For a lot of couples, choosing and crafting their wedding aesthetic is a task and a half. If you’re ready to make your wedding unique with an aesthetic all your own, here’s some tips to make sure it all comes together beautifully.
What’s in a name?
Your wedding’s aesthetic is more than just a theme: it’s the overall mood and ambience you want to create on your special day.
While terms like ‘romantic’ or ‘rustic’ are a great starting point, it’s hard to make everyone envision the same image. These words might mean a thousand different things to a thousand different people — and that’s before you even get into Pinterest boards and inspo overload. Instead of aiming for something broad, it’s important to think about the little details that bring this vision to life.
Think about it this way: saying you want a “romantic” wedding is lovely, but what does that look like? Is it soft pink florals with fairy lights or a moody, candlelit banquet with deep red roses? Getting specific about your vision — like a dreamy Parisian garden party or a chic black-tie affair — helps you communicate it clearly to your guests and vendors. The more vivid your vision, the easier to hit the bullseye when planning.
Ready? Let’s get started on finding your wedding aesthetic.
How to create a cohesive wedding
Scrolling through Pinterest and your socials endlessly can leave you with ideas that look like they belong in three completely different weddings. With so much inspiration out there, you might find yourself wanting to pull different details from different aesthetics – and this is perfectly fine! Your wedding should feel like you, and that means blending details to make it uniquely yours. The great thing about design is that aesthetics don’t have to fit in one neat little box:, combinations and ideas are endless. The end goal is to bring all of these elements together in a way that looks intentionally designed (not a Pinterest mishmash).
Here’s how you can create a put-together aesthetic that’s all your own:
1. Choose your theme
This is the centrepiece of your mood board. You don’t need to have the exact theme thought out at this stage, but choosing a board theme like ‘rustic’, ‘traditional’, or ‘tropical’ will help you pinpoint your search and find the right vibe you’ve been visualising for your wedding. If you don’t quite understand what these buzzwords might look like, get acquainted with the 10 most popular wedding styles.
To help narrow down your options to find a theme that fits, here are a few things to think about:.
What’s your story as a couple?
Are you high school sweethearts or maybe thrill-seeking travellers? If there’s something unique to you as a couple, can you use this in your theme?
When and where are you getting married?
The season and backdrop of your wedding ties in so much more than you may think. You wouldn’t want a stunning beachside venue with a spooky dark wedding theme, right?
What do you want your guests to feel when they walk into your reception space?
You might want them to walk into a moody and intimate setting, or one that’s bright and airy or fun and festive. Picking a theme that works alongside this intention will enhance the ambience of your space.
Once you’ve settled on a general theme, you can start refining it from there. For example, if you’re aiming for a tropical vibe, you might end up exploring Balinese wedding themes, with their lush greenery, birch tables, and fairy lights. If you tell someone you’re having a tropical wedding versus a tropical Balinese wedding, you can already imagine the different images they might picture, right? The more specific you get, the clearer your vision becomes.
Hot tip: While 69% of couples use social media as inspiration, it’s worth checking out some real weddings. Looking at venue or vendor websites for some past wedding pics can really help see how others have nailed their looks (or even show you what not to do).
2. Make an inspiration/mood board
A mood board isn’t just a fun way to imagine your theme: it’s a powerful tool that can help pinpoint your vision. Gathering ideas for backdrops, flowers, table settings, outfits and even fonts or lighting can help you see your aesthetic as a whole. While your Pinterest board is a great starting point, it might not always depict what you envision – especially if you’ve found inspo from various places. Creating a physical layout helps you see everything in one place, so you can identify patterns and details that match and elements that might clash or dampen your aesthetic.
3. Pick the right venue
Your venue is the MVP of wedding design. It’s not just a backdrop; it’s the canvas where your aesthetic comes to life. If you’ve picked out your venue already (or if you’ve got a top list of contenders) think how they might work with your theme. Pay attention to the architecture of the space, the surrounding views and area, and its overall vibe. Whatever your venue might look like it’s important that it works with your theme – not against it.
Need help looking for the perfect wedding venue? We’ve curated a list of Australia’s best wedding venues by location, so you don’t need to lift a finger (you’re welcome).
4. Pick a colour palette
When it comes to picking colours, it’s just about as important as your theme. 29% of couples want to create a crisp backdrop for their wedding with a white or neutral palette, with greens and blues as popular accents. But just because one colour is trending with a certain aesthetic doesn’t mean you have to choose it too. Picking out a colour that you love (or has a little more significance to you as a couple) is what matters most.
When choosing your palette, think about the season, your venue, and how the colours will look in photos. Pick two or three main colours, then pick one or two accents to tie it all together to create a complete palette that isn’t too overwhelming. To get your aesthetic to the next level, you can even bring a few colour swatches to your florist and other vendors so everyone’s on the same page.
The finishing details
Once all the big pieces are in position, it’s time to focus on the small details that will complete your wedding look.
Wedding stationery
When it comes to your planning, it really starts with your invitations. Choosing wedding invitations that give a sneak peek into your theme should be the goal. This doesn’t just include invitations though: any table place cards, table charting signs and even thank-you letters should have a similar design theme. And don’t forget about the font!
Flowers
Whether its backdrop details or a floral table arrangement, making sure the florals works alongside your theme and colour palette will again help strengthen it and reinforce it just that little bit more.
Table decorations
Your tables are the heart of your reception space. For more traditional sit-down receptions you’ll need to think about the linens, plates, glassware and centrepieces used and how they tie into your aesthetic. For a rustic wedding, you might be thinking soft fairy lights.
Design a day you’ll never forget
At the end of the day, your wedding aesthetic should reflect you both as a couple. It’s tempting to aim for perfection but some of the best weddings are those with personal touches: mismatched chairs, handwritten place cards, or a quirky nod to your favourite movie.
Remember, this day is about celebrating your love. If you’re having fun creating your aesthetic, your guests will feel it too.
At Easy Weddings, we’re here to make the next few months of planning simple. Find inspiration with our top wedding trends for 2025.