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A wedding theme brings a sense of unity to the look and feel of your wedding day. It creates a peg that you can hang all your different style decisions upon. But don’t worry - your wedding theme doesn’t have to be cheesy or in-your-face!

The subtle underpinning of your celebration around a common factor draws the whole event into a seamless whole. It helps to crystalise the meaning and gives an emotional lift to the proceedings.

Choose a theme that excites you

Vintage hollywood wedding theme

Visualise your dream wedding. What would it be like? Do you see yourself getting married in Hollywood with all the glitz and glam of a celebrity wedding? Consider a vintage Hollywood wedding theme. It gives a tongue-in-cheek nod to fame and fortune without overstepping the mark.

Instantly, delicious bias-cut dresses a la Ginger Rogers spring to mind along with elegant sharp-suited guys with neat haircuts like Fred Astaire. Smart style and vintage class come part and parcel with the theme.

Traditional country wedding theme

You’re a down-home couple with no pretentions. The one thing you’re quite sure of is that you want to keep it simple. You might consider a traditional country theme. Choose a tithe barn or a village hall and centre your celebrations round a hog roast, followed by simple strawberries and cream.

Round off the event with a barndance. Call it ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee), ceili or barn dance. It doesn’t matter which. All these names refer to the same type of event - an old-fashioned country dance. Whether it’s Scottish, Irish or English, barndancing is great fun. It’s very easy to pick up and is enjoyed by everyone from seven years old to seventy.

Kitch ’60s wedding theme

You’re city sophisticates with a real sense of fun. What about a kitch ’60s wedding theme? It will give an Austin Powers atmosphere of fun to your day. Think Twiggy and Mary Quant. You’ve instantly got great period style for the clothes.

Now consider the wedding music. What can I say? Rock ‘n’ Roll, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, James Brown, The Supremes, Tamla Motown - the list is endless. I rest my case!

Choose a theme that your guests will be comfortable with

Before you disappear off into the clouds in wild flights of fancy about your dream wedding theme, do be sure to ask yourself some down-to-earth questions. These will hopefully guide your feet back down onto Planet Earth without too many mishaps.

How will your friends and family feel about your chosen wedding theme? Will they be comfortable with Hollywood wedding bling, for example? There is no greater dampener to an occasion than uncomfortable guests.

Chances are that if you’re a flamboyant couple, you will have flamboyant friends who will put their heart and soul into an extrovert theme. If friends and family don’t quite share your taste for stepping out in style, don’t take your them too far out of their comfort zone. Tone down your theme to acceptable levels.

Choose a theme that fits your budget

Be aware of the costs entailed before you set your heart on a particular theme. A Victorian wedding, for example, lends itself to Neo-gothic country house hotel surroundings. I can hear the cash-register ticking over!

On the other hand, a kitch ’60s wedding theme is dependent on period dress for its success. There’s still plenty of vintage sixties gear available at very reasonable prices, if you know where to look.

Match your wedding music to the wedding theme

Remember that wedding music can be used to bring your theme to life. Live music is a brilliant way of evoking a time and place. It’s also a wonderful way of kick-starting the celebration mood.

Take look at the Hop Till You Drop Wedding Music Agency’s list of wedding bands, party bands and function bands . Browse through in your own time to find music that fits your wedding theme. From duos to full jazz orchestras, you’ll find options to suit all pockets.

A specific wedding theme gives a unified look and feel to your special day. Choose a theme that will not only give you enjoyment, but will also be embraced happily by your guests. Be aware of the budgetary implications before making a final choice. When the decision is made, have great fun adding extra style and panache to your celebration as you implement your chosen wedding theme!