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Creating a Theme for Your Event,
Party, or Wedding
by Diane Pollitt
Why is it so important to develop a theme for an event, wedding, or
party? The use of a "THEME" tends to improve your overall event and adds
a memorable and festive touch for you and your guests. A theme will help
focus attention on a main topic and provide a unifying factor which will
pull the whole event together. Developing a theme will keep your affair
from looking disjointed or like you planned it haphazardly. Incorporate
your theme into all areas of planning - invitations, publicity,
registration, food, decorations, entertainment...by doing so you will
create anticipation, build a foundation, solidify your focus and
reinforce the overall effect.
Choosing a Theme: An easy way to choose a theme is to shop for the paper
goods, plates and napkins first. Build a theme around the picture or
print on the plates and paper goods. This will always give your event a
natural tie-in with the coordinating decorations.
There are so many sources from which to draw when choosing a theme. You
may want to use an occupation, movie, cartoon character, hobby, special
event, romantic place, sport, song, poem, book title, historical era or
decade, foreign country, childhood memory or brainstorm your own ideas.
Certain motifs may be more expected, especially if you choose to
celebrate around the holidays. Choose themes where you can vary the
motif somewhat. For example if you choose a Christmas theme, try using
angels, snowmen, or bells, if you choose to use Valentine's Day, try
using cupids, arrows, or animal prints.
If you use a nature theme incorporate the use of plants, flowers, trees
and include a variety of colors and textures. The use of butterflies or
birds brings a lovely touch of nature to your theme. Use geographic
regions in nature to pull a theme together such as a beach, mountain,
lake, or island setting.
If you have a special hobby or collection, you could use these items in
decorating; as a centerpiece, wall hanging, or special display. Perhaps
a friend or family member has a unique collection and would like to
share or rent their items for an evening or a day. Many people have
great collections of angels, snowmen, dolls, bells or other items
related to a particular theme. The possibilities are endless.
Creative Elements
Motif: The motif is the visual representation of your theme, which is
created by the use of objects or symbols. If you use the theme
"Friendship" you may want to incorporate the use of a rainbow or teacups
to represent promises and special times spent together. This symbol may
be repeated on your invitations, program, plates, or decorations.
Sometimes the use of several different symbols will be used as
complimentary components of the theme.
A Scottish theme may suggest using the family crest, bagpipes, kilts, or
Celtic music. Use a favorite movie or comic strip character and add
movie scripts, newspaper clippings, caricatures, director’s chair, old
movie posters or comedy and tragedy faces.
Develop your motif using a list of words related to the theme.
Brainstorm a list to create your bank of ideas. This list is very
important for generating ideas that can be applied to all areas of the
event. For a Parisian theme you might come up with words like cafe,
arches, artist, Eiffel Tower, springtime, April, or rain showers.
Mood: Decide on what atmosphere or mood you want to create. This is
where you want to refer back to your bank of words you brainstormed. Add
words to the list that will equally portray the mood. If you choose a
mediaeval theme you may include rich heavy brocade and velvet fabric,
use Gothic lettering on your programs or invitations. Create a feel and
a mood that is uniform throughout the setting.
Color: You'll want to select a color scheme to use throughout your
decorating. Two or three colors usually work well and are easy to
coordinate. Colors will make a big impact so be sure they are ones that
will compliment your theme. Pastels do well with spring, flowers,
garden, or country themes. Mix one or two rich solid colors with a theme
pattern for a dramatic effect. Mardi Gras would suggest the use of
purple, green and gold. Purple represents justice, green represents
faith, and gold represents power. Bold solid colors add to the carnival
atmosphere if you use Fat Tuesday as a theme.
Texture: Incorporating texture will make things look and feel
interesting. Textures will amplify the atmosphere you are creating. Try
using live trees and plants, fabric backdrops, or bales of hay instead
of chairs. For a royal or medieval theme you could use silks, satins,
velvet, pearls...nautical themes might be better suited to cottons &
linen, beach sand and shells.
Mesh: It is important for your event to blend or mesh together. Again,
apply varying elements for your motif, create a special mood, accentuate
the use of color, and add interest using textures. Blend your theme into
a cohesive "mesh" throughout your event. A celebration with a solid
foundation will appear well organized with a uniform effect. Using
motifs, mood, color, and texture all communicate a message of your theme
and add...the emotion...the voice...and the spirit to your event.
About the author
Diane Pollitt is a Party Consultant. Visit her web site at
http://www.partymerchant.com For more party ideas and additional
resources contact Diane at
partymerchant@ivillage.com
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