FeaTure
Individual and memorable – or downright wacky?
We get the lowdown on weddings with a theme.
rom fairytale characters to extras to make it authentic, needs
F
medieval banquets, from thinking through. couples who see their
cowboy hats to christmas theme through to the wedding, leaving
costumes, themed weddings guests in no doubt as to what that theme
are growing in popularity. is, are in the minority.”
although some weird and wonderful bláithín says that guest participation
ideas can be over the top, it’s perfectly is key for a successful themed wedding.
possible to have themes running “if guests are up for it, you can pull off
throughout your wedding without being an ambitious themed wedding, but you
too outrageous. do need their support. brides tend to
Themed weddings are a phenomenon be the driving force behind a wedding
throughout the world and vary wildly theme, but it’s crucial that the groom
from the tasteful to the ridiculous. While is 100 per cent keen. i’ve seen grooms
some couples choose subtle themes talk their bride out of a theme halfway
like music or colours, others go all-out. through planning, often because he’s
in april 2009, one english couple tied worried about what his mates will think.
the knot dressed as shrek and princess it’s better to be honest with each other
Fiona – and soon hit the news. although from the start.”
it was a ‘fairytale wedding’, most brides marie collins agrees that accord is the
would question the wisdom of posing best way forward. “We sit and talk to
for wedding photographs dressed as a couples in detail about their day. if
cartoon ogress with red wig and bright that involves a theme, its best to know
green make-up! from the start, so we can facilitate
although they are huge internationally, their wishes.”
themed weddings are not quite as “one couple came from america
popular in ireland. “strong catholic to marry at doonbeg. The groom was
traditions are still important to couples,” irish and the bride american, so they
explains marie collins, from the had a subtle theme of ireland vs sex in
doonbeg resort in county clare, “themes the city. little touches ran throughout
they incorporate are more about their the day, so we served baby guinness
own personality than dressing up for cocktails to the men and cosmopolitans
the sake of it. couples are increasingly to the ladies during the drinks reception,
moving away from wedding ‘packages’, for example.”
however, and want something individual. “sometimes themes happen
a theme can provide that.” organically. one couple booked their
bláithín o’reilly-murphy, wedding wedding far in advance and munster
planner and author of Distinctive played leinster in a rugby semi-final on
Weddings - Tying the Knot without the their wedding day. The groom was rugby
Rope Burns, agrees that themed irish mad and so we organised Tvs around
weddings are not as bold as abroad. the venue and guests brought inflatable
“many couples start out with huge hands and big hats to wear during the
ideas,” bláithín reveals, “but further game. it added fun and personality to
down the line they don’t have the the day, even though it wasn’t a theme
confidence – or budget – to pull it off. the couple envisaged when they started
a hollywood theme might sound their wedding preparations.”
brilliant, but asking friends and family bláithín has also helped to plan
to dress up, and paying for glamorous weddings with a variety of themes.
The WhiTe pages 179
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