wedding themes

Creating an imaginative DIY wedding came naturally for video editor Ivy Calhoun and graphic designer Scott Gardenhire. After bumping into each other at several magazine parties, the two eventually became a pair. Four years later, they decided to get hitched and settled on a Spring wedding in early May.

After their initial venue choice fell through, they called on wedding planner Kendra Pfeiffer-Wershing for help finding a last-minute venue. Unsure about whether or not they could afford to hire a planner, Kendra assured them that she could save them money in the long run. After she suggested Stone Barn Ranch in Sheridan, CA, Ivy and Scott's interest piqued. The new venue not only surpassed their checklist of requirements, but was also more than 30 percent lower than the price of their original venue and even included some equipment rentals. After scheduling an appointment that day to pay the ranch a visit, they fell in love with it immediately and hired Kendra right away.

Inspired by the scenic country setting and their favorite junk food snacks, Ivy and Scott decided to put their artistic skills to work by creating a colorful, insanely fun, DIY carnival wedding. Take a look through their wedding gallery for tips on styling an eclectic wedding party, keeping guests entertained, crafting your own decor projects, and more!

Photos courtesy of Tom Tomkinson

If you and your husband-to-be have been glued to your screens to keep up with the Stanley Cup playoffs, these sporty details offer a fun, playful nod to hockey. With ideas for your engagement shoot, your decor, and your reception, we've rounded up some of the best, most creative ideas to help you score a wedding-style hat trick. Hoping to channel your favorite icy sport when you say "I do"? Take a look at these unique ways to bring your love for hockey to your big day!

When it comes to fun, playful wedding ideas, a superhero theme is every comic fan's dream come true. Whether you're hoping for simple, subtle touches or all-out comic book mania, we've rounded up creative ideas to help you channel your favorite characters. From real wedding inspiration to affordable Etsy finds, here are 20 festive ways to channel your favorite superheroes on the big day.

The much-anticipated season six premiere of Mad Men airs Sunday, and we can't wait to see what's in store for the gang at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and beyond. Ever since Don Draper proposed to Megan in the season four finale, we've been hoping for a Mad Men wedding. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see Don and Megan's nuptials, but we're still going to dream of a '60s-era wedding that takes its cues from the TV show. If you're as big of a fan as we are, check out these swingin' ways to incorporate Mad Men into your big day.

Baseball's back! Today is opening day, and baseball fans will be tuning in or sitting in the stands tonight for MLB's return. And not only are the Spring months full of baseball excitement, they're also prime for throwing a wedding. If you and your husband-to-be are fans of the all-American sport, there are a plethora of fun ways to incorporate baseball in your engagement shoot, bridal parties, and wedding day. From the location to the decor to the food, here are some creative ideas for adding a little game day spirit to your big day!

It's St. Patrick's Day, and we can't help but feel the Irish love. We're all about green beer, shamrocks, and leprechauns, but there's a lot more to Irish tradition than the commercialized side of the holiday — especially when it comes to Irish wedding traditions. You don't have to be an Irish bride-to-be to appreciate these sentimental Irish and Celtic traditions, which have inspired some of our most well-known big phrases like "tying the knot" and "honeymoon." See how you can add a little luck o' the Irish to your wedding now!

When it came to planning Courtney and Philipp's California casual wedding, attitude and feeling set the tone, rather than a distinct theme. Seeking a celebration that was relaxed yet elegant, vintage touches and pastel colors filled every detail of their outdoor wedding. A creative couple of sorts, the San Francisco locals who met through work tied knot on July 14, 2012.

With help from wedding planner Genevieve Roja from Lily Spruce, they decided to begin the planning process by drawing touches from the deco details on Courtney's dress. They then found a grand, carnival-like tent for the reception and a unique variety of flowers to inspire the color palette. From the hand-calligraphed invitations to the pastel linens, every part of the wedding planning seemed to reflect the ease of the couple, until their dream venue canceled — two-and-a-half weeks before the wedding!

Upset and in a rush to find a country venue to accommodate all that had been previously planned, the couple found Krug Winery, a stunning property with breathtaking grounds in St. Helena, CA, to come to the rescue. Creative accents like bell jars, refurbished vintage pieces, and cultural traditions completed the couple's earthy yet elegant wedding.

Photo courtesy of Juliette Tinnus

With two big blockbusters based on Snow White last year and now both Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella films in the works, fairy tales are making a comeback. It's clear the modern masses continue to be drawn to storybook tales of fair maidens and prince charmings. So if you are looking for some dreamy, whimsical, and outright magical wedding ideas, then take a journey through our favorite fairy-tale-inspired weddings.

I recently attended the San Francisco Wedding Fair to check out what's going to be hot in the world of "I dos" this year, and we predict a lot of sparkle, innovative technology, and outside-the-box ways to have your guests saying "wow!" throughout your big day. So if you're hoping to throw a one-of-a-kind wedding in 2013, then you're in luck. We're giving you the coolest, wackiest wedding ideas we saw at the exhibition, along with the photos we shared on POPSUGAR Sex & Culture Instagram. Check them out now!

Champagne toasts, kissing, glitz, glam, and dancing — a New Year's Eve celebration has all the elements of a great wedding, so why not use the holiday as inspiration for your big day? Whether you're saying "I do" on the kickoff to a new year or you just want it to feel like it, these New Year's Eve elements will take your wedding into party mode! Get the sparkly, celebratory inspiration now!