Wedding themes are a huge decision! There are so many to choose from, and they might not all fit within your budget. You might even have to DIY a few things yourself to get your special day, and don’t even get us started on colour schemes! Relax, take a deep breath, and read up on our favourite wedding themes to get things rolling!

1. Vintage

This is one of those wedding themes that never seem to go out of style. Vintage weddings are either inspired by weddings past, include a bunch of old school items, or a mix of both. Many people like to add classic chandelirs, big pearls, and even obsolete technology (mostly typewriters and cameras). One unique trend among this theme is to include images of pervious family members’ weddings! It’s a nice little homage that’s becoming more common.

2. Southern-Inspired/Country

Cowboy boots and ten-gallon hats may make an appearance, but Southern-Inspired and Country weddings are more than that. They’re a great way to mix the formality of the ceremony with the casual idea that weddings don’t have to be so stiff. Many people like to incorporate gingham table cloths, lemonade, and pies, but really, all that matters is that the bride and groom enjoy their special day.

3. Rustic

Rustic themed weddings have been on the rise and don’t seem like they’ll stop! It’s a nice blend of two other popular wedding themes: vintage and country. Popular motifs for rustic weddings include old barns, weathered wooden furniture, and elevated lanterns. As charming as they are, there are a lot of unique ways to tailor rustic weddings to your personal taste. Because of this, we’re hoping rustic weddings will be around for a very long time.

4. Art Deco

What comes to mind when you think of art deco? If you say black and gold colour schemes, glamourous decorations, or The Great Gatsby, you’re right! Art Deco was a popular interior decorating aesthetic back in the 1920s and 30s. It uses a lot of bold colours and linear geometric patterns, which makes for a great wedding theme! These days people change it up a bit for their personal tastes like adding in more modern twists to it. If you’re unsure of how to go about, check out Pinterest or wedding magazines for ideas.

5. Music

This may seem a little off, but it’s actually a great wedding theme. If you’re the creative type, this theme has a lot of potential to work with. It’s easy to find decorations in the shape of music notes, vynl records, and tape recorders. Cakes are easy to make, and using music sheets as flowers for bouquets isn’t that hard! If you have access to brass instruments, you can incorporate music motifs into a rustic wedding, too! Again, it’s all about creativity!

6. Beach

Have beach themed weddings ever not been in style? They’re an easy and fun way to celebrate your special day! Keep things light and airy with lots of linens and cottons, incorporate ferns and summer flowers for more natural decor, and add in some sea shells and starfish to keep on track. Of course, those are all suggestions. Whatever you decided to do, make sure you enjoy it.

7. Nautical

Similar to beach weddings, nautical-themed ones are usually held close to some kind of body of water – however, that’s not always the case. There’s a lot you can do with the nautical wedding theme without actually being near any shore. It’s all about the decorations from colour schemes to symbols and motifs. That’s what makes this one of the more fantastic wedding themes – the space for creativity.

8. Romantic

Romantic weddings can be traditional, but they don’t have to be. Romantic weddings have the room to be more modern through colour schemes, vows, and decor. It’s more for people who want to have the traditional wedding without being so formal or stiff.

9. Formal/Traditional

A classic among wedding themes, formal or traditional weddings are still very popular. They’re elegant in style, are fairly religious, and stick to the old-school events/traditions. The best part about traditional weddings? The three (or more) course meal followed by hours of dancing, of course!

10. D-I-Y

For people looking to have a wedding on a budget, the idea of having a DIY wedding is ideal. At these weddings, the majority of the decorations are done by hand and the furniture comes from you or someone you know. Wedding dresses, bouquets, and centre pieces can all also be made rather than bought. It all depends on the budget and and time available.

11. Garden Wedding

Garden Weddings may be quaint, but they’re on the rise! Many people love the idea of having an outdoor wedding to celebrate their special day, and rightfully so. Being outside is always a great choice, and it allows room to be both comfortable and formal without being stiff. Just make sure that if it rains you have an alternative ready.

12. Vineyard

Similar to garden weddings, many people are enjoying having their weddings in vineyards. Winery themed invitations and decorations usually include grapes, corks, and chalkboards, and the colours are usually purples, pinks, and whites. While many people assume that these weddings are usually in Niagara, there are many more venues to choose from outside the GTA.

13. Woodlands

Forests make for great wedding venues, so why not wedding themes? After all, some of us did want to have romantic fairy tale-like weddings as kids, right? Wedding photos have potenial for unique shots and lots of creativity, especially with all the natural light. There’s usually lots of parking and room for guests, so don’t worry about feeling cramped. With the use of natural colours, linens, tree stumps/logs/wooden planks, flora, and lots of tea lights, these weddings can be as casual or formal as you’d like without breaking the bank. Just confirm if there’s electricity and running water first.

14. Green/Eco-Friendly

Similar to woodland weddings, green or eco-friendly weddings are usually held outdoors, and take place in one single location. However, these green weddings revolve around making sure that there isn’t much waste as a result. Some examples include printing invitations on recycled paper, finding caterers who use local produce, and finding vintage or recycled dresses (and tailoring them to your tastes, too). As far as the registry goes, many add eco-friendly items or simply ask for donations towards the honeymoon. Whatever you choose to do, just remember that even the smallest steps help the environment.

