Plan a theme wedding that celebrates who you are as a couple. Whether you prefer formal, elegant events or fun, casual get-togethers, your special day should reflect your love for one another and your shared interests. In addition to creating a more memorable event, theme weddings can make the planning process easier. From invitations and dresses to food and flowers, engaged couples face an overwhelming array of choices. Selecting a theme may help narrow your choices while creating an event with a unifying focus. As an added bonus, selecting music, venues, food and clothing that complement your theme sets an unforgettable atmosphere.

Green Wedding Ideas

Environmentally conscious couples can plan an eco-friendly wedding from start to finish. Send out plantable wedding invitations and save-the-date cards that are embedded with wildflower seeds. Hold your ceremony and reception outside to reduce your carbon footprint. If the great outdoors isn't a suitable setting, look for eco-friendly venues that use solar power and energy-efficient equipment. Hold your ceremony and reception in the same place to conserve gasoline and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Decorate your reception site with potted plants and centerpieces made from in-season blooms. Design a menu that includes seasonal fruits and veggies, as well as organic produce. Use recyclable decorations or items made from renewable materials like bamboo. Send your guests home with green favors, such as flower seeds, beeswax or soy candles, small bird houses and tree seedlings. Donate your wedding dress so someone else can benefit from it.

Victorian Wedding Ideas

Hold a Victorian theme wedding if you appreciate the grace and manners of a bygone era. Queen Victoria, a member of the British monarchy who reigned from 1837 to 1901, was by all accounts quite devoted to her husband. She ushered in the popularity of the color white for wedding gowns. Until Queen Victoria's marriage, brides wore their best dress, regardless of the color. Skip the elaborate bouquet in favor of a Victorian-style tussy mussy, or tussy mussie. This smaller bouquet with a fun name usually includes a cone-shaped holder made from silver, brass or nickel. Play popular songs from the era, such as selections by composers Ludwig van Beethoven and Pytor Tchaikovsky.

Royal Wedding Ideas

Use Kate Middleton and Prince William's wedding as inspiration for your own event. Select rings made from Welsh gold. Pair a tiara with a classic dress that stands the test of time. Middleton's dress has been hailed as a modern take on a traditional look similar to that of Grace Kelley. Both commoners wore an elegant dress with a long-sleeved lace bodice when they became members of a royal family. Dress your bridesmaids in white. Unlike the United States, bridesmaids in the United Kingdom often wear white. This tradition originally began as a way to protect the bride from evil spirits. Serve fruit cake as your main dessert and a chocolate cake made with McVitie's biscuits as your groom's cake. Ask your female guests to wear fascinators.

Down-Home Wedding Ideas

You don't have to bring home the venison like singer Miranda Lambert to plan a country wedding. Create a rustic, yet cozy, atmosphere with an outdoor venue, such as a garden, barn or farmhouse. Decorate with metal pail centerpieces filled with wildflowers, garden lanterns and pretty farmhouse plates. Serve homemade lemonade, punch and sweet iced tea in Mason jars. Set out big buckets filled with ice, soda, wine coolers or beer. Hire a live country, rockabilly or bluegrass band. Give your guests homemade favors, such as jam, bread or cookies, in pretty packaging.

Seasonal Wedding Ideas

Take your inspiration from your wedding date. Select colors that reflect the season. For instance, go with burnt orange, chocolate or burgundy in the fall; cool blues, silver or white in winter; mint, eggshell blue or rose in the spring; and vibrant blues, greens, pinks or yellows in the summer. Design a menu that takes advantage of in-season produce and flowers.