Dream a Little Theme

Is a Theme Ceremony Right for You?

by Kelley Granger, August 24, 2007

Paul McCartney’s elaborate wedding to Heather Mills was based on an Indian theme, and included dancers in authentic dress and vegetarian catering. Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt created an exotic Zen garden design for their day, with the help of 50,000 flowers. Tori Spelling and Charlie Shanian had a Great Gatsby motif, accented by her 1920s flapper accessories. These celebrity weddings, along with a barrage of magazines, television shows, and websites geared toward brides-to-be, have accelerated a growing trend in the industry—the theme wedding.

“I have to say that almost all of our weddings are on some level theme weddings,” says Susan Baker, director of sales for Mazzone Management Group, which organizes weddings at the Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia. “Every bride we talk with is trying to accomplish an overall look, whether it’s a contemporary, edgy, mod look, or a traditional English garden look.”

Baker and Jeanette Bowers, an assistant general manager for the Mallozzi Group, which organizes events at the Italian American Community Center in Albany, say that the most common theme they see is destination-related—portraying a couple’s affection for a particular location or bringing the feel of a foreign ceremony home in a reception for friends and family. “If you can’t go to the Greek Isles,” Bowers says, “bring them to you.” She helped one couple capture the spirit of their Hawaiian destination wedding with a luau-themed reception for friends and family that included tropical fruits and flowers for centerpieces and a pig roast. Baker says that when couples have a destination wedding, they’re more willing to have fun with their reception when they return home. One couple arranged a southwestern and Cinco de Mayo themed party that included a mariachi band, lots of bright colors, and sangria.

Bowers even worked with one couple to bring Vegas style to their wedding with a casino design—the reception was transformed into a gaming room of reds, blacks, and greens, with roulette and blackjack tables complete with dealers. Guests were given play money, which could be cashed in for prizes like gift baskets or wine bottles, in lieu of traditional favors. Bowers says depending on the couple’s financial commitment, there can be numerous creative possibilities—Elvis impersonators, showgirls, and lounge-type bands—to further enhance the theme.