BUTTERFLY THEME WEDDING

Butterfly theme weddings are becoming a very popular trend among theme weddings. Though many couples use this theme mainly in the spring and summer, a Butterfly theme could be used during the rest of the year as well.

In search of items for your Butterfly themed wedding? Celebrate The Day has several items for your theme, including foil balloons, latex balloons, balloon arch and column kits, Personalized Embroidered Gifts and much more!

ATTIRE

- Have a butterfly embroidered in white thread (or whatever color your dress is) somewhere on the bodice of your dress
- Wear jewelry with a butterlfy on it
- Wear hairpins with butterflies on the end
- Accent your garter with a butterfly applique
- Add a small applique to your headpiece
- Have your attendants wear butterfly jewelry or hairpins

CAKE

- Have your baker decorate the cake with white sugar butterflies
- Use a butterfly decorated caketop
- Make your own caketop; buy a plain white gazebo or arch, decorate with silk flowers and glue small butterflies onto it

CENTERPIECES

- Make balloon centerpieces; buy balloons with a butterfly design
- Use fresh flowers and place butterfly picks in with the flowers


FAVORS

- Butterfly shaped cookies placed in small boxes or bags
- Buy butterfly molds from any craft store and make your own butterfly-shaped candy/chocolates
- Butterfly bubbles wrapped in tulle and ribbon
- Decorate plain boxes with small butterflies; fill with whatever you like!
- Give out butterfly shaped cookie cutters
- Seed packets with butterflys on the packaging
- Butterfly magnets
- Candle votives; wrap in tulle and decorate with a small butterfly or two

FLOWERS

- Put flowerpicks with butterflies into the bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres. They can be found any most craft stores.


MUSIC SELECTIONS

- Use the song "Butterfly Kisses" as one of your special dances, such as father/daughter, mother/son, etc.

OTHER IDEAS

- Add an applique to your ring pillow, or buy a ready made butterfly accented pillow
- Applique's can also be added to your money bag or purse
- Glue small butterflies to your flowergirl's basket
- Sprinkle butterfly shaped confetti on the tables
- If you are looking for butterfly invitations, check out Wedding Orders. They offer dozens of butterfly invitations in a variety of prices.
- Have your napkins imprinted with a butterfly
- Buy accessories with butterflies on them, such as ring pillow, flutes, unity candles, etc.
- Check out Today's Wedding Store and Oriental Trading Company for butterfly items as well.

CINDERELLA THEME WEDDING

Many of us grew up with the story of Cinderella and Prince Charming, and the Cinderella (or Fairy Tale) Wedding Theme has grown in popularity. Below are some ideas on how to create a Cinderella Themed Wedding:

ATTIRE

- Big, princess ball gown with a full skirt
- "Glass" slippers (made of clear plastic, of course)
- Hair worn up with a tiara
- Bridesmaids in full skirted dresses
- Groom in tux (if a formal wedding, a tux with tails)
- Flowergirl dressed in a miniature replica of brides gown (princess ball gown)

CAKE

- A large, ornate cake (such as shown in the above picture)
- Cake Topper, such as a glass carriage, a castle, figurines of Cinderella and Prince Charming

CENTERPIECES

- A pumpkin sitting on a nest of shimmery, white tulle
- A hollowed out pumpkin, used as a vase, with fresh flowers inside
- Pumpkin-colored candles in varying sizes , atop a pile of shimmery, white tulle
- White candles pillars on white shimmery tulle, accented with small miniature pumpkins (gourds)
- Fill a large glass bowl with water; place a ceramic item to match the theme (such as a carriage or slipper, etc.). Top it off with floating candles

COLORS

Here are some suggestions on wedding colors:
- White
- Ice Blue
- Ivory
- Pale Pink

FAVORS

- Chocolate Truffle Mice (make yourself from chocolate truffles; pinch one side to make a pointy nose and add tail, eyes and ears with icing)
- Glass slippers filled with nuts, candy, almonds, etc. then wrapped in tulle
- Hershey Kiss Rosebuds
- Buy Cinderella molds (available at any craft store) and make your own Cinderella chocolates. Place 2 or 3 in a small gift box and tie with ribbon.

