(This article first appeared in the November print edition of the Hendersonian.)
Are your wedding dreams something different than the cookie-cutter weddings you’ve been invited to lately? Are you seeking the WOW factor, the memorable, the personal? Maybe something your guests have never seen before? To accomplish the truly unique will require a creative spirit, uninhibited imagination and a mind that’s wide open! Perhaps you don’t think of yourself as all that creative, but you have innovative and crafty friends, right? Tap into this great resource of willing friends and relatives who know you best. Let them brainstorm the ideas that fit your personality.
Following your theme, the venue and decorations will establish a certain feeling or ambiance for the ceremony and reception. Hey! Money can buy ambiance, but if you’re on a small budget, you may need an extra special thinking cap to come up with creative and inexpensive ideas. This can make your brain hurt but take the challenge! First, define ambiance—a mood created by a particular environment.
Imagine a winter wedding. The theme: A magical forest, a darkened sanctuary, dozens of evergreen and holly boughs, tiny, white, twinkle lights and candles. The platform is loaded with lighted trees and candles, glowing on candelabra. Imagine a classical pianist playing softly—the only musical instrument used throughout the ceremony. The bride comes down the aisle looking like the dream princess of her magical forest. Her charming prince stands waiting. Can you imagine it? The concept is so simple, yet it sets an elegant mood, one of royal elegance, simply created by using Ficus trees, candles bought by the gross and borrowed twinkle lights… And look at the results—an excellent example of a very expensive-looking ambiance on a tight budget.
A creative wedding characterized by originality and expressiveness can range from a full-blown theme wedding like a Renaissance or superhero-themed wedding to a more traditional wedding with innovative touches that your guests will never forget. Today’s weddings are becoming more unique, with brides and grooms putting their touches on everything from the ceremony to the last dance. Wedding vendors are becoming more accommodating to these special requests. You’re free to put your own personal stamp on your special day.
Before you decide to throw a creative wedding, you may want to make a quick list of pros and cons to determine if it’s really for you.
The pros: Your guests will enjoy a new experience. You can turn your lifelong fantasy into reality. Your day can truly reflect your personal interests. You’ll enjoy planning it. You won’t have to participate in traditions you don’t care for. You can break the old conformist mode. You can make your wedding as unique as your relationship. And your wedding will be an event talked about for years to come. This is one time in your life you’re expected to be self-indulgent. You’re spending lots of money already – why not spend it on exactly what you’ve dreamed of?
The cons: Planning a theme wedding can be more time-consuming and detail-oriented than planning a traditional wedding and more expensive, but your vision is your decision.
As you begin to plan, it’s important to remember that creativity is an attitude, a state of mind. Drop your preconceived notions and open your mind to new ideas. The key to wedding creativity is to challenge your habitual responses to how a wedding should be and design your wedding exactly as you want it to be.
My love note: Choose your wedding theme carefully. It shouldn’t be a gimmick but a true reflection of your and your sweetheart’s personalities.
Pem Pfisterer Clark has been hosting the nationally syndicated radio show “Wedding Planning With Pem” for over 20 years. The show provides valuable advice, insider tips, etiquette and money-saving ideas to listeners across the country. Bill Stevens Stark is the executive producer of the show.
