- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee Blog
Am I the only one who doesn’t think that a wedding needs a theme? I mean, isn’t the theme getting married? Now I guess our wedding has a theme in the sense that it’s a woodsy winter wedding. But I feel like that came about really organically and not via any hard soul-searching on our parts. I mean, we’re getting married in the woods in February. Done.
But seriously. While I think some themes are lovely, I’m just not sure they’re necessary. I do think that it’s important to narrow down ideas so that your event has some cohesiveness, but the idea of tying everything down to a theme sometimes seems limiting to me. I think that’s why I’m resistant whenever anyone asks me what our colors are. Yes, blue and green are the main colors that we’re using, but I don’t feel the need to focus everything on those two colors. Which is why I might be including burgundy pashminas. And why I want candlelight rather than perfectly coordinated flowers to be our centerpieces.
What’s your take on themes? Do you think a wedding needs one? Or can the wedding itself be the theme?
I’m with you - our theme was “wedding” and our colors were “jewel tones” 
I think your wedding sounds so magical and lovely!
It’s awkward telling people what our wedding colors are. “All of them?” Red, blue, green, purple, yellow, black, ivory… We have books and butterflies and fireworks and irish letter openers. The music ranges from reels to Glenn Miller to Queen to Gnarls Barkley to Beatles to Muse…
I didnt have a theme for mine either, but people always ask! and because i was using river rocks, crystals and lots of greens and browns I just said it was a classy nature theme I think as much as you want to avoid having a “theme” you end up with one anyways. (if you like it or not!) *laugh*
Yours is a woodsy winter wedding…sounds like a cute theme
I think the theme for most weddings evolves AFTER many of the choices are made.A lot of time and energy is usually expended reviewing sources, and deciding what you like -a theme is just a way to put a name to your choices. As you said, a wedding should have some cohesiveness and whether or not you have given a name to a theme, weddings, like most social events, need a subtle theme to coordinate the decor.
Oh, you don’t think people needs themes? But I need my theme of Mr.G-and-I-party-while-paying-way-too-much-for-food-for-people-I-don’t-know-that-my-dadzlla-Invited. I mean, without that theme, wouldn’t it be impossible to plan my wedding?
hehehe 
But, for realises, you’re so right.
I think themes help a lot of people articulate a vision that’s otherwise hard to explain. My “theme” was something about Dorothy Draper and Christian Dior going to see a ballet in Indiana. It gets at the feeling, the style, in a much more succinct way.
That was the value for me at least. Doesn’t always have to be literal
Oh, indeed. Our theme is “A&B get married with close friends and family, and then eat a lot. “
Absolutely. If your wedding doesn’t reflect at least 3 obscure interests that the 2 of you share like Edward Gorey, zombies and used light bulbs, and you don’t spend years finding details that bear out the theme and force everyone you know to come in a costume that reflects it, you people are just boring and your love hasn’t been truly honored. In fact, I would wonder if your marriage is even valid.
; )
I totally agree, the wedding is the theme. Although the show My Fair Wedding obviously does not agree. I have seen everything from a “swamp wedding” to a “poker wedding”. barf.
I can understand that some brides need a theme…just not me I guess.
It’s great to find some other brides who are not theme obsessed. However FI and I are obsessed about one another. Anything we include in our wedding will be because it is special and meaningful to us.
We tried to have a theme but everything went to hell when I kept going, “Ohhhhh… I want that… and that… and THAT!” and the wedding just became one big clusterfuck of my insane mind.
My main color is navy and I’ve had several older ladies ask if it’s a military themed wedding and if my fiance was in the Navy. Um no… just because I like navy blue doesn’t mean that he’s in the Navy lol.
In my mind, you have theme parties to celebrate, well, the theme itself. I saw an episode of Rich Bride, Poor Bride the other day where the bride wanted everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, to be about shoes. Uh, do you want your guests thinking about shoes all day or the fact that you’re getting married?
I can’t even tell you how great of timing you have, posting this article today! I literally lost sleep last night, trying to sort out our “theme.” But my problem is that I have too many of them! I LOVE peacock feathers. We’re getting married at a farm/vineyard/winery. I’m from Seattle, so I like modern and clean styles. But we now live in the country, and am getting use to the rustic side of decor. I was having a hard time narrowing everything down, so it flows well and doesn’t look like a jumbled mish-mash of rustic farm/italian winery/modern seattle/peacock crazyness! After reading your post, I’m thinking I’ll just throw in things I like, and that are important to me, without having a strict theme. THANK YOU! I might sleep tonight! =)
I picked a theme because I was having a really hard time making any wedding related decisions. It helped me narrow it down and keep the wedding cohesive. Guess I seem to be in the minority among the commenters!
Our theme is vintage with birds/birdcages in little details throughout (invitations, cake topper, birdcage card holder, those kinds of things). I’m going to try to keep it subtle and understated as much as possible.
We have a theme that’s about as vague as yours. Wedding in the woods. We didn’t pick that theme because that’s where we we are getting married though. We picked it because that’s where we want to get married. There is nowhere close by for us to have the wedding of our dreams, so we’re bringing dream wedding to the one we can have.
I have to agree that themes are a bit unnecessary. I saw this great South African film where a girl wanted a western wedding and her mom wanted her to have a traditional South African wedding. It was funny to me because in the film “western” was like a theme…and also in that instance seemed unnecessary for the wedding. Personally, I thought the mother’s traditional ideas about the wedding were more meaningful. Check out the link to see what I’m talking about… http://www.whiteweddingmovie.com, it’s called White Wedding.
I picked a theme because I knew if I didn’t, my choices would end up being just like my closet–dowdy argyle cardigans next to punk-rock teeshirts next to a flowing bohemian dress next to a three-piece suit. A theme can be limiting, but sometimes limitless options can be paralyzing.
That said, I think people who are super strict about it are just sort of missing the point. Our theme is victorian, but we’re still going to have some Sigur Ros and Nataly Dawn and skittles at the dessert bar.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Mrs. Eggs Benedict, Seattle Age and Occupation: 29, Attorney Fiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Attorney Engagement Date: December 5, 2009 Wedding Date: February 2011 Venue: IslandWood About Me: I'm a Northwest girl who spends my time goofing around with Mr. Eggs Benedict and our dog, hiking, traveling, drinking wine and planning a wedding that will showcase the best of what the Pacific Northwest has to offer. I also love photography, beating Mr. Eggs Bene at Mario Kart, and watching the most ridiculous natural disaster flicks you can think of (seriously, how can you deny the awesomeness that is The Core or 2012?? That's right, you can't). We are planning our weekend wedding adventure at an environmental educational center, and I can't wait for the fun to begin!
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
Latest Gallery Pics