Planning a Themed Wedding | UKbride

For most brides’ weddings, the plan is something quite traditional; a white wedding dress, traditional wedding cake and definitely no ogres (aside from the odd mother-in-law, of course…).

But for Barnstaple couple Keith and Christine Green, a Shrek-themed wedding was a great way to celebrate their special day.

North Devon makeup artist and friend Jan Saunders provided realistic makeup, 100 of the couple’s closest friends sought costumes and Christine - who says she always teased her fiancée about looking like Shrek – asked a friend to create a replica wedding dress.

"I never expected my wedding to be like this but everyone really threw themselves into it and it turned out great."

Christine is a 40 year old nurse whilst 44 year old Keith is a builder. After a nine year engagement the couple were planning a fancy dress theme party for Christine’s forthcoming birthday… "I had always wanted to throw a big fancy dress party for my 40th, and when I asked around a few venues, they kept inquiring whether it was a wedding or just a party. It got me thinking - Keith and I had been engaged for so long that I suggested to him we have the wedding half way through the party as a massive surprise.”

Whilst planning a theme wedding is a challenge, the result was an entertaining, personal and fun day enjoyed by both the couple themselves, and their guests; "Normal weddings are great but no one will ever forget this one." Says Christine.

Have you considered a themed wedding? Has your OH suggested one but you’ve vetoed the idea…? Let us know your thoughts on our Forum.

Images: Alan Schofield Wedding Photography/South West News.

Top Ideas for Themed Weddings

1. Meet The Flintstones: The most recent themed wedding was that of newlyweds Ed Robinson and Gayle Watson of Devon. Married in March, they drove away from their beachside wedding in a re-created Flintstones car complete with stone roller! Both lovers of fancy dress, they chose the Flintstones theme as they felt it would fit with the rocky beach-front where they wanted to hold their wedding.

The Robinsons said ‘Yabba dabba, I do,’ and transformed their pageboys into Pebbles and Bam Bam… although ‘Wilma’ did keep her dress a traditional white!

For more pictures visit photographer Guy Harrop’s site.

2. Mediaeval Weddings: Among themed weddings, medieval weddings are perhaps the most popular. Back in 1997 Valerie and Andrew Hartley of South Yorkshire began to plan their mediaeval wedding… but soon ran into difficulty organising period costumes, mediaeval tent and props.

After successfully organising her big day, and spotting a gap in the market, the couple set up Fantaysia Weddings – organising not just mediaeval but Austin Powers, James Bond, Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean events.

The couple have planned 60 medieval weddings over the past 12 years, complete with hand-fasting ceremonies, jousting, juggling and fire-eaters, authentic mediaeval marquees, hog roasts and sword-wielding knights doing battling after the wedding banquet.

More pictures of their weddings can be seen on Fantaysia's website.

 

3. A Long Long Time Ago, at a Wedding Far Far Away: Star Wars is another hugely popular wedding theme, these weddings look like great fun, and there are a few specialist websites on the web dedicated to fans planning their SW weddings. Couples have been married by Yoda, Princess Leia, a Stormtrooper and even Chewbacca.

In May 2009, Duncan Thomson and Sammi Gardiner married in a ceremony held in their garden on the Isle of Wight surrounded by family and friends dressed to theme.

Touchingly, the groom in his vows said; "I promise to protect you from carbon freezing and promise to protect you from the Dark Side, through hyperspace and into the far reaches of the galaxy." What more could a bride ask for...?

Unfortunately George Lucas couldn’t attend the intimate ceremony, though he did write in response to his invitation, wishing the couple the best of luck in their marriage.

Images from Isle of Wight County Press.

 

4. Lord of the Rings: A fantasy wedding that would have to be held either in the woods or in a really remote chapel, Lord of the Rings would be hard to recreate in the UK’s towns and cities or in a non-sanctioned venue, but when it’s done right the results are impressive. In 2006 a couple in the Philippines created the perfect Lord of the Rings wedding in a forest. The ring-bearers were ‘Frodo and Sam’ a toddler and his dog, and their vows were all based on the “one ring to seal our love and forever entwine us.”

The bride played the part of Arwen. Luckily, no one turned up as Gollum! Most of the props were official merchandise from the film’s official site, which must have made this wedding quite an expensive affair!