Wedding ceremonies, traditions, and styles can vary considerably depending on your background, your religion, and your preference. Here is a general breakdown of the types of weddings you may see, and a guide to help you choose what will be your ideal wedding setting. When you plan your wedding, consider the style of wedding you want when selecting its location. If the location is predetermined (for example, if you will be using your home church or a special family setting), you can still decorate and add special touches to convey a style that is all your own. Here is a list of typical wedding styles, special touches to indicate the style, and typical style locations:
Traditional: a white aisle runner (where the flower girl lays red rose petals just before you enter), pews decorated with ribbons or bows of some type, an altar and an arch, candelabras with tall candles, roses as flower decor. Ceremony items include lighting of a unity candle, taking communion together as husband and wife, vows of the Christian home. Ideal settings: the chapel where your parents were married, a large cathedral with tall ceilings, or your family church.
Modern: votive candles, contemporary/upbeat music for bridal entrance. Ideal settings: places with city/urban touches such as cement floors, sleek and shiny structures, clean lines, in locales such as hotels, restaurants, or museums.
Casual: bridal gown is festive and maybe not a gown at all, ceremony includes no candles but only a podium, few guests. Ideal settings: destination wedding, beach, festive restaurant, small civil ceremony and home family reception.
Any style can be accented with color schemes. Some sample wedding color schemes include:
white/gold/silver; cream/blue/pink/pastels; red/metallic hues/white; silver accents/white/black; burgundy/purple/gold; deep green/beige/brown.
Any of these styles can be glamorized with extras that suit your budget, and you will find no shortage of solicitations from companies willing to sell you these items. Decide your budget ahead of time and remember that you can often achieve your ideal wedding that you imagine in your head with some substitutes of expensive choices with similar items. For ideas on saving money without losing quality, visit our wedding and marriage community blog (or share your ideas for other brides-to-be!).
