Use a neutral color for your linens and as an accent to prevent it from becoming overwhelming.  You can still pull in baseball, perhaps having baseballs engraved as favors and using them as your place cards.  Putting the theme in small elements allows for it to be recognizable, without being over-the-top.  (You may want to keep the inflatables, banners, and tail-gaiting equipment at home for this theme.)
• Keep it consistent! If color is your theme, make sure that your flowers, materials (dresses, linens, etc) and stationary complement each other throughout the ceremony and reception.  This helps your guests with a seamless transition between events and ensures your themes carries out.  This doesn’t mean everything has to be “matchy-matchy”.  Is your color scheme aqua and red? Add accents of white in your linens and flowers for a break in color.  You can also use varying patterns in your linens to add visual interest.
• Keep it simple! I’m reminded of a bridal show I saw, where the bride wanted to have candy-theme wedding.  Candy centerpieces, candy bouquets, candy favors, candy on the stationary…Candy EVERYWHERE! Her attempt at “fun” turned juvenile because it was too over-the-top.  Instead of using your theme everywhere, add hints of it where necessary.  Instead of candy everywhere, brightly colored linens, stationary and flowers pull in key “candy colors”.  Placing a candy buffet at the reception and offering gourmet mini desserts after the meal are great ways to be fun and incorporate the theme, while still being elegant.
• Keep it personal! The greatest weddings are weddings that reflect the couple. Don’t be afraid to include something special personal to you.  Love hiking? A soft green and tan color scheme with wild flowers and stationery featuring a leaf monogram are subtle ways to get this love of the outdoors across.  Try also having an outdoor ceremony or reception at a nature reserve for that “something different” element brides so often seek.
• Keep it realistic! You may love mountain scenery, but asking your guests to hike half a mile to the top may be a bit much to ask.  Instead, why not have your ceremony at a resort restaurant, accessible via gondola? Love astronomy? Getting married under the stars is either too dark, or unnoticeable if you add lighting.  How about having a reception in a large conservatory?  These ensure your event achieves the theme, while still being practical and following the other tips.

Good Luck and happy planning!

Erin Hofmeister has been an Event Manager and Design Consultant with Alred Wedding Consultants since 2004. She specializes in creating award-winning, detail-rich weddings and incorporating couples’ personalities into their special day.

We want to thank the Alred Wedding Consultants team for sharing this information with our brides!