Details for a themed wedding

31st July, 2010. By Raylene Boots

What makes a theme wedding a success? I will try to answer that from the point of view of someone who has actually planned and pulled off a memorable theme wedding.

The successful execution of a theme wedding is all in the details! A Halloween wedding we filmed lined the driveway to the mansion in Butler with white pumpkins carved as jack-o-lanterns. At another we saw each table decorated for a different favorite Disney movie; one couple wore Mickey and Minnie ears decorated for a wedding. A life-sized Mickey and Minnie attended the reception, and you know that this couple went to Disney World for their honeymoon! The details make the wedding, even more so one with a theme. I will describe some of the details for our masquerade wedding:

• We used a hand-drawn invitation in a medieval motif, it is pictured here. I penned the original, then took them to Kinko’s and printed them an old-looking parchment. Even my thank-you’s reflected the theme.
• Darryl’s Star Fleet uniform was also worn by the groomsmen; these were hand-tailored for each. One advantage was the cost, which ended up being less than the conventional tuxedo, and the best part was that each groomsman got to keep his outfit! Each one provided his own black trousers, turtleneck and boots to round out the costume.
• The ceremony site was outdoors. This was a risk and a gamble that paid off for us. Of course, we had a back-up indoor location that was included on the invitations. But on the day of our outdoor masquerade wedding, the weather cooperated (hard to believe?) and the stringed quartet was able to perform. Everyone was comfortable at Brush Creek Park in Beaver County. Best of all, the locale was at no charge. A guest in a monk’s costume (medieval theme, remember?) read the vows we had written for the ceremony. Everything went smoothly.
• We used a fire hall with an interior that provided the perfect canvas for a medieval castle. Artist friends created medieval banners and shields. Tables were lined with fruit and evergreens to reflect a medieval castle feast. We rented suits of armor to complete the d’cor. A good photo of the reception details can be seen at the posting “Weddings Can Be Different”.

Give as much thought as possible to the details. One or two won’t carry a themed wedding, so brainstorm, look at books, troll the net, ask others, but most of all, talk to each other. Use the theme as a frame work on which to hang all the details. There is a reason you chose this path, now have fun with it! Show everyone what the two of you can accomplish together, and throw the party of the century.

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