Ideas for hosting a themed wedding

From matching decorations to full-on costumes – can a themed wedding be achieved without going over the top?

When planning her big day the bride will want everything to look perfect, down to the last little detail. Whether her favourite colour is purple or she wants the flowers in the venue to match the lilies in her bouquet, choosing some kind of theme is a good way to bring some unity to proceedings.

Of course, everyone interprets the idea of a themed ceremony differently. While some may consider it to be matching table decorations and wedding invitations, others may take the idea one step further.

A pair of bus drivers from Stratton recently decided that it was only fitting for them to celebrate the way they met at their nuptials – and arriving at Swindon register office in a vintage bus was the way to do this.

According to This is Wiltshire, Pete Johns and Fran Groat, who both work for Thamesdown Transport, decided that the 1967 double decker was needed to travel to their ceremony in style.

The bride said: "I'm not a bus anorak, but it's got to be hasn't it? Two bus drivers, you have got to have an old bus.

"I'm so sad I've got a tattoo of a bus on my shoulder."

And they are not the only ones who think that it is a good idea to get have a theme for the big day, as some people take the trend even further and get their guests to get into the swing of things for the occasion.

One couple who decided to really push the boat out and celebrate their marriage surrounded by ghosts and ghouls were Peter and Tracey Lott from Hucclecote. This is Gloucester reports that because they had both been married before and had the wedding venue booked near Halloween, they decided to have a spookily-themed celebration.

While the bride donned a black wedding dress the guests wore everything from pointed witches' hats to a Joker costume and the wedding was rounded off with fireworks at a local rugby club.

Guest Stephen Crossley said: "It was a great day, the weather was really mild, and nearly everybody dressed up. Tracey did all the catering herself and even made a haunted house cake as the wedding cake."

Although this celebration may have produced a memorable set of wedding snaps, it is likely that many people will be after a more traditional theme for their big day.

One of the easiest ways to do this could be to colour coordinate their decorations with the colour of the bridesmaid dresses or some of the flowers. Likewise, the icing on the cake can easily be tinted to tie in with the napkins or the calligraphy on the invitations.

Writing for the Jamaica Gleaner, Heather Little-White, a nutrition and lifestyle consultant, adds that the food served at the reception can also add to the theme of the occasion and the tables should be decorated accordingly.

"Vary textures, colours, shapes, heights and placement of food. Be creative with decorations," she advises.

Couples could also find that if they have gone for a formal venue, such as a country house, they want to serve a traditional sit-down, three course meal. For receptions in a local town hall, pub or hotel then a relaxed buffet that allows guests to mingle and chat as they enjoy their food could be more in-keeping with the theme of the occasion.