What is a classic wedding theme?

wedding theme

White with a touch of yellow flowers, plenty of greenery, vintage pink tablecloths, and understated centrepieces are classic touches for a wedding that will last forever. If you're the kind of bride who values tradition over fads, a traditional wedding theme is perfect for both the ceremony and the reception. You and your spouse will still be head over heels in love with one another when you actually look on your wedding images ten or twenty years from now because of these timeless wedding ideas.

Classic weddings are beautiful and timeless, but if you're on the fence about whether or not to take that route, it can be helpful to consider how other wedding types, such as boho, modern, and rustic, measure up against your own personal preferences. If you're not like these well-liked but overdone options, a traditional wedding style may be best for you. A classic wedding is typically more formal than a modern one, with elements like elegant colour palettes, clean lines, and gorgeous white and green floral arrangements.

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The possibilities for incorporating a traditional wedding motif into your special day are vast. Choose calligraphy, the ultimate in elegance, for your wedding invites. You and your future spouse might add a touch of formality to the proceedings by reciting more conventional wedding vows throughout the ceremony.   After dinner, indulge in a towering white buttercream wedding cake, a time-honored tradition.

A traditional wedding theme is perfect if you want to throw a glamorous, on-trend party that will stand the test of time. Forget about fleeting wedding decoration fads; this style is all about classic touches like muted colour palettes, monogrammed stationery, formal clothes, and plenty of champagne. In order to ensure that your wedding is flawless in its classic elegance, we have compiled this helpful guide that will walk you through every step of planning a traditional wedding.

Looking for a classic-themed wedding venue? Check out our list of best wedding venues in Melbourne.

Steven Beck Media

Table of Contents

Wedding Location

Classic wedding themes may be made to work in virtually any setting with the correct decorations, but they are especially well suited to private clubs, hotels, ranches, auditoriums, and banquet halls. Since these locations are already conventional and high-class, no further decoration will be required.

If you want to hold your event outside, think about renting a European-style garden, courtyard, or mansion. To a lesser extent, avoid anything that seems too rough and primitive. A wedding held in a gallery, conservatory, or other venue known for its refined aesthetic would be a refreshing take on the traditional white wedding.

Time of the Year

The best part about opting for a timeless wedding motif is that it can be used at any time of year. This look can be worn at any time of the year if you only remember to keep to the fundamentals of classic style. Flowers, notecards, and clothing can all be accessorised with seasonal touches.

Color Scheme

If you want your nuptials to be beautiful no matter where they are held, try using a colour scheme that is mostly grey, white, and brown. To pull off this look, your wedding colours should be tasteful and consistent. That usually means avoiding anything overly bright or flashy, but this doesn't imply your colour scheme has to be dull!

To begin, you should inspect the current furnishings of the venue, such as the walls, floors, and lights. On the big day, you want to look your best but also fitting in with your surroundings, so it's a good idea to take note of the dominant colours and work them into your colour scheme.

For a timeless wedding motif, neutral colours are ideal. A wedding colour scheme based on grey, black, white, cream, and khaki can be coupled with some other colours to make a striking combination, or the neutral colours can stand alone as the main attraction. Use bold colours like red, turquoise, pink, green, and burgundy to create drama to your design, or layer in texture and metallics for further dimension.

Altering your colour scheme to reflect the time of year of your nuptials is another option. Silver, gold, royal blue, and black are all great choices, along with other dark colours, for the winter. Pastel colours are a trendy choice for the seasons of spring and summer. We're big fans of the colours peach, petal pink, mint green, lilac, yellow, and azure.

Wedding Invitation

It is customary for classic weddings to have stationery that adheres to a more formal style. A wedding logo is a must-have for any traditional wedding or patterns, metallic, or printed lettering can be used to lend a special touch to your invitation suite. Add a touch of royalty to your invitations by having the envelopes hand-calligraphed.

Exquisite calligraphed invitations, or escort cards will never go out of style, despite the fact that many contemporary brides like to be creative with their escort presentations. Make a statement by setting out your calligraphed escort cards on a gilded tray or a piece of antique furniture.

Wedding Decorations

Oftentimes, the most beautiful ceremony backdrops are the most understated ones. Guests will be able to give their whole attention to the happy couple during the wedding. Simple drapery and an uncluttered altar are all you need to create a timeless atmosphere for your wedding ceremony.

Although it's exciting to incorporate the latest trends into your wedding, you don't want to look back on your images in a few years and wonder if you were crazy. When picking out timeless wedding decorations, it's important to ask oneself, "Will this still seem current after ten to twenty years?" Consider passing if you have any doubts.

Pillar candles, tea lights, chair ribbons, and high-end tablecloths are all examples of timeless decor that you should seek out. You should also avoid using ostentatious or bright decorations and instead stick to more subtle touches. Yet, traditional wedding decorations need not be boring. Enhance plain banquet tables with sequinned table runners, replace wooden seats with upholstered ones, and swag cloth from ceiling to floor. The ultimate goal is to create an atmosphere that is classy, refined, and sophisticated.

