Colours and Design Elements
Bollywood is about bright colours, ornate embellishments and luxurious textures. Use cerise, orange, red, gold, brown, bottle green and midnight blue for the best effects. Layer fabrics of different weights and types; ranging from thick quilts to flowing organza and everything in-between. A Bollywood-theme should delight the senses and give your guests a never-ending array of things to see, touch, hear and taste. Gold thread, tassels, sequins and beads will add to the depth and plush appeal of your décor and attire.

Wedding Attire and Accessories
Your wedding attire, and that of the entourage, gives you (as the bridal couple) the perfect opportunity to translate your theme effectively. If you are committed to wearing a white dress, consider opting for a gorgeous, ornately-decorated white sari, perhaps with gold detailing and beaded headwear. Should you prefer a more traditional gown, introduce the Bollywood theme in your jewellery and accessories, not forgetting the Henna tattoos on your hands and feet.

Dress bridesmaids and the flower girl in colourful saris to create a stunning effect on the day and in your wedding photographs. Ensure that they all feel comfortable in this attire, particularly if it requires that parts of their midsections are exposed. Alternatively, for a younger, more hip approach, dress your entourage in belly dancing outfits.

The groom’s attire should also be colourful and elaborate, taking advantage of the luxurious textiles available. Consider having him in a turban to set him apart from his groomsmen. Choose sherwanis, Jodhpuri suits, kurta pyjamas or formal tuxedos for these men.

Décor
Use fabrics that are colourful, embroidered and embellished for napkins, tablecloths and guest favours. In addition, include the following in your venues for the ultimate Bollywood glam:

• Bronze genie lamps
• Ottomans
• A red carpet
• Pillars, wrapped in gorgeous fabrics and fairy lights
• Tables named according to popular Bollywood films or actors
• Ornate candles
• Ornamental elephants  (a sign of fertility and good luck in India)
• Indian tents (perhaps using one as your reception venue)
• Trinket boxes

Food and Beverages
Bollywood is about luxury and detail, along with all things Indian. Indian cuisine is multi-faceted, offering a variety of dishes and flavours to tantalise the palate. A buffet is likely the most convenient option, as it allows the guests to choose from the array of dishes you no doubt want to include. For added treats, serve fragrant cocktails and spicy teas.

Guest Favours
Give the family and friends who shared this big day with you something special by which to remember it. Some ideas include:

• Elephant ornaments
• Ornate metal boxes
• Packets of premixed curry powders or traditional teas
• A copy of your favourite Bollywood film on DVD

A Goth style is defined as one that focuses on the darker side of life (or, more appropriately, death). It emerged as a style in response to the punk genre in England; a generation of rebels that dressed and acted in ways that would indicate their utter rebellion to all things conventional. As with most trends, Goth became an image in itself; ironically characteristic despite the huge efforts not to conform. A Goth themed wedding should only be considered by couples that actually subscribe to this style and image in everyday life. If you are trying a Goth theme for the first time, it may seem ‘weird’, more than mysterious or unconventional. Therefore, it is imperative that you consider this theme very carefully before deciding upon it. Still, if it is right for you, a Goth theme can be really fun and beautiful.

Colours and Design Elements
Because the Goth image is known for its ‘dark’ nature, black is an obvious choice. It is a good idea to add a colour to the black to give it depth and character and to lift the look considerably. Deep red and rich purple, paired with silver, are the perfect colours for your Goth-themed wedding.

Include design elements like:

• Roses
• Skulls / skeletons
• Graves
• Old-world weapons (swords, clubs, and so on)
• Feathers

Attire and Accessories
The attire of a gothic wedding can vary enormously in specific styles. You may opt for a grand ball gown or a sexy little number that is more revealing, in a suggestive vamp kind of style. Whatever you decide, remember to incorporate plenty of black, red and purple, as well as lace and leather. Tutus look surprisingly good when incorporated into a Goth wedding theme. These may be the perfect option for the bridesmaids and flower girl.

Fascinators with netting and feathers are great options for the Goth bride. They are elegant and pretty, while still mysteriously deathly.

