Classic, Trendy, and Creative Wedding Theme Ideas (PART 1/3: Classic)

Whether you want a simple, intimate ceremony or an elaborate, over-the-top celebration, planning a wedding isn’t easy. Even if you hire a wedding planner, you’re still an active part of the process and countless decisions need to be made. One major factor that must be decided on before the rest of the planning can commence is the wedding theme. With so many dreamy and classic wedding theme ideas out there, it can be hard to choose. But the wedding theme is the hinge upon which all other decisions are made, so it’s good to have a solid concept of what you want your wedding to be early on. 

So what exactly is a wedding theme? The wedding theme sets the overall tone for your big day and is the guide from which all aesthetic decisions are made. With so many different wedding themes and styles to choose from, it’s common for couples to get hung up on this major hurdle early on. 

But choosing a wedding theme doesn’t have to be hard, and can be a lot of fun! Just think of certain elements representing you as a couple – your tastes, style, personalities, interests, etc. And take some time to reflect not just on the day itself, but how you want to remember your big day in the future. Start getting inspired early by searching through Pinterest boards, magazines, and wedding blogs to see what starts catching your eye most. 

To help you with your search, we’ve compiled a 3-part guide of wedding theme ideas organized into three categories: classic, trendy, and creative. To get you started, here are some classic wedding theme ideas you need to check out!

1. Formal/traditional
2. Rustic/country
3. Garden/garden party
4. Romantic
5. Seasonal
6. Holiday

1. Formal/traditional

When you think of classic wedding theme ideas, nothing is more classic than a traditional, formal wedding. You can really make your big day special with an extravagant black-tie wedding. Picture your guests all dressed up in tuxes and cocktail dresses, proper table settings, opulent seating and decor, stunning florals, a gorgeous wedding cake with all the tiers, elegant catering, and, of course, plenty of champagne. 

2. Rustic/country

Does southern charm and hospitality define you as a couple? If so, one of the classic wedding theme ideas you should consider is a rustic country theme. You don’t have to live on a farm or have your wedding in a barn to achieve a rustic theme, although it helps! A rustic country theme can be implemented in any venue and be anything from shabby to chic, to shabby chic. 

This classic wedding theme idea especially facilitates those who are taking a more DIY approach to their wedding planning and decor. The more handmade the decor is, the more rustic it will feel. For a rustic theme, use as much wood as possible and other elements such as twinkle lights, lace, gingham, hay bales, mason jars, twine, and burlap. Incorporate a rustic naked wedding cake or other wedding cake alternatives, bbq style catering, wear your cowboy boots down the aisle, and keep the country music flowing. 

3. Garden/garden party

If your wedding is taking place in the spring or summer, one of the classic wedding theme ideas you might want to consider is a garden or garden party theme. A garden party theme can be anything from casual and intimate to elegant and elaborate, and is all about flowers. 

An ideal setting for this theme could be outdoors in a backyard, a gazebo, a greenhouse, or botanical gardens. But if you don’t want to brave the unpredictableness of an outdoor wedding due to weather, a garden party wedding theme can still work inside an accommodating venue. 

Wherever you have it, a garden party wedding should be lush with lots of greenery, flowers, and butterflies. You can even use some vintage or Victorian elements to add a little character if that fits your style.

4. Romantic

If you’re looking for classic wedding theme ideas that are sweet and pretty, we highly recommend a romantic theme. Red is bold and typically associated with the color of love and passion. But tone it down a little to pink and it’s also associated with love, but the sweeter, more romantic kind. And that’s just the kind of love a wedding celebrates. 

A romantic wedding theme will use a soft color palette. Soft pinks can be paired with other light or pastel colors such as grey, teal, turquoise, baby blue, and sage. Stay away from bold colors that might overpower the romantic theme. 

Along with soft hues, incorporate tulle, delicate lighting, and plenty of florals for a romantic theme. For lighting, consider pink spotlights, twinkle lights, lots of candles, and hanging lights or chandeliers. For flowers, a flower wall is always a hit. Plan for gorgeous, soft floral arrangements as centerpieces, and make sure all of your labels use elegant fonts or calligraphy.

5. Seasonal

If you’re having trouble deciding, one of the more popular go-to classic wedding theme ideas is to just lean into the season your wedding is in. You might even save some money on your wedding with this option, as most seasonal flowers and decorations are easier to find and cheaper when in season. Some simple elements of a seasonal wedding might include:

• Spring wedding: for a spring wedding, you can incorporate elements such as gardens, birds, flowers (especially daisies), lots of pastels, etc. 

• Summer wedding: a summer wedding elicits brighter hues and picnic, ocean, or beach elements.

• Fall wedding: a fall-themed wedding is rich in rustic colors and could incorporate harvest elements such as hay bales, leaves, pumpkins, etc. (And yes. Even pumpkin spice lattes!)

• Winter wedding: a winter-themed wedding might be the only time you actually hope there’s precipitation on your big day. Use elements such as snow, plaid, pinecones and evergreens, garlands, candles, hot cocoa and cider, and maybe even go bold with some Christmas-y decorations, too!

6. Holiday

Last on this part of our guide of classic wedding theme ideas is a holiday theme. If you’re still choosing a wedding date and considering a holiday week or weekend, it can seem like a no-brainer. A few extra days built-in to celebrate and spend time with your friends and family. Festive atmospheres. Super fun photo opportunities. And while that’s all true, there are definitely both holiday wedding pros and cons to consider. So make sure you consider what’s most important for you. 

If you do decide to go ahead with it, a holiday wedding can be extra magical, festive, and memorable. Some popular holiday wedding theme ideas include Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, and July 4th. 

Be sure to stay tuned for Part 2 and Part 3 of this guide where we discuss some trendy and creative wedding theme ideas!

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