Planning a theme reception, and coming up with wedding reception décor ideas for it, can be a good deal of fun.  Theme receptions are often more casual and festive than their traditional formal counterparts, and for many people a lot more fun.  Why plan a theme reception instead of something more formal?  In my mind a wedding reception is a chance for the bride and groom to let their hair down after a long road of planning, budgeting, and arranging the many details of the wedding.  Although many families strictly adhere to the formal reception model, here are a few great wedding reception décor ideas for those of you looking to show a little personality.

The Country Wedding

An outdoor reception in the country can be as rustic as a country western hoedown or as sophisticated as a British garden party.  Either way, you can have a ball with a few key wedding reception décor ideas that will make your reception reflect who you are.  Your decorations should be specific to the theme – if you are doing a country western reception on a farm, then you will want to include bales of hay, kerchiefs and bandanas, and horseshoes.  For a more sophisticated setting, such as a vineyard, decorate with grape vines and leaves, wine bottles, and corks.

Water Themes

If you are lucky enough to live near a coast, then your wedding reception décor ideas might include the beach, a yacht, or a marina.  If not, then why not bring the ocean to your guests?  A wedding reception with a nautical theme offers a great opportunity to bring a sailing, fishing, or even poolside party to your guests.  Depending on the specifics, consider decorating with wicker tackle boxes filled with flowers.  For a more tropical water theme, what about arranging flowers around a conch shell and using it as centerpieces for your guest tables?  You can dress up the grounds and buffet tables with fisherman’s nets, or for a more sophisticated event feature a beautiful ice sculpture of a seal or dolphin.

Christmas Weddings

Many new couples are starting their lives together around the new year and having their wedding at Christmas time.  Obviously when you plan your reception around this magical holiday you have a lot of seasonal options and symbols to draw your wedding reception décor ideas from.  You could start with a wedding cake shaped like a pile of Christmas presents.  You will want to use reds and greens in your decorations, including ribbons, garland, and candles.  Be sure to coordinate with your reception hall, because there is a good chance they will already have some of their own holiday decorations on display.

Regional or Ethnic Themes

Many people choose to do an ethnic theme, such as a Hawaiian luau or a Mexican fiesta.  Your wedding reception décor ideas for these kinds of events should include tapestries, traditional clothing, unique furniture or artwork from the country, and perhaps any national colors associated with the theme.  For example, perhaps you want to do a Jamaican reggae theme – you will want native bongo drums and lots of red, green and gold fabrics.  Don’t forget to ask the DJ to bring his Bob Marley collection!

Hollywood Glamour

Love old movies?  I watch Casablanca every time it’s on and there is nothing more fun than the glitz and glamour of Hollywood in the 1940’s.  Decorate your space with old movie posters and memorabilia, and use primarily black and white for an art deco color scheme.  When the festivities are over, your guests will ask you to “Play it again, Sam!”

As you can see, planning a themed wedding reception can inspire a lot of creativity.  Although there is certainly nothing wrong with the traditional formal wedding reception, more and more couples are turning to the unique and creative for their wedding reception décor ideas.  By turning to a more casually styled reception, you will be able to save significantly on the cost of the event and express a bit of your personality at the same time.  Saving money on the decorations and flowers means the party can last longer for the guests!