Bridal shoes can be chunky leather boots with hefty buckles and laces, or feminine heels with lace detail, depending on the style of your dress. For a really feminine look, carry a black lace parasol instead of flowers.

The groom and groomsmen should don formal suits with long tailored jackets and a top hat. Their suits should not be absolutely pristine, though. Rather, have a bit of their shirts untucked as well as a skull or rose motif appearing somewhere in their attire to create the suitable style.

Décor
Your décor gives you an opportunity to have some great fun with your Goth theme. Keep it dark and spooky, immersing your guests in a mysterious ambience. For a really dramatic approach, design your venue to look like a graveyard, complete with mock gravestones and dead flowers. In addition, here are some more design ideas to perfect your theme:

• Dry red roses well ahead of time and use arrangements of these as your table centrepieces and floral bouquets. Another option is to remove the heads completely and carry only a bouquet of headless stems.
• Use only black, red and purple candles to achieve adequate lighting. This will be dramatic and eerie, but still maintain the beauty of candlelight.
• Get props from a party shop and use these liberally around the venue, including broken pillars, gravestones, zombie masks and skulls.
• Carved stones and bulky textiles are essential to your theme.

Guest Favours
Give each of the special people that shared your romantic wedding with you a parting gift that will help them to remember your day. Keep your guest favours in line with your Goth theme. For example:

• Velvet tie-bags filled with liquorice (ideal for its black colour).
• Black or red candles.
• Top hats for men and lace gloves for women.

Colours and Design Elements
Nautical themes are, iconically, navy blue and white with yellow-gold touches. This is ultimately elegant, lending your affair a classy look and feel right from the outset. Include things like anchors, fishnets, yachts, sails, driftwood, sand and water as design elements in your stationery and décor.

Invitations
Give your guests a hint regarding your theme as soon as they receive your save-the-dates or invitations. You may decide to keep them simple, just making use of the nautical colour scheme and design elements in your stationery design. However, if you would prefer for your invitations to make more of an impact, fashion it after a scroll in a glass bottle that has been aged, as if washed up on the sand of a desert island.

Attire and Accessories
Wedding gowns for a nautical theme are fairly versatile. However, a slim-fit strapless number made from soft, feminine fabric is particularly apt. This has a sort of fairytale beauty that fits well with the theme while not detracting from the sheer gorgeousness of your wedding gown. A mermaid style is similarly appropriate. For a bride that wants something more fun and daring, consider a sexy “navy girl” outfit. This can work well for the bridesmaids too, if implemented correctly.

Consider adding navy to your wedding gown in the form of a sash or a sweet blue brooch. Adding nautical-themed bling (such as a diamante anchor or sailboat) is an elegant way to incorporate your theme.

Grooms and groomsmen would look best in genuine navy uniforms or sailor gear.

Venue and Décor
To set the nautical theme effectively, it would be best to host your wedding reception on a yacht or ship. Not many couples have access to such grand facilities, though. For these ones, it will be necessary that you create a nautical ambience with the right kind of décor to set the scene. Include the following items in your ceremony and reception venues:

• A ship’s steering wheel
• Compasses (perhaps as place name settings)
• Sail boats
• Sea shells
• Anchors
• Rope
• Fishing nets
• Brass bells
• Atlases and maps
• Lighthouses

Guest Favours
Give your family and friends something by which to remember your very special day. Nautical ideas include:

• Miniature anchors as key rings
• Ornamental yachts and lighthouses
• Little globes or atlases
• A special compass, perhaps engraved
• A collection of seashells

Before the day, you will need to decide whether you want to opt for an old Hollywood glamour theme or a more modern one. While both are ultimately elegant, there are distinctly different looks and feels to each. The old style of Hollywood was, of course, in line with the fashion of the 1920’s and 1930’s, while the more modern version is very much more focussed on bling, money and celebrity status. Both enjoy their own unique appeal.

Invitations
Remember that your save-the-dates and wedding invitations are your guests’ first introductions to your theme. Therefore, pay a lot of attention to how your invitations are designed, packaged and sent. Use imagery of Oscars or Golden Globes, red carpets, stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, lights, movie tickets, or an invitation to an awards evening, for example.