It's best to stick with traditional wedding decor and steer clear of mismatched pieces. The wedding will look more polished and put together if you keep to three or four colours and utilise the same embellishments (bead strands, ribbons, gemstones, etc.) consistently.

Using candles to set a romantic mood requires careful consideration of volume in order to get the desired effect. More candles are always better. Just make sure that you can actually light candles at your venue. To make your candle even more adorable, you can customise the label. It's a good idea to get wedding insurance in case anyone gets hurt or someone gets hurt when lighting candles.

Add some romance and drama to your wedding and reception by lighting candles.

We have compiled a list of wedding stylists and decorators in Victoria to help you with your selection.

Wedding Flower Arrangement

To say that roses are the quintessential wedding flower is an understatement. With their everlasting romance and year-round availability, roses are a perennial favourite. Roses are available in a wide range of sizes, colours, and kinds, and they have a delightfully fragrant bloom to add! Peonies, like roses, are a timeless classic, but because they're in short supply throughout the year, their cost at a wedding will likely exceed that of the former. Traditional wedding bouquets can also benefit from hydrangeas, and orchids.

Don't show up with a bouquet that follows the latest flower-arranging trends, such anything overly big or with too much flimsy foliage. Rather, have your florist create a more harmonious bouquet using only a small number of flower varieties and complementary decorative elements. Add a special touch by securing the stems with silk ribbons, tulle, or a glittering brooch.

Your ceremony location should not be overlooked. You can create a romantic atmosphere by scattering flower petals down the aisle or using floral arches at the altar. Be careful not to overdo it with the flower arrangements, though; if there are too many, they may steal the show from both you and your groom.

There shouldn't be a lot of variety in the reception centrepieces, but you can provide some visual variety by switching between short and tall arrangements at different tables. Similarly, picking out the right centrepiece vessels is crucial. Flowers are the focal point of any centrepiece, so avoid using anything too casual or distracting to detract from them. Topped with a white quartz centerpieces, rose vases, and floral centerpieces are some of our favourite alternatives for traditional weddings.

Choosing the proper type and volume of florals to add into your wedding day is the simplest approach to set an intimate tone.

If you want to set a romantic mood, then you should probably use roses or peonies. The look of a fairy tale can be achieved by sticking to shades of white and cream. Tulips are a third popular option to these two. If you want your wedding to have a romantic feel but also have room for some personal expression, tulips are the way to go.

Do not forget to factor in the cost of the flowers while making your budget plans. One piece of advice is to look into purchasing in-season flowers. You can end up saving a lot of cash if you do this. Get on the path to finding a competent budget planner who can assist you in setting financial priorities and minimising outlays.

For an extensive list of wedding florists in Melbourne, check out our blog.

Wedding Attire

Expect a dress code that is on the more formal side, depending on the venue's level of formality. Black tie is customary for weddings held in ballrooms and country clubs, although guests may wear less formal attire to ceremonies held in gardens, museums, or vineyards.

If you want to seem like a classic bride, a wedding gown is the way to go. You can go for simple elegance in a satin gown or go all out with tulle, beads, and lace. Traditional alternatives to the ball gown silhouette include the fitted gown and the sheath dress. Pearl jewellery is classic and will never go out of style; simple shoes and a well-groomed haircut will complete the look. Tie a sash around your waist and finish off your bridal outfit with a bow.

Wedding Cake

Use a cake that embodies elegance to complement your traditional celebration theme. The couple's classical wedding style was reflected in the cake, which was a minimalist five-tiered design decorated with garlands of delicate white blossoms. An extravagant appearance need not be achieved by the use of flashy, out-of-date ornamentation.

A vintage wedding just isn't complete without an old-fashioned wedding cake. You might ask the baker to just frost and top the cake, or you may ask for more elaborate embellishments. Our favourite decorations are hand-piped frosting, monograms, and flowers. While a fondant frosting can give your custom cake a more polished appearance, a buttercream icing decorated with a few understated flowers can achieve a similar effect.

Black tie events typically necessitate a tuxedo for the males in attendance. Stick with a darker suit for more relaxed clothes, but don't feel like you have to stick with just black. The traditional colour navy, and the modern colour charcoal grey, are both great examples of this.

If you put together a wedding in the classic romantic manner, it won't seem old after fifty years. Flowers play an important role in a traditional romance wedding, as do muted colour schemes. Gold accents and lots of candles are also perfect for a wedding with this theme. The right atmosphere can be created with the help of a stunning bride in a breathtaking gown and an elegant white wedding cake.

Elegance is the overarching goal of this design style, which features a lot of white drapery and colourful accents provided by high-end objects. Every couple wants to add their own distinctive touches to their wedding day, so they can remember it forever. Things like white dancing with customized graphics, intricate mirrors with seat layouts, welcome posters, and beverage lists, and so on.

