Chicago Wedding Photographer
Is a Theme Always a Good Wedding Idea?


I was shown to my seat by a Vulcan or a Klingon, Im not exactly sure. An old college buddy of mine excitedly invited me to his Star Trek wedding. He insisted it was a great wedding idea to have members of the wedding party dressed as characters from Star Trek, the TV show.

The invitation even suggested that I come dressed as an extraterrestrial thankfully the costume rule for the guests was optional (and judging from the attendance, all the guests opted for decidedly less-than galactic outfits). The vows were read in Klingon, which Im sure the wedded couple thought was a great wedding idea, as well.

The look of the mother of the bride was priceless a cocktail of emotions that included happiness, joy, pride, sadness, confusion and (possibly) contempt. Looking at the bridesmaids and groomsmen all decked out in various forms of body armor, capes, masks and wigs, it looked like we were filming an Ed Wood movie. I had to disagree with my old college friend, a Star Trek theme was definitely not a good wedding idea.

How Much Is Too Much?

Weddings shouldnt be cookie-cutter copies of the traditional ceremony adding the personal touch or a humorous feature is an excellent wedding idea. The important thing to remember is not to allow the personal touches to consume the wedding. Having a few cages of lovebirds is a lovely wedding idea; having your bride covered in feathers, while she flies down the aisle to the soundtrack of bird calls in not a lovely wedding idea.

A popular theme for weddings is a Renaissance wedding much more appealing than a Star Trek wedding. When the elements of Elizabethan England are included in the ceremony subtly, the outcome can be very pretty. Styling the brides wedding dress after an authentic design of the Renaissance is a great wedding idea.

Even having the rest of the wedding part dressed in Renaissance costumes can be effective, just as long as an eye is kept on good touch and elegance, or your wedding party can end up looking like a troupe from the Renaissance Fair. Once the Renaissance theme starts to seep into the reading of the vows, the toasts and the menus, then there is a problem. Eating whole turkey legs without cutlery may seem authentic, but it is definitely not a good wedding idea (nor a very sanitary one, for that matter).

How About a Twist?

The main problem with a wedding theme is that it can take over the whole ceremony, turning the ceremony into a tacky or gimmicky evening. Theres a thin line separating tacky with tasteful, and often in a desire to stay within the confines of a theme deemed brilliant, the wedding couple can opt for the former.

At another wedding I recently attended, the invitations read Great Gatsby Theme and on my way to the wedding, I have visions of women dressed in unfortunate flapper costumes, but was pleasantly surprised when the extent of the theme was to wear white. The theme was a great wedding idea because it was a memorable visual, but the wedding wasnt ridiculous.

Be Yourself within Reason

A wedding ceremony is a party, and the point is to have fun, but that doesnt mean that you can turn the wedding into a carnival sideshow because you want to make the wedding ceremony memorable and different. A good wedding requires meticulous planning, and input from a person not getting married, so that someone with an objective viewpoint so that he or she can shed some harsh, yet often necessary, beams of reality over the proceedings.

As opposed to indulging in ridiculous themed weddings (which can be expensive), personalizing a wedding with handmade wedding supplies is a great way to show your guests and members of your wedding party just how much they mean to you.

Cape Cod Wedding Photographers
The best source to explore their credentials and customer service is to have the wedding photographer provide a list of references and customers, check with the Better Business Bureau and conduct an online search for any positive or negative feedback. If your feelings get hurt, talk to someone who is not involved with the wedding, but dont let it affect the wedding. These patterns, often found on Celtic wedding rings are called such because of the way they interlock with each other. If dark red roses are your taste, go for that.

Melt the vinyl record over a bowl in the microwave to serve as a base for the 1970s wedding centerpiece, then shop for little items that will remind guests of the era.
What part do they see each parent or step-parent playing? While this is definitely an exhausting task, the homemade candles in the wineglasses (which my friend bought at cost in bulk) were a great way to shave a bit off the budget for the wedding supplies. You have to be 18 or over (or have parental consent), you have to provide current ID, and pay a fee for the marriage license. and you can rarely hear the ceremony unless its amplified. That way she had something for the people who dont care for cake.