Wedding Planning|Wedding Planning & Wedding Advice

I am now going to share something with you that is very valuable. It is the minute-by-minute schedule for a wedding ceremony and reception that went off without a hitch! When I created this, I was a Project Manager for a large corporation (I now work as a consultant – and as a freelance writer on the side).

If you’re not sure if you want to plan your own event, you should read two of my earlier posts at this blog: Planning Your Own Wedding: R-R-R-R-R-R-really? and Do I Need a Wedding Planner or Not?

Even if you are convinced that you are going to ‘do it yourself’, you might change your mind once you see the schedule below! Those involved in the event referred to it as “the novel” – it’s pretty long and detailed, but IT WORKED. Everyone involved received a copy with their responsibilities highlighted. We met and went through the document word for word about a week before the big day to make sure every one understood their role and how it fit into the big picture. I also tried to speak to each person one-on-one where it was possible. We didn’t really have a wedding rehearsal at the venue – we had everyone stand in their places and then we practiced leaving after the ceremony was over.

Some notes about the schedule below:

The wedding ceremony and reception took place at same venue, keeping our costs down. The martini bar opened immediately after the ceremony so guests stayed at the venue while we ran around the corner to a nearby park for pictures. I removed names due to privacy so you will see people are called “Best Man1″ or “Friend5″. Some people had two roles – for example, one of the Best Men was also the Master of Ceremonies (the wedding party was a bit different because it had two best men and two maids of honor.) Even with the double-duties, you can see that there were A LOT of friends and family involved (the wedding party, moms, a dad, brothers, sisters, 3 nieces, 2 nephews, 7 friends, and a dog).

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Weddings are a great time to let your creativity show. What better way to celebrate creativity than to highlight the creative process? With an art-themed wedding, you can choose from endless options inspired by artists you love, favorite works of art, or even the creative process itself. Here are a few ideas:

Venues

Museums are becoming a more popular place to get married or to have your reception, and many more museums are opening their doors for such events. In addition to offering you a unique space in which to get married, museums also come with their own decorations. You’ll spend far less on flowers and other decorations! If a museum is too formal for you, or you can’t find one in your area that will host a wedding, other venues to consider include art galleries and studios. A real artist’s studio — either for painting, sculpting, or mixed media — is a unique venue that will make your wedding memorable for you and your guests.

The Dress

You don’t need an artist to create a masterpiece for you. Here’s where you can look to paintings and design for inspiration. Do you admire the gown in a certain painting? Have a reproduction created and where it as your wedding gown! You may find that there are less traditional options depicted in many paintings  — so  most gowns won’t be flowing, white ball gowns. You can also look for inspiration in your favorite styles of art, like this art deco-inspired gown from designer Jenny Packham.

You may have trouble finding off-the-rack options that suit your art-inspired theme. However, many options are available to have a dress custom-designed to your specifications. Depending on how intricate the design, you may even be able to have the dress made for less than it would cost you to buy it off the rack.

The Cake

The cake is another place where you can have some fun looking for inspiration. There are many beautiful paintings of floral and landscape scenery, which are ideal for traditional wedding cake styles. Think of Impressionist style painters such as Monet or Renoir.

The two cakes above were inspired by paintings by Van Gogh. If you want to try something a little edgier, look to pop artists such as Mondrian, Warhol, or Lichtenstein. Work with a clear picture and be specific about what you want with the baker. If possible, ask to have a small version of your cake – or even one tier – created as a sample so you can be sure of the final product and to make sure the baker properly understands your vision.

Favors

There are many great favors that can go well with an art-themed wedding. A very simple idea would be to print out pictures of your favorite paintings to make into magnets or bookmarks. You could also choose works of art that celebrate love, such as “The Kiss” by Klimt (pictured).

Frames perched on miniature easels would also make a cute favor that can double as a name card. Just insert the card with your guest’s name inside the frame, and later, the frame can be used for a favorite picture.

You could also promote the idea of creating art by offering nice pens, pencils, or brushes as favors. Tie two together with a nice string or ribbon, and attach a card with your wedding date or a suitable quote.

Activities

Besides the traditional dancing and toasting, your guests can enjoy a number of fun and unique activities at an art-themed wedding. If you choose to have your reception at a museum, there will likely be galleries that your guests can peruse and enjoy. The museum may even make a special exhibit available just for your guests. If you choose a natural history or science museum, there will likely be hands-on activities that can be fun for guests – especially kids – and get them more engaged.

No matter your venue, you could also consider hiring a caricature artist to create fun pictures of your guests, or you could set up small stations with easels and brushes for your guests to create their own work. Sketch pads and pencils at the tables could also give your guests an opportunity to create. Your guests could also be encouraged to create a picture especially for the couple, which could become a lovely memento later.

What other creative ideas do you have for an art-themed wedding? What have you seen at other weddings to inspire you?

Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education where she’s written on online MIS program along with a piece on online gemology programs. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, playing piano, and working with origami.

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