Attire
When choosing your attire, you may opt for dresses and suits that would usually appear on the red carpet. These are (generally speaking) unique, created for the star by a top designer. Therefore, your attire will be different, bespoke and fitting your body perfectly. Alternatively, choose your outfit based on a famous movie wedding or a celebrity dress. Examples include the angelic beauty worn by Kate Moss or the couture number worn by Carrie in Sex and the City.  Just be sure that your dream dress suits your figure. Even the most gorgeous creation will not make you feel beautiful if it does not fit you correctly.

Venue and Décor
If possible, choose a venue that exudes the Hollywood theme naturally, such as an old movie theatre or opera house.

Create a scene of exquisite style and elegance, using lights, flowers, opulent textiles, luxurious seating arrangements and pictures of old movie stars. Instead of numbering your tables, name them after celebrities or famous movies. Organising a black and white checked dance floor will finish your Hollywood-themed dance floor off to perfection.

If your day allows for it, have slides or photographs of famous scenes from movies or popular stars scattered around the venue to create the mood. Include a few different genres and eras for a venue style that appeals to all ages and profiles of your wedding guests.

Entertainment
Great music is a must, whether in the form of a swing band or a singer. A famous person or group will, obviously, be ideal. If this is not possible, try to get someone who does great cover versions of your favourite music or artist.

When leaving, depart in a vintage convertible or a long limo, even a Hummer. Just make sure it is over-the-top glamorous.

Sunflowers are the eternal symbol of freedom, love, peace and happiness; their cheery yellow petals putting a smile on the faces of young and old alike. These big blooms are known for following the sunshine, giving them the reputation for seeking out the joys of life. This makes for a fabulous wedding theme, lending your big day a very special touch.

Invitations
Establish your theme right from the beginning by sending your invitations attached to little bags of sunflower seeds. These are symbolic, as they ‘sow the seeds’ for your exciting wedding day. Alternatively, use sunflower imagery on printed invites, giving each of your friends and family members a bright, happy piece of stationery to set the scene for the upcoming celebrations.

Attire and Accessories
Use the yellow of the sunflower’s petals and the brown of the centres for your theme colours in the attire of your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Keep it subtle and tasteful by sticking to minimal design complexity (i.e. busy-looking florals); rather just using the colours to establish your theme. Consider incorporating actual sunflowers as boutonnieres or features on sashes or belts.

Add real sunflowers to your hair as individual blooms or as a 60’s-style wreath for a nostalgic, fun look and feel. This may be reserved for the bridesmaids and / or flower girls if you, as the bride, prefer to keep your hair more traditional.

If you want flower bouquets, sunflowers paired with delicate white daisies make for really gorgeous arrangements. Sunflowers and daisies are from the same family, therefore complimenting one another well. Alternatively, carrying one magnificent sunflower is also effective and pretty.

Have custom-made pumps with a cute sunflower motif to peek out from beneath your wedding gown.

Venue and Décor
Sunflowers imply country chic and outdoor beauty. Therefore, a venue that is either outdoors or incorporates elements of the natural splendour to be found outside is ideal. Consider a garden wedding, a marquee or a venue that has French doors leading outside for fabulous options for this theme.

In terms of décor, consider incorporating the following items to create a stunning sunflower theme:

• Yellow and brown napkins, overlays and stationery.
• A large bloom at each place setting containing the name of the person to be seated there.
• Galvanised buckets filled with sunflowers (for a very ‘country’ look).
• Sunflower wreaths on each table as a centrepiece.
• Sunflower seeds as greenminded confetti.

Guest Favours
You will likely want your guests to leave your wedding with great memories of the love and romance of the day. To ensure that your day is extra-memorable, give each of them a sunflower-themed favour that they can keep and / or enjoy. Here are some ideas:

• A packet of sunflower seeds along with a short note on the health benefits or many uses thereof. Alternatively, give planting instructions so that they can grow their own exquisite blooms.
• A beautiful bouquet of sunflowers for each couple.
• Chocolate, soap or candles in the shape of sunflowers.
• A beautiful photograph of stunning sunflowers with a personal note to each person on the back.

