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Weddings

11 Different Ways to Describe Your Wedding Style

Before you finalize the theme for your special day, brush up on these top words to describe a wedding so you can seamlessly communicate your vision to your vendors.

Vanessa Jaimes Floral Design

Having a wedding vision in your head is one thing, but understanding how to effectively turn your ideas into a cohesive theme while also communicating your style to your wedding vendors is a different story. We’ve taken some of the most popular words to describe your wedding and broken them down into easy-to-understand definitions, so you can pinpoint your exact style in order to design the wedding of your dreams! Read more about the most popular wedding adjectives and aesthetics right here.

Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel & Resort

Beach Wedding

Whether or not you’re actually getting married at the beach, this wedding style is all about pairing nature-inspired details (seashells, driftwood, tropical flowers, etc.) with laid-back elements to create a casual, easygoing aesthetic. If you’re opting for beach wedding style, try to embody the carefree vibes that are synonymous with a seaside vacation. Beach style is also a fun excuse to try out non-traditional details, like mermaid wedding ideas, nautical details, or a modern tropical theme.

Kir2Ben

Tropical Wedding

Bright colors, eye-catching details, and playful elements like citrus fruits and oversized greenery are all elements of tropical wedding stye. As we mentioned, this is a popular choice if you're getting married at the beach or having a destination wedding, but unlike classic beach wedding or nautical style, it's also much easier to recreate even if your venue isn't located near the water. This wedding style is more about the overall vibe, so make sure you have plenty of island-inspired cocktails and music ready to go! 

Paige Weber Photography

Bohemian Wedding

This style is for the hippies (or hippies-at-heart) of the world. Bohemian wedding style is best known for flower crowns, oversized bouquets, mismatched bridesmaid dresses, and unexpected decor pieces – like giant dreamcatcher backdrops. While this style is commonly tied to outdoor venues (like a wildflower field or lush forest), it’s relatively versatile for indoor locations, too, such as a barn, industrial space, greenhouse, or art gallery.

Ooh! Events

Classic or Traditional Wedding

Classic wedding style is ideal if you’re looking to evoke timeless elegance and the utmost sophistication on your wedding day. This style steers away from over-the-top trends and flashy details, opting instead for a perfectly-coordinated aesthetic with decor that is chic and refined. Achieve classic wedding style through matching centerpieces, fine china, high-end linens, and a carefully-chosen wedding color palette. Venues like historic estates, ballrooms, and country clubs are naturally suited for classic wedding style.

Kristen Booth Photography

Glamorous Wedding

If you love to make a statement, glamorous wedding style might be the perfect fit for you. It’s a fabulous opportunity to go all out with your wedding details, from sparkly table linens and strands of crystals to oversized floral accents, sequined attire and, of course, a chandelier or two.

Greystone Table

Minimalist Wedding

For couples embracing a “less is more” mindset, minimalist wedding style is a great alternative to other aesthetics that put an emphasis on elaborate details and statement-making pieces. Some of the major components of minimalist wedding style are neutral color palettes, sleek and modern decor, and blank space wedding venues, particularly ones with industrial undertones and finishes (like a refurbished warehouse or converted factory building).

Designs by Ahn

Romantic or Old World Wedding

Regardless of style or theme, weddings are always romantic events. But in terms of words to describe a wedding, romantic style is a specific concept that focuses on creating an enchanted, fairytale-inspired vibe that's worthy of a modern-day Cinderella. Imagine a garden venue filled with floral-covered trellises, exquisite table settings, and plenty of twinkling candle decor to set the mood.

Vintage Oaks Ranch Wedding and Event Venue

Rustic Wedding

Dreaming of a wedding with lots of countryside charm? Rustic wedding style is an obvious fit for barns, ranches, or farm venues. Traditional rustic weddings incorporate lots of pastoral elements, like mason jars, cowboy boots, hay bales, and burlap. Over the years, rustic wedding style has evolved into a relaxed-yet-updated farmhouse aesthetic (à la Joanna Gaines), with couples skipping the mason jars to embrace a mix of modern and rugged elements instead.

Andie Freeman Photography

Shabby Chic Wedding

Shabby chic is a combination of two styles — it’s less country than rustic, but not as “proper” as romantic. It’s also a little bit vintage, with an emphasis on creating an eclectic feel through the use of mix-and-match pieces, antique items, and handmade accents. Shabby chic wedding style typically includes a pastel color palette, along with lots of fresh flowers, playful details, and outdoor venues.

Lauren Fair Photography

Vintage Wedding

This is one of the most popular wedding adjectives, but it also has a lot of different interpretations. Vintage wedding style encompasses a range of ideas, from themed weddings inspired by The Great Gatsby and the roaring 20’s, to Old Hollywood glamour and 1970s bohemian. For a vintage theme that’s not tied to one decade, we love Old World wedding style, which incorporates luxe details like heirloom furniture, ornate candelabras, and European-inspired venues to transport you back in time.

Party Plus Tents & Events

Whimsical Wedding

“Whimsical” is one of the more ambiguous words to describe a wedding because essentially, this style is whatever you make it to be! Whimsical wedding style is great for couples who don’t want to take themselves too seriously and are looking to shake things up on the big day. This playful aesthetic provides the opportunity to incorporate non-traditional pieces, such as ribbon streamers, unexpected table names, a bold color palette, or ultra-trendy ideas, like geode wedding decor!