15. Contemporary and Glamorous

Many modern weddings stick to the minimalist theme while still remaining as beautiful as any other traditional and formal event. The wedding dress is simple but elegant, the colour scheme stick to one – maximum two colours, and overall, everything is clean and simple. It’s a great wedding theme for anyone looking to stick to a tight budget while still being as glamorous as they want to be.

16. Whimsical

Fun, bright colours and lots of smiles, whimsical weddings are always a great option for those who want to have a wedding to remember. When it comes to these types of weddings, many people opt in for glitter, tons of flowers, and more balloons that you would see at any other celebration (see balloon arches). There are lots of games to play, tons of dancing, and of course, colourful food to eat. The great thing is that because of the nature of it, it’s one of the more creative wedding themes with a lot of leniency to find what works best for you and your budget.

17. Artsy/Colourful

Similar to whimsical weddings, artsy and colourful ones are a great way to get creative. Want wedding photos in Graffiti Alley? Sure! Water colour cake? There’s usually a baker in town who can do that! Want smoke bombs going off during the dancing portion of the wedding? It can happen! Of course, if you’re looking for something a little more low-key than that, there are tons of other options: art galleries will sometimes allow weddings to take place in their facility, and muted colours are very in style at the moment. Sometimes the subtleties are what make artsy weddings special. Either way, artistic and colourful are both great wedding themes to choose.

18. Travel

If you and your soon-to-be-spouse are fans of traveling, then maybe this is the theme for you. Make invitations look like plane tickets, incorporate globes and maps as part of the decor, and have mini suitcases filled with warm wishes from guests. Each table can have their own country and use that as a seating arrangement guide/centre piece. There are so many fun things to do for this wedding theme, it’s a safe choice if you’re looking for something unique.

19. Boho Chic

Want something a little more laid-back but not casual enough for jeans and sneakers? Boho Chic is the theme for you! It’s relaxed enough that it isn’t as stuffy as a traditional wedding, but at the same time is elegant enough that you’ll still have a gorgeous wedding. Many people incorporate dream catchers, weathered wood furniture, and macrame plant holders. There are also a lot of floral and celestial motifs to be seen, it all just comes down to your personal taste.

20. Celestial

You don’t have to be an astronaut to have a wedding that’s out of this world! Astrophiles are having gorgeous weddings featuring all things space-related! From Milkyway macarons to tables named after constellations, there are tons of ways to have fun with this theme. Most people stick to dep blues, gold, and white, but you don’t have to. Many people incorporate pastels, especially with quartz, moonstone, and other light gemstone decorations. You can always hang lights from your venue, but if you have the chance to get married under the real deal, why not?

21. Holiday Themed

Having a wedding on a popular holiday usually means you’re going to go with that theme. Christmas and Halloween are two of the most popular holidays for weddings, but Fourth of July, Easter, and New Years have all been done before, too. If you’re worried about coming off too tacky, a quick Pinterest or Instagram search will help you sort out your ideas better.

22. Books

Books can be romantic – especially if you use them as the theme for your wedding. Some libraries will let you rent them out as wedding venues, but if not, then you can always opt for something out of a fairy tale. Many people who go with this theme offer books or book marks as favours, use library check out slips as invitations, and have arches made of old novels. At the end of the night, be sure to serve a nice, hot cup of coffee or tea – because what else goes better with books than a warm beverage?

Have a specific book in mind? There’s a Pinterest board for that!

23. TV Show/Movie

Roll out the red carpet, hit the lights, and get ready to celebrate! Serve popcorn during the ceremony, use clapperboards for table numbers, and send out movie tickets as invites. Some people will rent out movie theatres as ceremony venues, while others will use props to make it look like their wedding is on tv.

If you’re looking for a specific tv show or movie to base your wedding on, Pinterest has you covered!

24. Circus

Some people like the idea of traditional circuses – to the point of making it their wedding theme. You can rent out an old-style tent, serve popcorn to guests, and maybe even hire a few performers to put on a show! While guests watch people on stilts and acrobats giving their best performance, you can redo the inside of the big-top for dining.

25. Comic Books

Whether it’s a specific comic series or just the general idea of vintage comics, this theme has a lot of room to be creative and have fun! People have worn superhero costumes under their formal wedding clothes, printed comic book scenes on shoes or other accessories, and made a wall out of pages of comics for photo ops. Wedding invitations can be made into small comics featuring the story of the couple, and seating arrangements can come in the form of superhero trading cards. One must-have? Capes for the flower girl and ring bearer!

26. Alternative Wedding

Remember that alternative doesn’t mean walking down the aisle to Red Hot Chili Peppers while wearing a black dress – unless you want to. It just means different than the norm. The black dress is just one example of that, since many brides don’t want to wear the traditional white. People are also dropping multiple course meals for buffets and make-your-own bars. Again, having an alternative wedding is about making the wedding about what the couple wants, not what is expected of them. Who knows, maybe you’re going to want to mix two or three from this list together to have your own special theme.