FLOWERS

- Roses
- Gardenias
- Orchids

LOCATION IDEAS

- Ballroom
- Mansion
- Cathedral

MUSIC

- A Cinderella CD
- First Dance idea: "So This Is Love" from the Cinderella Soundtrack
- Classical music with plenty of waltzes

RECEPTION DECORATIONS

- Use lots of the white, shimmery tulle with white twinkle lights.

TRANSPORTATION

- A white, horse drawn carriage

OTHER IDEAS

- Consider using an ice sculpture (possibly shaped as a castle, glass slipper or carriage)
- If you were planning to have numbered tables, name them to match the theme instead. Try names like, "The Fairy Godmother", "The Prince Charming". "The Glass Slipper", etc.
- Place a furry toy mouse or two on each table.
- Sprinkle clear glitter around the base of your centerpiece and around the table to make it shimmer
- Make a cardboard castle for your card box
- Use Cinderella themed toasting glasses (can be found online at the The Disney Store).
- Your ring bearer can carry a pillow with a crystal glass slipper on it.
- Offer Valet Parking, if possible

COUNTRY WESTERN THEME WEDDING

Country/Western themes are not only fun to create, but they also are not as expensive as other themes. This theme is normally a laid back, casual gathering. Below are some ideas on how to create a Country/Western Theme Wedding:

ATTIRE

- Bride: Long or tea length white western styled dress with white cowboy boots if wedding is more formal, black jeans or a jean skirt for the bride if going casual. Wear flowers or a white cowboy hat with a veil in your hair.
- Groom: Black jeans (Wranglers or Levi's), long sleeved white button down country style shirt, black cowboy hat, bolo/string tie and black cowboy boots. Additions to their outfit can include long black tux jackets, black leather or brown suede vests (depending on your wedding colors), large belt buckles instead of cumberbunds, tuxedo shirts instead of country style shirt, blue or gray jeans instead of black, rent a cowboy style tux, bandanas instead of hankerchiefs.
- Bridesmaids: Broomstick style skirts with lace tops, black jeans and nice top if casual wedding, cowboy hats and boots, simple country style dresses made from gingham or denim
- Groomsmen and Ring Bearer: Similar to the groom with subtle changes. For example, they might not wear cowboy hats whereas the groom does, etc. Ring Bearer could wear overalls.
- Flower Girl: Western style dress with fringe, white cowboy hat and boots.

Some websites for country-style attire and accessories include http://www.hazels.com , http://www.satnspurs.com , http://www.angelfire.com/biz2/dowest/index.php, and http://www.angelfire.com/biz2/dowest/index.php. Please note that we are not affiliated nor endorse these websites; use at your own risk.

CAKE

- Tiered with basket-weave design on frosting
- Any kind or style or shape; decorate with fresh flowers

CENTERPIECES

- Potted Plants
- Wildflowers in tin milk jugs
- Mason jars with yellow and white daisies and sunflowers; tie with ribbon
- Old cowboy hats with flowers or fruit (or both) coming out of them
- Jelly jars with small votives; tie a ribbon around the mouth of the jar and place fresh flower heads or ivy around the base
- Grapevine baskets filled with flowers
- Cowboy boot shaped mugs (check out dollar stores!) filled with peanuts
- Simple oil lamps; decorate around the base with flowers or ivy
- Baskets with fresh fruit; decorate around the base with ivy and small 3" hay bales (can be purchased at any craft store). Decorate bales with raffia or colored ribbon.
- Place a small mason jar in the middle of the table; place a small candle votive inside. To decorate, place greenery or ivy around the base.