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When planning the wedding's bonbonniere, a traditional theme gives you a lot of room to work with. Giving your guests culinary favours in beautiful packaging, such chocolate bars, sweets, or cupcakes, is an easy way to win over their hearts. If you want to give something that extra special touch, personalise the ribbon, box wrap, or favour tag. If you'd prefer a more understated presentation, white linen string favour bags would work beautifully. One amongst our favourite bonbonniere ideas is a decorative candle in the shape of a wedding cake; it comes in a clear blue box with a tiny pink ribbon tied around it.

CONCLUSION

The traditional wedding theme is ideal for the ceremony and the reception if you are the type of bride who prefers tradition to trends. More formal than a contemporary nuptial, a classic wedding features traditional characteristics such as colour palettes, clean lines, and flower arrangements. A garden, courtyard, or mansion decorated in the style of Europe would be perfect for an outdoor wedding. Colors in the neutral spectrum work best for a classic wedding theme. For the warmer months, our favourite colours are peach, petal pink, mint green, lilac, yellow, and azure.

Traditionally, more traditional wedding stationery is used. Having the invitation envelopes hand-calligraphed will add a sense of elegance and refinement. As a final objective, we aim to set a level of sophistication that is unmatched. Roses and peonies are great flowers to use if you want to create a sensual atmosphere. Hydrangeas and orchids are two alternative flowers that work well in classic wedding bouquets.

Vases of roses and flower arrangements are two of our favourite alternatives, especially when topped with a white quartz crystal. When making financial preparations, don't overlook the expense of the floral arrangement. Ceremonies in more casual settings, like as gardens, museums, or wineries, may allow attendees to forego the black tie dress code. The icing, initials, and flowers that are piped by hand are our favourites. A lot of white curtains and bright accents are hallmarks of this design style, which aspires to a stately elegance.

Candles and gold embellishments look beautiful with this theme. A decorative candle in the form of a wedding cake is one of our favourite bonbonniere ideas.

FAQS About Wedding Themes

We've rounded up theme ideas for any wedding style.
  • Intimate
  • Vintage
  • Whimsical
  • Modern
  • Rustic
  • Garden Party/Casual
  • Bohemian

Having a style or a theme helps you choose the story you're going to tell. Plus, having a clear wedding theme idea or style will guide subsequent planning decisions about colors, decorations, entertainment and food. But beyond that, a wedding aesthetic will dictate what your big day feels like for loved ones.

Delicate white florals, plenty of lush greenery, light linens, and minimal decor: These tried and true wedding details will never go out of style. And if you're a couple that prefers timelessness over trends, we suggest planning your ceremony and reception in a classic wedding style.

It's best to stick with a colour palette that includes natural hues so your other décor and flowers don't clash with each other. For example, simple white flowers will complement bright decorations whereas bold ones will just be overkill.

Unfortunately, themed weddings are also incredibly difficult to pull off elegantly. Many themed weddings turn out looking tacky and not elegant or classy at all. That happens when there is too much focus on the theme and not enough attention on planning the wedding.

CONTENT SUMMARY

  • If you're the kind of bride who values tradition over fads, a traditional wedding theme is perfect for both the ceremony and the reception.
  • If you're not like these well-liked but overdone options, a traditional wedding style may be best for you.
  • The possibilities for incorporating a traditional wedding motif into your special day are vast.
  • Choose calligraphy, the ultimate in elegance, for your wedding invites.
  • A traditional wedding theme is perfect if you want to throw a glamorous, on-trend party that will stand the test of time.
  • The best part about opting for a timeless wedding motif is that it can be used at any time of year.
  • This look can be worn at any time of the year if you only remember to keep to the fundamentals of classic style.
  • For a timeless wedding motif, neutral colours are ideal.
  • Altering your colour scheme to reflect the time of year of your nuptials is another option.
  • It is customary for classic weddings to have stationery that adheres to a more formal style.
  • Add a touch of royalty to your invitations by having the envelopes hand-calligraphed.
  • Make a statement by setting out your calligraphed escort cards on a gilded tray or a piece of antique furniture.
  • Simple drapery and an uncluttered altar are all you need to create a timeless atmosphere for your wedding ceremony.
  • It's best to stick with traditional wedding decor and steer clear of mismatched pieces.
  • Add some romance and drama to your wedding and reception by lighting candles.
  • Similarly, picking out the right centrepiece vessels is crucial.
  • Choosing the proper type and volume of florals to add into your wedding day is the simplest approach to set an intimate tone.
  • If you want to set a romantic mood, then you should probably use roses or peonies.
  • Do not forget to factor in the cost of the flowers while making your budget plans.
  • One piece of advice is to look into purchasing in-season flowers.
  • If you want to seem like a classic bride, a wedding gown is the way to go.
  • Use a cake that embodies elegance to complement your traditional celebration theme.
  • Flowers play an important role in a traditional romance wedding, as do muted colour schemes.
  • Gold accents and lots of candles are also perfect for a wedding with this theme.
  • The right atmosphere can be created with the help of a stunning bride in a breathtaking gown and an elegant white wedding cake.
  • When planning the wedding's bonbonniere, a traditional theme gives you a lot of room to work with.

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