Celebrations: Is it Okay to Wear Sunglasses to a Themed Wedding?

At outdoor daytime weddings, the bride and groom may even encourage their guests to bring their own sunglasses as a form of protection against the sun’s rays. After all, excessive sun exposure can result in eye discomfort and damage that can certainly dampen the wedding festivities. Overall, it is definitely okay to wear sunglasses at a wedding—provided you are mindful of your eyewear choices, especially if the wedding has a specific theme.

How to select sunglasses for a wedding

These days, wedding ceremonies and receptions have become more creative. With the various wedding themes people can choose from, including everything from fantasy to rustic setups, it is important to familiarize yourself with what the bride and groom have taken the time to select for their special day. Before anything else, check the dress code for any restrictions before selecting sunglasses that complement both the wedding theme plus your own outfit. If the dress code leans more towards the informal side, simple and casual sunglass frames will suffice. However, for more formal and extravagant weddings, it may be best to utilize sleek, black frames for some elegance.

Overall, avoid any brightly colored and flashy sunglasses that can serve as a distraction so as to not look out of place at the wedding and, more importantly, remain respectful to the couple and other guests. To get you started, here are some common but tasteful wedding themes where sunglasses can most likely be utilized, along with what type of frames would best suit the occasion.

Rustic wedding

Rustic weddings are typically inspired by the great outdoors, with a lot of focus on handmade touches. From forests with lots of leaves and branches as decor to farms that look a bit more organic and boho, rustic themes are considered a balance between thoughtful vintage pieces and country-inspired details. As such, some of the best sunglasses for this theme are those with delicate pastel-colored frames, such as the Derek Cardigan Crater and Main and Central Newton. These types of frames are some of the top eyewear trends of the year. The neutral color palette will match perfectly with a rustic wedding, as well as the love of nature the theme encapsulates.

Vineyard wedding

Vineyard weddings can range from dinner among the vines to an affair at a winery. Either way, this type of wedding is sure to provide decadent wine and gorgeous scenery to enjoy your glass with. These venues typically accommodate dining, cocktail, and long table settings depending on the number of guests and the couple’s preferences. Sunglasses with wooden frames that resemble the oak barrels used to age the wines would be a nice touch for a wedding of this theme. Some examples of these types of frames are Waidzeit Design’s Merlot, Chardonnay, and Freedom Whiskey Sunglasses. These are extremely lightweight and provide the best comfort. Additionally, the simplicity of the material and neutrality in color make them suitable for the occasion while providing a stylish touch to your wedding attire.

Beach wedding

Beach weddings are a popular choice for couples, as it allows them and their guests to strip away all the fuss that comes with a traditional wedding. More importantly, the venue provides an extremely romantic setting, with the relaxing sound of ocean waves and a beautiful view of the sunlight against the ocean overlooking this momentous event. Sunglasses will likely be encouraged at this type of wedding and may even be offered as a favor. However, if you want to elevate your appearance, opt for oversized sunglasses. Brands like Loewe have Oversized Round Sunglasses in various colors such as black, light brown, honey, and havana that are sophisticated in appearance and offer the best protection against the sun, which is very much needed in a seaside venue where not a lot of shade is available. These frames are also very common, which makes it easy to pick out details like shape and color to match the rest of the wedding theme.


While choosing the right clothes for a themed wedding is very important, don’t forget your sunglasses, as they can elevate your appearance to the next level.
 

What kind of wedding theme should you go for?

What kind of wedding theme should you go for?

With so many beautiful wedding options to choose from, picking the perfect theme for your wedding can be difficult. Themes are a vital aspect of planning your wedding, as they will help you to seamlessly combine the look and feel of the day. Ultimately, your theme should closely represent you and your partner's personal tastes and preferences. You can even use a theme to convey an important part of your story as a couple, or to showcase prominent features of your personalities, such as a love for nature or alternative styles.

Let's take a look at some of the most popular wedding themes to see which you most resonate with.

Bohemian, rustic or earthy

Taking your wedding outdoors and enjoying the natural world is perfect for the free-spirited and those who want a more relaxed, ethereal feel to their day. Let the trees and wildflowers be your decorations and keep your clothes simple but stunning. Choose a sustainable menu, reusable cups, and locally grown flowers to honour the planet as you wed. After the sun goes down, solar-charged festoon lighting and candle-lit lanterns can help to keep the party
going.

