Theme and variation

Everyone wants their wedding day to be memorable, but too many uninspired ceremonies rely on extravagance - both in terms of price and size - to make the day an exceptional one.

Opting for a theme that runs through the event's décor in both subtle and prominent variations is a creative way a bride-to-be can make sure the most important day of her life will be unforgettable. And it needn't mean turning the occasion into a circus or donning a get up that would out-do Lady Gaga.

"Usually, having a 'theme' just means choosing matching colors or a specific motif that is used throughout the event," explains wedding planner Gabriela Jungová of Báječná svatba (Fantastic Wedding).

When deciding exactly which colors and motifs would suit best, the time of year is a key factor, according to Andrea Hanušová of Exclusive Weddings in Prague.

"Some brides get married in the winter because they like candles and snow crystals," she explains. Summer weddings, Hanušová says, tend to feature sunflowers, calla lilies, butterflies and strawberries while those tying the knot in the fall are drawn to rich vibrant colors like chocolate brown or burgundy.

It was the search for the right bouquet that led to Belgian bride Anne Illiano's fiery choice of theme: the chili pepper. "I couldn't find flowers that I really liked so in the end it became chili peppers, the warmest red you can imagine," Illiano says.

The spicy capsicum also featured alongside scarlet roses in table decorations as well as adding a peppery flare to the dessert in the form of a marzipan chili. Even the weather conspired to fit the theme: the temperature was a sizzling 32 C.

"Love was in the air," Illiano says. "Even when we're 100, we'll be happy with every detail we chose."

Eva Keilwerth of the White Prague Wedding Agency headed the team of organizers behind the Belgian bride's special day. Food is also the main source of inspiration behind another event Eva is working on: a blueberries and raspberries theme will give one couple's summer nuptials a fresh, fruity flavor. "We always try to listen to the wishes of the engaged couple and to help them find the wedding style that corresponds to their individual ideas," she says.

Though the ideas may be as individual as the couple, when it comes to tying the knot, most Czechs don't go in for anything too wacky.

"Czech clients are quite conservative," says Jungová. Her explanation for this is simple. "Weddings are probably one of the last events in our lives when we can afford to be a little old-school."

Prague is an increasingly popular choice for couples who wish to become mister and missus. abroad, but most avoid anything too adventurous. "Their main reason to get married here is to enjoy the beauty of Prague, so they don't need a crazy theme," Hanušová says.

However, that doesn't mean foreign brides only want cookie-cutter weddings. For U.S.-based Maggy Cosmini, the Golden City itself helped her hit on a theme that reflected both the setting's Old World ambience and her individual style: vintage.

"[It] served as a tangible and cohesive connection to gorgeous Prague," Dosmáni says. "I thought the lace and pearls on my dress, as well as its ivory color, were quite romantic and yet intricate like the architecture of the city." Antique brooches, retro tablecloths and pearl necklaces all helped give her ceremony a unique yet traditional feel.

For those bold enough to go all out when they get hitched, Unique Wedding has created a "Wild West" package to tap into this neglected segment of the wedding planning market.

The couple dress up in cute cowboy attire, and once the ceremony is over, the groom ties an altogether different kind of knot by capturing his new bride in a lasso. The newlyweds then try to outdo each other in a horseshoe-throwing competition before watching gunslingers go through their paces in the saloon.

"We wanted to be different and original," says one recent newlywed who was inspired to walk down the aisle in a Stetson. "Everything was accompanied by a program of local cowboys with horses and pyrotechnics, so everyone felt like they were really in the Wild West," the groom added.

Sometimes it's practical considerations that lead to a whimsical theme. For Luke and Naomi Woolfson, the inspiration for their Alice in Wonderland wedding wasn't so much fond memories of the Carroll classic but the decision not to have a huge sit-down meal in the middle of the day. "Things naturally evolved from a Mad Hatter's tea party to everything Wonderland, including giant playing cards, lifesized flamingos and giant tea cups along with a sumo Tweedledum and Tweedledee," Naomi Woolfson says.

Falling down the rabbit hole didn't mean breaking the bank for the young London-based designers. "We collected the tea cups, pots and plates over the months before the wedding from charity shops," Luke Woolfson says. "Also, the guests chipped in by making decorations such as the bunting, place names, and even the gingerbread-house wedding cake."

For the less adventurous, Hanušová say more fine-spun themes like butterflies, birds, ribbons and, of course, anything vintage. 

"This year certainly seems to be all about vintage," agrees Lisa Burton of The Bridal Consultant. "Brides are choosing slim-line gowns, with lace and pearl details rather than traditional princess-type dresses, flowing hairstyles and soft colors like pastel green, lilac and dusky pink."

"I think 2011 is going to be very stylish," the UK-based wedding planner predicts.

Lisette Allen can be reached at
features@praguepost.com