To theme or not to theme your wedding, that is the question?

Well actually, practically every wedding is themed if you think about it, whether that be a full-on tribute to Harry Potter or a black-tie affair. Choosing the style of your wedding is a key decision that will influence all of your choices later down the line but the most important thing is that it has meaning and importance to you as a couple or reflects your own personal style.

When it came to my (sorry, ‘our’) own wedding, it was rustic to suit our venue and we decided to include a few nods to our favourite city and where we got engaged: New York. The ‘on the day’ stationery included hints to the theme and of course, we danced our final dance to ‘New York, New York’, as is customary for any cheesy wedding disco, but it was purposefully subtle and I think that’s the key to keeping it tasteful rather than tacky.

So, with that in mind, let me show you a perfect example of sophisticated and authentic theming with this beautiful Art Deco wedding and how to successfully avoid cliché and keep it classy!

Start with the perfect wedding venue…

Tall decorative ceilings, warm honey-coloured stone walls and jaw-dropping architecture made The Bodleian Libraries in Oxford a perfect setting for Hannah and Vladimir’s wedding theme. While the venue isn’t specifically Art Deco in style, it has the grandeur and elegance that lends well to such an iconic era and the photo opportunities around the historic streets of Oxford and library itself are just endless.

An art deco wedding at The Bodleian Libraries in Oxford

Make the theme your own…

It’s very tempting when choosing a theme to go all-in but by choosing a subtle colour palette of blue and pale yellow rather than going for the typical bold Art Deco tones, Hannah and Vladimir softened the theme with pastels. Swapping out the usual silver or black that is so customary in Art Deco design, they chose accents of gold, which brought warmth and luxury to the styling.

Every detail of this wedding was so carefully considered, from the beautifully designed Art Deco wedding stationery to the lush florals. The gorgeous statement meadow table ends and table arrangements in gold vases were full of blousy blue hydrangeas, pops of yellow and loose foliage, and gold-rimmed glassware and tableware added a touch of elegance.

A modern Art Deco wedding cake…

“WOW! We are speechless. I opened your email and cried a bit when I saw the sketches. It's so elegant. I don't know how you've managed to design a cake that incorporates what both of us wanted.”

When I first met the couple for their consultation, they each had their own ideas about what they envisaged for their wedding cake but the one thing they did both want however was for the cake to feature their beloved dog, Nemo, complete with his unique markings! Creating a design to incorporate two sets of ideas can be a challenge but I knew that coming up with a cohesive and subtle design was paramount.

So, with a soft hand-painted backdrop of pale blue marble, I replicated the Art Deco design on the stationery and incorporated a clear acrylic tier to add a modern feel and extend the height to suit the grandeur of the Divinity Hall. Pale yellow wafer paper roses at the top and bottom of the cake bookend the design and as a surprise, I gave Nemo his own little stage to the back of the cake complete with his own Art Deco framing. Hand-modelled out of sugar paste, I really wanted to make a life-like model of Nemo, rather than a cartoon style to keep it mature and elegant.

The Bride and Groom

When it comes to the finer details, this is where the theme was truly encapsulated and both the bride and groom looked incredible!

Where do I start? Hannah looked exquisite in her Sibella hand beaded gown, ivory and gold shoes, satin elbow length gloves and bespoke embroidered veil, which was swapped for a beautiful asymmetrical modern feather crown for her evening look. The styling also extended to Hannah’s hair styling and makeup and Vladimir complemented the look in a deep blue suit, complete with pocket watch. Pure class!

Top tips for theming your wedding

Less is more when it comes to elegant wedding theming. Chose some key standout elements to style rather than try to theme every single thing.
Your choice of wedding venue sets the tone for the whole day and it really helps if it suits the style you want to create. Holding a festival themed wedding in a hotel venue rather than a tipi venue for example would be like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole and it can make the task difficult and ultimately more costly. In a venue like the Bodleian, the architecture already lends itself to the theme and no extra décor is needed.
It’s not a fancy dress party (unless you want it to be that is!). If you’re going to dress to your theme then choosing beautiful quality crafted items like Hannah has here, will make your whole look authentic.
When it comes to your wedding cake, try to resist the urge to throw ALL of the theme at it. Paring it down to just a few design elements makes it sophisticated rather than novelty.

So there you have it. Above all, have fun with your theme and use it as an expression of you both to make it a wedding that’s unmistakably and beautifully yours!