Beach vibes

For those lucky enough to be tying the knot somewhere sunny, a beach theme may create the perfect romantic setting. Whether or not you choose to have your ceremony and/or party on the coast, you can easily incorporate beachy elements to your decor. Using feathery Marram Grass, clovers, orchids and other coastal flora in your vases will bring the waves and the sand to your venue. Create your own decor from seashells, driftwood and floaty
fabrics to enhance the dreamy beach vibes.

Gothic fantasy, steampunk or historical

Why not step back in time and celebrate your big day by encouraging your entire wedding party to celebrate a more unconventional theme? Whether you buy or craft your own extravagant outfits, or keep them historically accurate by thrifting vintage stores, basing your theme on your favourite time period is a great way to create an unforgettable experience for all who attend. As well as being fun for everybody, you’ll be sure to get some pretty unique wedding photographs to look back on for years to come.

Country

Raise the roof of a brightly lit barn for an authentic countryside wedding theme. Perfect for those interested in farming or country living, why not invite your guests for a folk-style affair complete with straw bales and tartan blankets. Warm wooden beams, real fires and a live band playing, your guests are sure to have the time of their lives in this informal, relaxed setting. Plus, look forward to some truly beautiful wedding photographs in the surrounding fields, woodlands and trees.

Unique to you

Finally, remember that this day is yours, so why not pick a theme that’s as individual as your love for each other Whether you’re both fans of horror flicks or crazy about singing, pick a theme that celebrates a passion you both share or one that brought you together, to make your wedding theme as unique as possible.

How to Host a Vegan Wedding Reception in Style

How to Host a Vegan Wedding Reception in Style

There's a lot to consider when planning a wedding, but for those who are planning a vegan celebration, it can be particularly stressful to make sure the big day fits in with their lifestyle. Here are three steps to help you get started in hosting a vegan wedding reception in style.

1. Choose a Vegan-Friendly Venue

It's important that your wedding venue respects your desire for a completely vegan wedding so that they can tailor their services and produce accordingly. For example, you might ask that they avoid serving beverages that contain animal products or using decorations that contain things like feathers and leather. You may also want to hire an outside caterer rather than using their in-house catering services if the venue is inexperienced in producing vegan food.

When visiting venues, be upfront about your needs to see how receptive they are in creating a vegan environment. You might also consider the wider impact of a venue on animal welfare. For example, a rural venue that has acres of land surrounding it might use this to farm animals or host hunts. Be sure to ask questions about how the entire venue is used and not just the parts that you'll be using for your wedding. This will give you peace of mind that your wedding isn't contributing to animal cruelty.

2. Prep Bridal Boutiques and Tailors Before Visiting

Silk, which is harvested from silkworms, is a common material found in wedding dresses. It's often included in satin, chiffon and tulle, so it's not enough to simply avoid pure silk when searching for a wedding dress. When it comes to suits and tuxedos, wool and cashmere are common non-vegan materials to avoid. It's also fairly common for luxury ties, suits and shirts to contain silk. There's leather to avoid when buying shoes and purses, and it's important to avoid jewellery that contains real pearls or feathers.

Luckily, there are plenty of vegan materials to choose from that offer just as much style and luxury as their non-vegan counterparts. It's useful to seek out bridal boutiques and tailors that either specialise in vegan clothing or have a dedicated line of vegan garments. Make sure you inform businesses about your vegan requirements before you visit so that they have time to prepare garments and materials that are suitable for you.

3. Encourage Guests to Taste New Dishes with a Vegan Buffet

A difficulty many vegan wedding planners come up against is reluctance from guests to eat vegan dishes. Unfortunately, many people believe that vegan food is bland and boring, or that they'll come up against new flavours and textures that they won't enjoy. Vegan dishes can be just as delicious and satisfying as dishes that contain meat and dairy, and once you introduce people to good quality vegan food, they soon realise these stereotypes are wrong.

A great way to overcome cynicism from non-vegan wedding guests is to have buffet-style dining. Guests can pick and choose the dishes that look most appealing to them, and they have an opportunity to sample lots of different foods at once. You won't have to worry about guests going hungry when there's plenty of variety on offer to suit all tastes. Plus, you can showcase the deliciousness of vegan food and change some attitudes about veganism along the way.

Buffets are also a good way to reduce food waste. 15% of wedding guests only eat one or two of their three courses when sitting down to a traditional wedding breakfast. With a buffet, people can tailor servings to their appetites more easily.

Celebrate in Style with An Ethical Reception

While planning your wedding reception might be a little trickier as a vegan, the extra work will pay off as you enjoy your special day safe in the knowledge that your celebration is as ethical as possible.