COLORS

Here are some suggestions on wedding colors:
- White
- Black
- Turquoise
- Silver
- Brick Red
- Mauve
- Green
- Blue

FAVORS

- Flower seed packet (seeds such as daisies or sunflowers)
- Bandanas embroidered with the couples names and wedding date
- Small beeswax candles; decorate with small horseshoe charms and wrap in raffia
- Small cowboy hats filled with candy, almonds, etc. and wrapped in tulle
- Consider setting up a pinata for the kids
- Horseshoes tied with ribbon or raffia, or decorated with dried flowers
- Small cowbells to ring for the bride and groom to kiss

FLOWERS

- Grapevines
- Daisies
- Wildflowers
- Sweet Peas
- Grapevine or Cornflower Wreaths
- Baby's Breath
- Black-Eyed Susans
- Sunflowers

LOCATION IDEAS

- At home
- Ranch
- Farm
- Church
- Garden
- Historical Site
- Local Park
- Ghost Town (check out http://www.ghosttowns.com. You can search by state; many locations still have buildings and will give it a western town feel)

MENU IDEAS

- Outdoors BBQ with ribs, burgers, brisket, beans, coleslaw, cornbread, potato salad, salads, etc.
- Have a pig roast
- Serve soda and lemonade (and beer for the adults)
- Make homemade ice cream to serve with the cake

MUSIC

- Have Square and Line Dancing
- Fiddlers
- Guitars
- Country and Western Songs
- Have a soloist (or two) sing country love songs during the wedding ceremony

RECEPTION DECORATIONS

- Make daisy chains and string them up around the tables, inside the reception room or between trees if outside
- Cover tables with checkered tablecloths and matching napkins
- Use hay bales instead of chairs for seating
- Wagon wheels, milk jugs and fake ivy garland are great country items for decorating. Arrange in an empty corner with a haystack
- Sprinkle cowboy shaped confetti on the tables (hats, boots, etc.) - Wrap tulle and white twinkle lights around trees, beams in a barn ceiling or around pillars/poles in your reception hall
- Old washtubs
- Swags

TRANSPORTATION

- Arrive and leave reception in a horse-drawn carriage, covered wagon or on horseback.
- Offer hay rides during the reception

OTHER IDEAS

- Marry under a white arch decorated with wildflowers
- Have your photographer take some of the wedding pictures in sephia and black and white
- Honeymoon in Nashville or at a dude ranch
- Set up horseshoes and apple bobbing for your guests
- Have your flower girl drop daisies (or wildflowers) instead of rose petals while she's walking down the aisle
- Tie the silverware on the tables with bandanas
- Make pew bows using dried flowers, horseshoes and raffia. Glue the dried flowers on the horseshoe (make sure the ends are pointing up!) and tie long lengths of raffia to the shoe.

CELESTIAL/MOON & STARS THEME WEDDING

Moon & Stars, or Celestial, themes are becoming more popular. Below are some ideas on how to create this popular theme:

ATTIRE

- Have your gown beaded on the bodice and part of the skirt with Swarovski crystals so you'll get a "twinkling" effect when the light reflects off them
- Give your attendants star-shaped hairpins or jewelry to wear with their gowns
- Wear a tiara with star shapes/star pattern in it
- Wear a star-shaped necklace, earrings, etc.

CAKE

- Rather than have a cake with round tiers, see if your baker can make them star shaped instead!
- Find or have a special celestial/moon & stars cake topper made
- Decorate the cake table with shimmery tulle and white twinkle lights

CENTERPIECES

- Make your own candle centerpieces by buying different sized plain pillar candles. Group them together on a mirror tile, placing shimmery tulle around the grouping. Push small star-shaped thumbtacks/studs into the candles. Add "gems" (flat colored marbles), metallic confetti or those metallic garlands of stars matching your color theme around the tulle.
- Buy terra cotta clay pots and paint them to match your colors; paint stars and moons on them. Fill with fresh or silk flowers, and add shooting star picks in them.
- Fill a bowl with water and add a couple drops of blue food coloring and place 3 or 4 silver star shaped floating candles in the center. Place entire bowl on a mirrored tile, which will help reflect the light from the candles. If you want, decorate the tile using shimmery tulle or metallic confetti.

COLORS

Here are some suggestions on wedding colors:
- Silver
- Navy Blue
- "Midnight" Blue (a very dark blue)

FAVORS

- Star shaped cookie cutters
- Buy star shaped candy dishes (check your local dollar store!) and fill with chocolates, candy, etc. (You can also extended the theme by making your own star shaped chocolates!). Wrap in shimmery tulle, and tie off with curling ribbons to match your colors.
- Candles that are either star shaped, or candle holders that are star shaped
- Wrap taper candles with the metallic star garlands; tie ends in a bow
- Splits of wine, decorated with a homemade label features moons and stars
- Magnets in the shapes of stars and moons
- Star shaped tea lights; wrap 2 or 3 in tulle and decorate with curling ribbons

FLOWERS

- Any type of flowers will do, but using white flowers will enhance the "Celestial" theme. Have your florist add star and moon picks to your bouquet, or use silver (or whatever color you use) streamers to dangle from your bouquet.