When deciding on what to include on your menu, it is imperative that you keep the tastes and dietary preferences of your guests in mind. In order to please the tastebuds of the majority, many engaged couples decide to opt for the usual catering choices, such as roast beef and vegetables, for example.

However, there remains plenty of opportunity for creativity while you can still keep your wedding menu tasty and interesting. Consider including some of these catering alternatives to make the dining part of your special day extra impressive:

• Champagne bar – for a really sophisticated approach, serve dry champagne (or sparkling wine) with oysters, strawberries, cheeses, smoked mussels, etc… Set up a station at which your guests can help themselves to tasty treats and quality bubbly.
• Mini burgers – mini gourmet burgers are certainly popular amongst young and old. Create platters of these treats using good quality rolls, homemade beef or chicken patties and a tasty dipping sauce. This make for fabulous hors d’oeuvres while guests await your return from your wedding photographs.
• Popcorn – serve salted or candied popcorn in sweet handmade cones for a cheap, new and tasty alternative.
• Ice cream / Sorbet – there are some tantalising ice cream and sorbet flavours available, including savoury options (such as gorgonzola, red wine and avocado), which are sure to be a pleasant surprise to sceptical guests.
• Pies – a well-made pie is a delicious, somewhat rare, treat. Have platters of little pies made up for hors d’oeuvres or sweet, fruit-filled pies for dessert.
• Regional cuisine – if one or both of you (as the bridal couple) are from another country, consider a catering theme centred on the cuisine from that land. This will be particularly enjoyable for your friends to sample, and will remind your family of their favourites back home.
• Sushi bar – hire a pro sushi chef to make delicious bites of fresh sushi for guests as they order and request it. This is a great feature and will delight your guests that love sushi. Ensure that only a small number of items are made available on limited menus so that the chef is not expected to create very complicated and time-consuming sushi snacks.
• Cookies and milk – this is an easy alternative to a formal dessert and is the ultimate in comfort food. Create a milk station at which guests can choose from a variety of flavoured milks as well as an array of different biscuits.
• Donuts – a tiered cake stand overflowing with sugary iced donuts is sure to create a beautiful sight. This can just be an added feature to your wedding, or can replace a formal wedding cake.
• Soup shooters – let your guests taste a range of delicious soups by serving them in shot glasses. This is a great way to keep them happy while they wait for you to return from the photographs. It also doubles as a starter.

1st Anniversary – Paper

• A paper invitation to a special dinner or romantic experience
• Novel
• Scrapbooking kit
• Recipe book
• A personal journal
• Tickets to a concert, theatrical performance or sports match
• Designer wallpaper
• A heartfelt letter or poem (written on good quality paper)
• A paper subscription to their favourite magazine or a local club

2nd Anniversary – Cotton

• Reupholster the sofa
• Gorgeous linen
• A quilt
• Personalised gown
• Sexy cotton underwear
• Clothing
• Cotton hammock

3rd Anniversary – Leather

• Shoes
• Briefcase
• Leather-bound personal organiser
• Leather furniture
• Handbag
• Belt
• Photograph album
• Wine bottle holders

4th Anniversary – Fruit and Flowers

• Landscape the garden
• An impressive, extraordinary bouquet
• A bonsai tree
• A fruit basket to enjoy on a romantic picnic
• Wrap any gift in floral paper
• A sapling of his / her favourite plant
• Plant a tree as a symbol of your flourishing relationship

5th Anniversary – Wood

• A tree
• Furniture
• Jewellery box
• A personalised wooden cricket bat
• A love-seat for the garden

6th Anniversary – Candy

• A sweet buffet after a romantic dinner
• Visit a chocolate factory
• Chocolate body paint
• Make chocolate margaritas to be enjoyed with another great gift of your choice

7th Anniversary – Copper and Wool

• Antique copper ornaments (kettles, coal buckets, and so on)
• A wool rug
• Copper photo frame
• Knitted clothing
• Give him or her 7 copper coins and an accompanying gift for each one

8th Anniversary – Bronze

• A stunning bronze sculpture
• Bronze-coloured bikini or tie
• A bronzing session at the salon
• A vacation that involves lots of bronzing sunshine

