How did pick a theme and stick to it?

How did you pick a theme and stick to it? For example, if you want to do "Asian chic" how did that translate into actual things like invitations, BM dresses, favors, decor, etc.? Or rustic... what exactly is rustic? Or whimsical? Sorry I'm having a lot of trouble figuring out what goes with what, and I'm very tempted to pick individual things that I really like but I'm afraid they won't go together.

...or you can pick individual things and call it eclectic ;)

Asian chic to me seems like Asian + modern, very clean simple lines, natural materials, simple shapes. Keep to maybe greens, tans, blacks, reds, whites. Rustic seems country to me with reds, tans, and browns. And whimsical...uh...I think of Tinkerbell. Light pinks, purples and blues.

Sorry, I know this isn't too helpful, all I imagined were colors.

i think for me i started with a lot of ideas/themes/colors that i liked... and i had tons of cute stuff cut out from magazines. but as soon as I started making decisions, things became easier. the first decision we made was where and when (season, time of day) to have the wedding. From there, it was easy to decide between the two dresses I had narrowed things down to. One works amazingly well, the other could have worked, but not the best. And then every decision we keep making I've just been trying to follow the feel that I think keeps in theme. For many, i think there really is no right/wrong decision. And now I've just got my fingers crossed that it all works on the day!

I think you can pick several elements and repeat them...tie them in with color, etc. I am all for coordinated, but not matchy-matchy. We're doing "tropical sea"...

I was inspired by some glass mosaic and seashell vases and votives I found on sale and my "theme" was born. We tied it into the invites (PIB)...boxed pocketfolds embellished with seashells and Basho paper. I am using burlap (from Jamali Garden) for table runners with the mosaic glass and also aqua glass plates and goblets. Tons of candles and seashells and seaglass. We will use orchids to bring in the tropical elements...our main color is aqua/turquoise and white with hints of chocolate brown, papaya orange and lime green. The orange and green will be mostly in the flowers, the rest will be the aqua. turquoise, tan, choclate brown and white.

I agree with the other posters...start by brainstorming...find pics that you like...colors that you like. Inspiration can also come from your location (like ours...a beach in Kauai) or gown (40's glamour or poufy princess? Sleek and modern, haute couture? Frilly and romantic?) or time of year (seasonal colors)...

Think of it as a "branding campain" in that you want all of the elements to coordinate and be "your wedding"...

If you have some specific ideas, maybe we can help you tighten it all up a bit?!

I started out with the COLORS, and since we wanted to incorporate the Hawaiian (where we were getting married) and Chinese (both of our heritage) cultures, we used silk orchids for our invitations. And for our wedding favors, we matched them with the same silk orchids from the invitations, and we used Chinese takeout boxes and put Hawaiian teabags inside. We also had personalized chopsticks. You can see these items in my bio.

I think the easiest way to do it, is to first figure out what setting you want you’re wedding to take place in...(Beach, garden, church, Large Victorian home, Forest, Lake ect..)

Figure out what time of year you want to get married. (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)

If you decide on Spring or summer, find out what flowers are in bloom during the month you pick, this could help you chose your colors. A garden or beach wedding would be beautiful in these months.

If you do a beach wedding, think of water, seashells, mother of pearl. I'm having a destination wedding on the beach and I'm using shells everywhere. You could use natural shells or polished mother of pearl shells. Stick them in centerpieces, scatter them on table tops, use them on your cake, and even stick a couple in your bouquet.


If you decide on a fall wedding, you could pull your colors from the leafs on the trees, maybe even get married in a forest or a large cabin by a lake surrounded by forest. (Make sure it has lots of big windows, what a view that would be =))

Winter wedding you could go with a snow theme...maybe have a special lighting crew come in and have them project snowflakes onto the walls and ceiling for the reception, you could use blues, purples,whites maybe dark evergreen green (think ice and diamonds) for a theme. You could stick little hanging crystals in the centerpieces on the cake ect.

If you want any help coming up with ideas, just ask. I'm an artist so ideas are always popping into my head. Also check out my uploaded photos, you might get some inspiration. I have a lot of images I just think are beautiful there.

Good Luck

For my husband and I, it began with knowing what we love--like the movie "Braveheart", and the books, "The Lord of the Rings". Now those are two very different themes, but we figured, we'd kinda combine our favorite elements from them, and it worked, believe it or not...mainly because it matched us so well.

So, we got married at Nestldown, which has to be the one location in N. California most like a chunk of Fairyland, my bridesmaids wore cloaks and ivy wreaths, I chose bouquets that looked like bunches of woodland greenery and flowers, and I walked down the aisle to the "Princess theme" from Braveheart. Anyone that knew us, knew that our wedding fit who we were perfectly.

Think about the things that move you--what movies or stories make you cry and why? How would your best friend describe you if given the chance to break it down into just a few adjectives? What makes you or your groom unique? Then build off those things as you plan your wedding. That way, it will be so uniquely YOU, and that's the fun of it, anyway. :)