LOCATION IDEAS

- Outside in the evening (when the stars come out!)
- Your local planetarium

RECEPTION DECORATIONS

- Use lots of the white, shimmery tulle with white twinkle lights.
- Sprinkle metallic star and moon confetti on the tables
- Use a dark color tablecloth (midnight blue) and sprinkle confetti all over the table. Then place a layer of silver or shimmery white tulle on top of the tablecloth.
- Make star shaped placecards
- Name each table after a star or constellation; write the name on a large star cutout. Easy to make!
- For the cake table, cover with a white tablecloth. Then decorate the table with confetti, and on the edges wrap dark blue tulle and white twinkle lights together. The dark blue tulle will give the twinkle lights a lovely "star" effect.

OTHER IDEAS

- Consider using an ice sculpture (possibly shaped as stars and a moon)
- Have your flower girls carry glitter wands with streamers
- Get (or make) a star shaped ring pillow for your ring bearer to carry down the aisle
- Make your own invitations using star shaped stamps and a computer. You can also stamp your own napkins too
- Buy (or make) a star shaped guest book
- Inflate star shaped balloons and let them float on top of the dance floor, with the curling ribbon hanging down
- Make a balloon arch for behind the head table. From the center of the arch, hang star cut outs (cover with tin foil, shiny tulle or irridescent wrapping paper) using curling ribbon. Make the stars fall at different lengths.

DOLPHIN THEME WEDDING

ATTIRE

- Mermaid style dress for bride and bridesmaids
- Have bridesmaids wear shimmery blue or silver dresses
- Pearl or Crystal tiara
- Weave strings of pearl into hair

CAKE

- Have your cake decorated with soft blues and greens.
- Have a blown glass dolphin cake topper made
- Buy a serving set for your cake with dolphin handles

CENTERPIECES

- Partially fill clear glass vases with coloured sand, pebbles or glass nuggets to hold stems of flowers in place.
- Create simple floral designs around pieces of drift wood and include sea shells, pebbles or dolphins
- Water filled glass bowls with coloured sand or glass nuggets and floating candles on the surface

COLORS

Here are some suggestions on wedding colors:
- Sea greens
- Soft blues
- Cream
- Sand (almost a taupe)
- Silver

FAVORS

- Consider having candy bar wrappers made with dolphins on them
- Make soap in dolphin shapes; wrap in tulle or small gift box
- Make chocolates in dolphin shapes; wrap in tulle or small gift box
- Buy small votive candles. Place in glass votive holder and place 1 or 2 silver dolphin stickers on it. Wrap in a shimmery tulle and tie with a ribbon.
- Bake cookies in dolphin shakes and write guest’s name in icing (doubles as a place card and a favor)
- Have Bubbles!!

FLOWERS

- Use flowers in shades of blues, greens, and creams. Add picks of dolphins.

MENU IDEAS

- Lobster boil buffet
- Seafood buffet (shrimp, crab, lobster, etc.)
- Offer a seafood plated dinner
- Offer a buffet with at least one or two seafood choices
- Crab and lobster stuffed mushroom appetizers
- Shrimp cocktail appetizers
- Plated surf and turf meal.

RECEPTION DECORATIONS

- Cut blue card stock into dolphins for place cards and use silver pen for writing.
- Name tables after different species of dolphins (Bottlenose, Hourglass, etc.)
- Hang swags of soft blues/soft greens/silver iridescent materials around the walls or pillars.

OTHER IDEAS

- See if you local zoo has a party room that you can use for your reception. Many zoos have party rooms right by the dolphin tanks.
- Have guests blow bubbles while you and groom are doing your first dance.
- If you want something dramatic, consider having an ice sculpture of a pair of dolphins
- Use dolphin invitations - insert some silver dolphin-shaped confetti inside.