There are many reasons to choose a movie-themed wedding—maybe your first date was at the movies, you could share a love of all things cinema, or you just want to do something fun and unexpected. Whatever the reason, people love a themed party that includes props and dressing up fancy. The great thing about this theme is that it works for all wedding sizes—from a backyard ceremony to a large-scale production.
Whether you love the glitz of Hollywood or consider yourself simply a film buff, there are a number of ideas to make your movie-themed wedding a dream come true.
1. Admission-Style Tickets
This can be done for the save the dates, wedding invitations, and seating chart—really any detail that involves information on paper. It is a simple and fun way to tie in the theme without going over the top. When your guests are aware of the theme, they may even choose to wear an outfit that is their take on a favorite movie character without being too obvious.
2. Movie-Themed Engagement Photos
Choose a movie that speaks to both you and your partner. Work with your photographer to recreate some of your favorite scenes of the movie with your own unique twist. This will give your friends and family a taste of what to expect at the wedding.
3. Concession-Style Favors
Candy and popcorn are a great alternative to traditional favors. When you give out something that can be eaten, it will not take up extra space in their home or sit on a shelf collecting dust. Provide a variety of candy and popcorn, so there is something for everyone.
4. Enter on a Red Carpet
Have every guest feel like a star with a red carpet aisle runner. This will provide fantastic photo opportunities for the guests as well as the wedding party, and will allow the couple to have the spotlight. To take it one step further, you can have a red carpet entrance along a wall with a backdrop for more formal photo opportunities. A custom backdrop can feature the name of the couple and their wedding date.
5. Novelty Wedding Cake
Rather than opting for a traditional floral wedding cake, consider replacing the flora with decorations like film strips and reels, stars, or even a director’s board. The great thing about a novelty style cake is that it can be customized to be any color to match your own theme—black, white, and gray for the classics or douse it with a splash of gold for a more contemporary feel.
6. Silent Movie Slideshow
Create your own silent movie or slideshow to be played for your guests before you walk down the aisle. This will build the anticipation and keep them interested rather than anxious. Because it is silent, it can also be screened during the reception for those who might have missed it the first time around and it will not interfere with the music and those who are dancing.
7. Stunning Centerpieces
Don’t think that you will have to forgo flowers when opting for movie-themed centerpieces. Set vintage film reels flat on the table and top with a floral arrangement. The reels can be left natural or can be painted to match your own wedding colors. When film reels are set on their sides, they lend to a subtle detail, but are still important to the overall look of the reception.
The Cost
Fancy venues can cost a pretty penny, churches usually ask for a donation, but you won’t have to pay to use your own or a family member’s home as seen in Meet the Fockers, which was estimated to cost only $6,936. If choosing to have a large wedding like Bridesmaids, take into consideration how much catering will cost, how large the cake needs to be, as well as renting linens for the reception tables—this movie wedding was estimated at $109,658. Luckily favors and snacks for a movie-themed wedding are great for the budget-conscious and likely won’t go to waste.
