Q My fiancé and I love live music, and attend all sorts of different gigs and festivals. We want to incorporate this into our wedding theme – is there anything you can suggest?
Sian Says: Why not create your own festival? If you are able to hold your wedding in a marquee you are already half way there. Use straw bails as outdoor seating and bunting as decoration. Wildflowers, daisies and sunflowers will give a rustic, jolly feel.
Food could be outdoors, maybe with a choice of stalls from hog roasts to fish and chip vans and old fashioned ice cream carts.
Drinks can be cider, cloudy lemonade and wine in tin baths filled with ice for embellishment.
Entertainment will be key at a festival / gig themed wedding. Maybe have a tribute of your favourite band for the evening dancing and ask any musical friends to play throughout the afternoon. This can be a great way of saving costs and also adding a personal touch.
Jam jars with tea lights inside, lamp oil torches, glow sticks and Chinese lanterns can be used as lights to decorate in the dusk/evening. Perhaps try incorporating wellies, wristbands or lanyards in to enhance the theme further.
Your invites will be the first idea the guests get of your plans, so maybe look at making handmade invites on recycled paper or even sending ‘tickets’ to your ‘weddingfest’
Q I've heard wedding themes are all the rage nowadays, but I haven't got a clue where to start. We don't have a particular theme we want to follow, but I'd love something a bit different. Can you give me any inspiration?
Sian Says: A wedding theme does not have to be anything wild, wacky or unusual. It can be something as simple as a style or colour that is used throughout the elements of the day to tie them all together. Think about your own personal style and colour pallet. Are you bright and vibrant, earthy and natural, or maybe you prefer things pink and sparkly (though make sure your spouse is happy to go along with this choice!)
You may want to think about the season in which you are getting married. It will influence your choice of flowers, venue, dress and food, and can be incorporated into your invites, stationary, décor and entertainment.
Perhaps think about places that you have visited that have been special to you or you have particularly enjoyed.
If you want something a bit more unusual, think about hobbies or interests that you and your partner share. Maybe you are both keen film buffs and would like an old fashioned Hollywood style, or you both love scuba diving and want an underwater theme!
Make yourself a scrap book containing any wedding photos and ideas that you like. This will also help when meeting suppliers so they can get an idea of your style. If using a wedding planner, ask them for ideas and suggestions of past themes that have worked, or maybe once they get to know you, they will be able to work out the perfect theme for you.
