Theme Weddings

Theme weddings have become more popular in recent years; this summer we photographed a "camping" wedding, where many of the guest brought tents and stayed overnight.  (Luckily it didn't rain.)  The theme you choose is limited only by your imagination (and willingness to be different.)

Here are a few of the more common theme weddings:

• Holiday Weddings.  If your wedding is held on or near a holiday, you can incorporate the holiday theme into your decor and activities. Many couples choose to be married around Valentine's Day, and Christmas is also popular with its theme of spirituality and renewal.  We've never been to a Halloween wedding, but we're sure someone somewhere has held one.  The 4th of July is also a popular date, especially if you can hold your reception near a fireworks demonstration.  You may want to avoid Easter or Passover, since some religions restrict the activities of their followers.
• Military Weddings.  While you obviously need to have some connection to the armed forces, military weddings can be incredibly impressive.  We attended a wedding at the Navy Chapel in Washington, D.C., and the combination of military uniforms and the bride's and bridesmaids' dresses was visually stunning.  Military weddings tend to follow a fairly strict protocol, but you can combine traditional wedding themes with military themes to create a ceremony that honors the couple, the families, and the military.
• Double Weddings.  We've only seen a few, and double weddings can be a little tricky to pull off, since twice as many families are involved.  You can save on expenses, though, and a double wedding can make for some wonderful memories.  Keep in mind that you're not likely to share the same vision or dreams of your wedding day with any other couple, and compromises will have to be made.  If you have a double wedding, typically the older of the two brides and her wedding party walks down the aisle first, followed by the second bride and her party.  It can get pretty crowded, so make sure you pick a location with plenty of space for both wedding parties.
• Honeymoon Weddings.   You and your guests travel to a location for your wedding and stay for a few days after the ceremony.  Obviously it makes sense to have your wedding at a resort or "destination" - that way you combine the wedding with a group vacation.  Your wedding will naturally be fairly small, especially since the guests are usually expected to pay their own way.
• Progressive Weddings.  You and your fiancee go to a series of wedding events and festivities over the course of a period of days or weeks, usually at different locations.  Normally you'll hold your service in one location, travel to another city or state for your reception, and go on a honeymoon/group vacation to a third location.  Other couples have a progressive wedding in the same general area or even the same city.  Progressive weddings have become less popular because it's difficult to arrange all the schedules so everyone can attend every event and location.
• Surprise Weddings.  We've only seen one of these:  The couple isn't surprised, but the guests arrive for a "party" and are surprised to learn they're actually attending a wedding.  The problem is some people who would have loved to come to your wedding may not want to come to the "party," and if you want to keep the wedding a surprise, you can't clue them in to the real purpose of the get-together.  The only way surprise weddings work is if you can count on all your loved ones attending the "event" you invite them to.

Other types of theme weddings include period weddings, costume weddings... the possibilities are endless.  Make sure whatever theme you choose is one you'll be happy remember years later - don't hold a NASCAR wedding if ten years from now you'll be embarrassed your fiancee dressed in Jeff Gordon pit crew clothing for your ceremony.