9th Anniversary – Pottery

• A pair of pottery coffee mugs or goblets (perhaps personalised)
• Ceramic items for the home
• Enrol in a pottery course together
• A ceramic hair straightener

10th Anniversary – Tin

• Put your special gift in a tin container
• A case of his favourite tins of beer
• Hire movies with “tin” in the title and enjoy a romantic night indoors
• Make tin lanterns and scatter them around your garden for a romantic setting

15th Anniversary – Crystal

• Glassware
• Crystal chandelier
• Jewellery

20th Anniversary – China

• A bonsai in a porcelain pot
• Porcelain crockery (try antique stores for variety)
• Schedule a surprise trip to China
• Take him or her out for a fabulous Chinese dinner

25th Anniversary – Silver

• Silver-coloured underwear
• Jewellery
• Cuff links
• Photo frame
• Pen set
• Cutlery set

30th Anniversary – Pearl

• Pearl-coloured clothing or accessories
• Jewellery
• Hire Pearl Harbour for a tear-jerking winner for the ladies

35th Anniversary – Coral

• A trip to the coral reefs of the world
• Coral-coloured clothing or accessories

40th Anniversary – Ruby

• Jewellery and cuff links
• A private dance to Ruby Tuesday in a candlelit room
• A great bottle of red wine

45th Anniversary – Sapphire

• A beach holiday to enjoy the sapphire blue of the ocean
• Blue clothing or accessories

50th Anniversary – Gold

• Yves Saint Lauren gold glitter lip gloss
• A trip to the Gold Coast
• Jewellery and cuff links
• Gold-plated hip flask

55th Anniversary – Emerald

• Any gift wrapped in emerald-coloured packaging
• Jewellery and cuff links
• Emerald-coloured clothing or accessories

60th Anniversary – Diamond

• Jewellery and cuff links
• Hire Gentlemen Prefer Blondes for Marilyn Monroe’s famous performance of Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.

You may opt to say your vows in front of one of the tank windows, giving your guests a fabulous show while they listen to the “I do’s”. Alternatively, have only your reception in one of the function rooms of the aquarium, which usually boasts some of the tank windows and their marine residents. Guests can admire the beauty and wonder of nature as they wait for you to arrive and while they enjoy their meals. Some aquariums even offer a ‘fishbowl’ effect, which refers to a room with rounded walls made completely from glass, so that the couple and their guests feel that they are right within the watery home of a variety of colourful and interesting marine species.

Your theme colour(s) will work best if they complement the colours of the ocean and / or its fauna and flora. Obviously, the primary colour of the deep water ocean is blue. Your theme colour does not necessarily have to be a particular shade of blue, but should work well when it is set against the blue waters of the aquarium.  Be sure that the decorator that you have hired for your wedding has seen the venue as well as the effect that the light and water have on different colours and objects. The décor of your wedding cannot and should not try to compete with the tank and underwater scene, but should aim at enhancing it as much as possible.

Your wedding theme could be based on the ocean itself (using fish, starfish, kelp and shells in your décor and design elements, for example). But, you can avoid that approach too and keep the décor simple, allowing the setting to create the largest and most effective impact.

Setting your wedding within an aquarium creates plenty of fantastic opportunities for stunning wedding photographs, whether formal or informal. In addition to unbeatable backdrops, you can also take advantage of this scene by including props, such as colourful cardboard fish, fishing nets, kayaks, the couple petting other marine wildlife, riding on a model of a dolphin, etc…

You may feel that it would be inappropriate for guests to admire the gorgeous fish through the glass as they dine on juicy seafood. On the other hand, a seafood menu would also enhance the theme. This is completely up to you.

Some flowers and materials may not be permitted into an aquarium because of the potential for foreign viruses that they may introduce, or because of the possible hazards that they present to the wildlife. These include balloons, strobe lights and smoke machines. Be sure to discuss such issues with the venue well ahead of time to be certain about what you are allowed to use.

Your wedding day is your time. Make it unique and relevant to you, as a couple, by enjoying it in your favourite place. For many couples, this is an aquarium.

