The top 10 wedding themes for 2019

It’s that time again where we take a look at the most popular themes of the year to come and see what sorts of trends, colours and themes we can expect over the next 12 months.

Wedding themes are becoming more and more popular over a simple colour scheme, as more couples choose to balance their aesthetic across the themed elements. But what we are noticing is that mixed themes, such as rustic luxe or classic vintage weddings, are becoming much more popular than the simple singular theme.

With many of the wedding themes set already, this is how we’re seeing couples make their theme their own and add a little bit of a twist on the traditional.

Image by Mitch Pohl Photography. See the real wedding.

Primary vs secondary themes

Before we take a look at the most popular wedding themes overall, it’s interesting to note which themes are more popular as a primary or secondary focus.

Rustic weddings have been the most popular wedding theme for the last three years and have again taken out the first spot here. But, as mentioned above, we’re seeing couples play with this and add a secondary theme to the mix to give their rustic wedding a bit of a unique feel. This is where rustic luxe, rustic vintage, and rustic boho weddings come into play.

Romantic weddings, garden/outdoors, vintage, DIY and boho chic weddings for example, are all more popular as secondary themes than they are as the primary focus. So while you might be hosting a garden or outdoor wedding, many couples wouldn’t say that’s the primary focus of their wedding theme.

Image by Rick Liston. See the real wedding.

The most popular wedding themes

Rustic

The rustic wedding has almost become the traditional wedding theme of modern day couples. Rustic settings such as older buildings, farms and cellar doors really play with this theme and give it a more relaxed charm. With more couples choosing to have their day focused on them and having fun, this relaxed feel is becoming increasingly important.

We’re also seeing more styling pop up that is designed to give that rustic look even if it is new. So it’s the perfect combination and theme for someone going for an older venue on a budget, or something new that still gives the vibe they want.

Image by Jewel Chenoweth. See the real wedding.

Romantic

If you’re describing your wedding you do want to think of it as romantic, and a lot of weddings are starting to use this as their theme. Think natural golden lighting for your photos, and elements such as warm festoon or fairy lighting throughout your wedding and venue to add that romantic and magical touch.

Romantic weddings have a bit of the traditional element to them as well, focusing on the love of the couple and using traditions such as the first dance to highlight these.

Image by Bird & Boy Photography. See the real wedding.

Garden/Outdoors

With more of a focus on rustic weddings it makes sense that garden and outdoor weddings are growing in popular as both a primary and secondary theme to complement the outdoor elements. With the popularity of dark and moody colours couples are forgoing the winter elements to capture those deep and moody wedding photos.

Image by Folk + Follow. See the real wedding.

Classic/Traditional

There will always be a place for the traditional white wedding and this is it. Classic and traditional weddings are the second most popular theme when it comes to looking at primary wedding themes alone.

Steeped in tradition these are more likely to be hosted at a dedicated reception centre, where 36% of weddings are hosted. And while a church or chapel might be considered the most traditional, classic outdoor ceremonies are also popular for couples focusing on this theme.

Image by Cinemotive. See the real wedding.

Contemporary and glamorous

Also known as luxe weddings, contemporary and glamorous themes are being used more as the primary focus of a wedding. Couples who really want to add that wow factor and give their guests something to remember are focusing on those glam elements and aesthetics.

Large floral installations are big when it comes to what is considered modern at the moment, and these are being paired with those big moments such as pyrotechnics on the dancefloor.

Image by B Captured by Ky Luu. See the real wedding.

Vintage

Fewer couples are having vintage weddings than in previous years. However, some of the most popular themes such as rustic and boho chic weddings focus on including these vintage elements in weddings.

Vintage details pair well with the rustic elements to create a well-rounded aesthetic, while bohemian weddings focus on vintage furniture and old-word lace designs that are very vintage-esque.

Image by Tamika Lee Photography. See the real wedding.

Boho chic

Bohemian weddings are still a bit hit and growing in popularity as boho elements are incorporated into more weddings and styles.

One particular style we’ve seen rise in popularity over the last year is not just the boho chic look, but the boho beach wedding. Arbours, greenery and bare feet pair well with beach settings so it’s no wonder that we’re seeing more couples choosing this when it comes to their wedding style.

Image by Ross Wallace Photography. See the real wedding.

Beach

Look, we get it. Australia is surrounded by beaches, but our weather can be a bit unpredictable depending on where you are. So while there are some areas of the country that are incredibly popular for beach weddings, others are less so.

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That said, beach weddings still make the top 10 list and are a lot more popular here than they are around the world. When you’re surrounded by gorgeous coastline though, who can blame us?

Image by Fame Park Studios. See the real wedding.

D-I-Y

While a lot of couples wouldn’t consider their wedding as DIY themed, they are looking at DIY as their secondary focus. This usually comes down to a lot of decorations and styling for the big day as influences like Instagram and Pinterest make us want to show off, without the price tag.

If you are looking at DIYing some elements of your wedding though make sure you’ve looked into your purchase, hire and DIY options. Some elements may actually end up costing you more if you do them yourself.

Image by Daniel Milligan Photography. See the real wedding.

Vineyard

Rounding off the list of our most popular wedding themes are vineyard weddings. While they may be less popular that they previously were, winery weddings still make up 19% of all wedding venues as the second most popular type of venue.

The difference is that more couples use the vineyard as their setting rather than incorporating it into their theme. They might still classify their wedding as rustic and romantic, rather than solely focusing on the vineyard.