Choosing our Wedding Theme
Choosing the theme and colors for our wedding was one of the first big steps in making our vision come to life. For us, it wasn’t just about picking pretty colors; it was about finding inspiration that emulated the wedding we wanted. It’s no secret we love Italy, and we would have loved to get married there as well. Even though it would have been cheaper for us to get married in Italy, it would have limited us in people and we would have had a very small guest list. We decided to get married in Alberta to make sure that as many of our friends and family were able to attend.
Finding Inspiration
We started with an open mind, diving into Pinterest boards, wedding blogs, and even our favorite travel photos. One night, as we were flipping through old memories, we noticed a pattern: we’re drawn to everything Italy. We wanted to find a way to bring Italy to all of our friends and family in a way that felt authentic, but also very us. There’s a reason I feel homesick for Italy, it’s because its somewhere that I love dearly and would love to share with our wedding guests.
Narrowing It Down
Once we had a general idea, we set out to create a mood board. I started this on my favourite app, Milanote. I’ve been using Milanote since my MOH introduced me to it for my design/interior projects, and I loved the idea of sharing it with our vendors, friends and family. They have great templates, but I started off combining shades, textures, and elements that made us feel something special. I included pictures that we were drawn to, like a backyard italian dinner party, string lights, olive gree, wood tones, sparkles (me of course) and classic photo style.
We also thought about how these colors would work in the season and venue. For our late-summer wedding, we wanted something that felt both timeless and vibrant. We originally were going to go very classic and white, but after touring our venue, we realized that we needed more colour as we already had a blank white cavas to work with.
Bringing the Theme to Life
After the mood board came to life, the real fun—and question—was: how do you make an Alberta wedding actually feel Italian?
Textures & Layers
We leaned into earthy, tactile elements—think olive-green linens, wooden signage, soft, worn-in fabrics, and the kind of warm lighting you’d find under a Tuscan sky at dusk. Those layers created that ambiance that’s cozy, inviting, and somehow transportive.
Lighting & Moments
String lights became a small but powerful detail for our welcome party they framed the backyard, giving the Friday night the signature Italian backyard magic. It was simple, but when the sun set, everything felt both intimate and cinematic.
Floral & Foliage Choices
We avoided anything overly floral, instead embracing muted blooms, olive branches, and dusted greenery with a few pops of soft peach and cream. We weren’t aiming for a garden party—just a nod to nature’s effortless elegance.
Personal Details
To bring our theme home, I designed menus, name cards, and table signs that echoed the colors and mood. Think cream tones with black accents, and warm woods.
Looking back, choosing our wedding theme was more than just an early checklist item—it was the emotional compass that guided every other choice. Whenever I felt overwhelmed by decisions (linen color, signage font, DIYs), I’d pull up that mood board and feel grounded again.
If you’re reading this and thinking about how to choose your own theme, here’s what I’d say: let it come from you first. Combine what you love, what moves you, and the spaces you’ve made memories in. It doesn’t have to be literal—Italy didn’t have to be our location, just our feeling.
In the end, our day wasn’t just pretty; it felt like us in every little detail. That’s the magic. And if I can make one suggestion: start with a story you feel in your bones, not just something that looks nice on a mood board. That’s the only theme that actually lasts.
Love, M