As the tradition progressed through the years, these wedding guests tended to be increasingly determined to grab the garter for the perceived good luck and fertility that it implied to them. Men and women would start snatching at her clothing, sometimes even flipping her over and grabbing for it themselves. This often resulted in them tearing her beautiful wedding dress and causing her to stumble or even fall. To prevent this ambush, brides of old began to throw their garters to the guests at the end of the ceremony before they could try to take it from her. This is how the tradition of tossing the garter began.

Over time, the garters became easier to remove so that the bride or her guests could get it off easily and quickly, preventing injury to her. The man who got it from her (whether he snatched it from her thigh or caught it in the air) would then wear the garter in his hat until he found a girl at the wedding reception to whom he wished to give it.

Today, this tradition has evolved even more (fortunately). Brides seldom wear pantyhose with garters these days, so they usually just don a garter specifically for tossing to the single gents. This is usually made of satin, lace and ribbon and is elasticized to stay on the leg. The garter should be worn on the left leg, on the same side of the body as the bride’s heart. The groom now removes the garter from his bride’s thigh and throws it into a group of all of the single men at the wedding. They dive for it, often causing quite a flurry of excitement. Whoever catches it is thought to be the next to marry.

Wedding garters are currently available in an endless array of colours and styles. Some brides take advantage of the abundance by having two garters – one to keep for themselves and one to throw into the crowd. Some brides do not choose to have a garter at all. It is a personal decision.

Garters are widely available at bridal boutiques and fabric shops. The makers of wedding dresses often include a generic or custom-made garter as part of the outfit. Here are some great ideas for a unique wedding garter:

• Embroider the initials of you and your partner onto the garter.
• Embroider your wedding date and initials so that you and / or the person who catches your garter can remember this important date.
• Include a blue horse shoe or diamond-style intertwined hearts as embellishments on the garter.
• Use stones, pearls and lace to decorate your garter to resemble the wedding gown.
• Include a personal message from you, as the couple, to the person who catches the garter.

Recent years have seen weddings becoming much more about the couple, your tastes, likes, dislikes and desires; and less about cramming all of the traditional ‘essentials’ into your special day. Every aspect of your wedding gives you the opportunity to use bespoke, personal ways of including your personalities, rather than simply relying to what is expected of the wedding couple.

Wedding albums should be the same. Engaged couples are encouraged to be novel and creative when they put their wedding album together so that it is really meaningful to them, acting as a treasured keepsake for many years after the celebrations.

The following photo album alternatives are just a few suggestions to whet your inspiration:

Photo Story Book
Tell your romantic story of the entire wedding day, from beginning to end, in a sequence of beautiful photographs. This necessitates very clear communication between you and your photographer so that they understands your requirements and can make sure that they have all of the images necessary to convey your story effectively. Combine black and white, colour and sepia shots, and make them as personally relevant as possible, so that the real look, feel and emotions of the big day are translated through the images. The paper quality and the style of the wedding album will play an important role in achieving your storybook effect. For example, a really chic, glamorous wedding will be more appropriate on glossy “magazine” paper, while a greenminded couple that focused on environmentally responsible products would likely opt for recycled paper and a more natural look. Add fabrics, metals and leathers to add an extra dimension to your album.

Celebrity Autograph Album
Make sure that your guests feel as glamorous as you do by putting an autograph album together. Include a photograph (or two) of each guest and assign place next to it in which they should write a personal message to you, as the bridal couple. They will feel extra special, as they have been included in your celebrations in such a significant way. This will also help you to remember all of the special family and friends that were there on your wedding day.

Guest Signing Book
Before the wedding, have a photo shoot of you, your spouse-to-be and anyone else that is special to you. Compile these professional pictures into an album with plenty of white areas in which wedding guests can leave their messages during your reception. This will be a very special memento as each of the valued guests that shared your celebration can leave a personal, heartfelt message.

Guest Pages
When sending out your wedding invitations, include a photograph of your choice with place to write a message in each envelope. These could be photos of you and your partner, family, pets, and so on. Ask your guests to write their personal message to you on the photo and to bring it with them to your reception. Once you have settled after the honeymoon, put all of these into an album.