Wedding Theme

Discover some fabulous wedding theme ideas below to help you plan a beautiful and memorable marriage celebration in Europe.

Marie Antoinette

This classic favorite evokes a romantic, whimsical and decadent era in French history dating back to the 18^th century. The following colors lend themselves beautifully to this theme: pale or dusky pinks and white and pearl, used either individually or mixed together.

The perfect type of flowers to create this theme are garden roses mixed with eucalyptus leaves and other foliage. Here are some more flower ideas to help achieve the desired effect:

Ceremony: Topiaries decorated with roses and other types of voluminous flowers such as peonies or hydrangeas depending on the season. Pew end/chair decorations consisting of a circular posy of roses and staggered rows of candles and round paper lanterns and not forgetting lots of fresh rose petals!

Reception: Grey table runner or pink and/or grey satin ribbons of different widths lain over each table. Centre pieces using an antique tureen (different on each table) or a white ceramic bowl filled with an abundance of garden roses and foliage. Floating candles placed in small glass vases with rose petals sprinkled around them.

Name place markers: Each name card is pierced by a long pin with a large grey pearl head and tucked into the napkin.

Buffet table: Cascade of different sized, grey hat boxes with an abundance of pink garden roses placed on top of and around the boxes or an old-fashioned presentation stand with a mixture of round glass bowls and different shaped candy jars full of flowers and candy (marshmallows, meringues and biscuits).

Check out some photos below...

Art Deco

The Art Deco era refers to a decorative and architectural style from 1920 to 1939 and is characterized by geometric designs, bold colors, and the use of plastic and glass. Any of the following colors therefore lend themselves to this theme: black, white, red, fuchsia pink and silver. Roses, feathers and pearls can be used to really set the scene.

Ceremony: Tapered glass vases with a tight bundle of tall branches/stems with 3 balls of roses attached to the stems at different heights and decorated with feathers. Pew end/chair decorations consisting of a small round bouquet of roses and feathers.

Reception: Satin table runners lain over each table. Centre pieces with a mixture of elements (small glass vases, bottles, jugs and jars) decorated with roses, rose buds, feathers and pearl necklaces. Small glass or silver vases containing floating candles.

Name place markers: A rose placed on each napkin and secured by a fine, satin, red ribbon or a small bouquet of feathers secured by a strand of pearls.

Buffet table: An old-fashioned presentation stand with a mixture of the elements found on the tables (glass vases, bottles, jugs and jars) and decorated with roses, feathers and pearls.

Here are some photos to help illustrate this theme...

Zen

Imagine a chic, outdoor garden party as a visual image to help you create this fresh, contemporary theme. Blend white Arum or Calla lilies or Anthuriums or Phalaenopsis orchids with green foliage.

Ceremony: Large tapered glass vases with tall, green bamboo stems and curved arrangements of white Calla lilies or Anthuriums or White Orchids. Pew end/chair decorations consisting of 2 white Calla lilies or Anthuriums secured with a green satin ribbon or a stem (5 to 7 flower heads) of white orchids. Lots of white rose petals.

Reception: Small, square piece of lawn placed in the centre of each table. On one corner of the lawn, a tall tubular vase containing Calla lilies or Anthuriums. On the opposite corner of the lawn place 2 green bamboo stems. A few flowers and white pebbles are scattered around the centre pieces. Green apples also help to add a final touch to this theme. An alternative to this would be to place 8 square plant pots filled with different plants or herbs in the centre of the tables and invite each guest to take one home with them! A great way to kill two birds with one stone, creating centre pieces that transform into wedding favors!

Name place markers: Each guest's name written onto a large, black or white pebble

Buffet table: Thick, green, bamboo stems stood vertically on the table with a cascade of flowers attached to the bamboo. Several bamboo stems lain horizontally at the base of the vertical arrangement and a few flower heads and green apples scattered around. The entire buffet table can be covered in grass if you wish to take this theme to the limit!

Enjoy our selection of photos below.     ..

Classic 17th Century

What could be more in-keeping for an old world wedding in Europe than a Classic 17^th Century theme? The choice of colors is open but a mixture of gold or silver, white or ivory work well together or gold and burgundy/Bordeaux. Arum/Calla lilies are available in summer or Amaryllis in winter. Roses are always a favorite and Phalaenopsis orchids can be found year-round if you have the appropriate budget.

Ceremony and Buffet tables:  Large, wrought iron or black iron candlesticks decorated in the centre with your choice of flowers from the above list. The candlestick can also be decorated with a satin ribbon.

Reception: Two satin ribbons of different widths in the color of your choice lain over each table. Tall wrought iron or small black iron candlestick centre pieces decorated in the centre with your choice of flowers from the above list. The candlestick can also be decorated with a satin ribbon. You can vary the heights of the candlesticks to create a more fluid effect in your reception room. Small glass vases containing floating candles placed on each table and shimmery confetti or pearls scattered over the tables. Think about matching the color of the chairs to your theme too.

See our selection of photos below...

Monochrome

This theme successfully mixes transparent, shiny and monochromatic textures and materials to create a fresh, pretty wedding theme that corresponds to a white, red, pink or orange color theme. Roses, Calla lilies, dahlias, lilies, hydrangeas and orchids all work well depending on the season.

Ceremony: Large tapered glass vases filled with a mixture of the above listed flowers. Pew end/chair decorations consisting of a glass test tube containing 1 to 3 of the above listed flowers. A profusion of colored rose petals.

Reception: Two mirrors placed on each table. Shallow rectangular, square or round glass vase filled with feathers and small luminous diodes. A cube-shaped vase filled with crystals placed on the container. Circular (or other) shaped flower posies arranged on top. Several small mirrored vases containing a floating candle on each table.

Name place markers: A flower placed on each napkin, secured by a fine, satin, ribbon

Buffet table: A cascade of flowers in 3 large glass cube vases or a tier of three different sized round glass bowls/vases decorated with flowers.

See our selection of pictures below...

Baroque 'n' Roll

This theme is great for a rehearsal dinner the night before your wedding or for a wedding anniversary celebration. Mix the "Baroque" style which originated in Italy in the early 17^th century and is characterized by free and sculptural use of the classical orders and ornament, by forms in elevation and movement and by dramatic effect in which architecture, painting, sculpture and the decorative arts often work to combined effect. Mix this with a touch of rock 'n' roll to produce a fabulous effect! Bold colors such as black, silver, purple and fuchsia pink will create a dramatic effect. Calla lilies matching your color scheme combined with sweet peas and peonies guarantee a pretty and harmonious effect.

Dinner: Black table cloths create a dramatic effect. Combine them with colorful ribbons lain over the tables, hire some silver chairs and crystal candlestick holders as centre pieces filled with black or purple candles. Print your menus before sliding them into silver picture frames and placing one or several on each table. Name your tables after famous rock 'n' roll singers.

Other ideas: Get creative when it comes to your table plan, why not spray paint some old picture frames silver, suspend some flowers inside mini glass vases and attach your table plan to them. Don't forget to use lighting to create a bold and fun atmosphere.

Here are some illustrative photos...