Historic Themes: A Gateway In Many Ways

While in the midst of our own fantastic Mad Men-era themed wedding photoshoot, I couldn't help but begin to wonder about the allure of historic and era-themed weddings. What is it about transporting ourselves, our friends and our family "back in time" for the special day?

As I began to dive into the intricacies of a themed wedding and the motivations behind them, I came across some interesting insights. This, for instance, from Dr. Pamela Haag, the author of Marriage Confidential and Psychology Today columnist:

"It’s a dramatic shift in weddings from 50 years ago, this quest for individuality…They [our parents] gave out tulle-wrapped Jordan almonds as favors, and wore white veils. Weddings proudly displayed conformity, a bride and groom's willingness to get submerged in a social role."1

We live in an era of interconnectedness and individuality. Our lives are more deeply personal than they've ever been, and we've grown accustomed to the idea of customizing our experiences; weddings are no different. Again, Dr. Haag:

"Weddings today aspire to the opposite [of conformity]. They display our customized views and taste. The more unique and reflective of the spouses’ personalities they are, the better."

A couples' choice of a historic or era-aesthetic theme says a lot about their personalities and sensibilities. A medieval wedding transports guests to a time of adventure and maybe even a bit of danger, while a mid or early 20th century theme brings us back to a time when high-class and devil-may-care attitudes towards whimsy prevailed. These themes tell us how the couple wants their celebration to be seen and experienced, and provide an easy-to-understand backdrop for their big day.

For a fun visual guide through our own Mad Men-themed wedding as well as some other lovely pictures scoured from some amazing wedding blogs, check out the photos and links below. Also be sure to hop on over to our Inspiration Gallery which has been updated with the photos from our shoot, which is also featured in the newly released fall issue of WeddingDay Magazine (Central Indiana). The photo set description that accompanies the article is below!

Keep an eye on this space, and look forward to more blog posts to come!

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The sixties were a colorful, innovative decade as reflected in its design and advertising. Nathaniel Edmunds Photography hoped to recreate this mood in this Mad Men style cover shoot. Our “A-Team” of professionals wanted to bring back critical elements of the era mixed with current fashion statements?a formal wedding gown paired with full-length gloves, a multiple-course plated meal, a getaway dress, fun vehicle and an after-party cigar bar & jazz band?mixed up the decades as expertly as a finely-mixed martini. We hope this shoot inspires you to find ways to incorporate traditions from the past.