Theming Your Springtime Wedding
09/01/2012
Spring is commonly viewed as a time of renewal and rebirth, so it offers the perfect time of year for a life-changing event like a wedding. Despite this, spring is often a distant third place behind summer and autumn for the most popular time of year to get married, so if you’re considering a spring wedding you are likely to be onto a good thing as more venues and services will be available, rather than being booked up tight, and you may even be able to negotiate some discounted rates for venues and travelling!
For a spring wedding theme, start your creativity off by thinking of your favourite parts of the season. If you like the image of new flowers growing up through the snow, maybe you want your wedding in early spring so you can offer a warm indoor environment filled with flowers when your guests come in from the cold. If you’re more into sunshine, you can plan your wedding for later in May using brighter colours with floral accents.
If you are getting married in a church, talk to them beforehand about their planned Easter decorations, as you may be able to save a lot of money by using their existing flower arrangements rather than having to provide your own wedding flowers. Remember that while wedding vendors will be readily available in spring there are lots of balls and dances for schools and colleges at this time of year, so you’ll probably need to book any limousines and tuxedo rentals extra early to make sure you get them.
The vast majority of wedding dresses are ideal for a spring wedding. Dresses with large skirts are often too warm for the summer, and sleeveless wedding dresses are usually too cold for the winter. Beware of any lingering winter chills, and consider a wrap or bridal bolero which you can add to your dress to keep off the cold. This can also be a good way to add a touch of colour to your bridal outfit, which is becoming increasingly popular these days. Pastels are common and work brilliantly for a subtle spring feel. A lot of brides go for subtle touches for a blue or green wedding but if you want to be bold and really encourage the spring sunshine then you can opt for an orange wedding theme, or even a bright and daring fuschia wedding!
For the rest of your wedding party, remember that spring weather is notoriously changeable, so be prepared for both bright sunshine and warmth or a damp and chilly day. Pick out bridesmaid dresses with sleeves on them or provide wraps as bridesmaid accessories. You could even go for a vintage look with cardigans for your bridesmaids to keep them warm.
While pastel bridesmaid dresses are commonly seen in spring weddings, they can be dreaded by some bridesmaids! Let your bridesmaids choose the cut or colour of their dresses and you’ll probably have fewer complaints. Or you could go in a fresh, new direction with lime green or turquoise bridesmaid dresses, paired with pink wedding bouquets for a beautifully complementing look. If you’re going for a daytime wedding, have your groomsmen’s suits match up to the season with tan waistcoats and co-ordinating ties – black isn’t the only colour for the chaps, remember.
If you can, avoid putting your wedding party in satin shoes in case of any showers. You might also want to buy everyone some matching umbrellas, just in case, but don’t worry if it does rain – there’s a lovely wedding picture to be had with a bride and groom smiling together under a big umbrella.
A cheerful pink and green colour combination is very seasonal, and perfect for a fresh-feeling springtime wedding. For your wedding reception, accent your tables with polka dot fabrics and ribbons, and use alternating chair colours to keep the theme up. If you’d prefer a more elegant wedding theme, combine a paler green with white and use silver as an accent colour. If you are having an outdoor or garden wedding reception, a beautiful maypole can make a classy decoration as well as keeping young children entertained.
Spring wedding flowers include roses, tulips, lilies and daisies. Multicoloured lilies are very popular and can look lovely in a spring bouquet. You can also use hyacinths combined with lemon leaf or maiden hair for a very pretty arrangement. You can subtly evoke Easter in your centrepieces using white baskets with flowers, some tealight candles and a sprinkling of flower petals. For an unexpected and brighter touch, consider tying your flowers with polka dot or striped ribbons in a pastel colour.
Above all keep your wedding theme ideas fresh and light just like the season and you should have a dreamy and wonderful wedding regardless of the weather. Happy springtime wedding planning!
