Entrepreneurship Networking

Extreme Themes to Inspire You This Engagement Season

Tradition will always have its place in the wedding industry. But more and more, new couples are breaking the mold by embracing more unique themes to create a celebration that reflects their journey.

Some high-profile couples have helped pave the way, such as Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker’s gothic wedding theme, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden’s French garden wedding theme and tech billionaire Sean Parker and singer Alexandra Lenas’ Lord of the Rings-themed wedding, held under the redwoods of Big Sur.

Let’s dive into some extremely unique wedding themes driving the trend, what makes them stand out and how you can thread the needle for your engaged couples.

What drives non-traditional wedding themes?

Celebrities, and increasingly influencers, drive what’s “hot” in culture. It could be a movie franchise, a music or style trend or something that speaks to a cultural moment. In this way, extreme themes are defined by current trends and, therefore, not necessarily “timeless.” Instead, these themes mark the era in which the couple gets married. 

“We’ve seen a huge cultural shift from the 2000s through today toward pop culture being a bigger part of people’s identities,” said wedding planner Jillian Anderson of Fantastical Adventures. “So naturally, that’s showing up in weddings—from fandom-inspired celebrations based on TV shows, movies, comics or games to design aesthetics influenced by media like Bridgerton.”

Anderson is also seeing more couples lean into their culture, celebrating their heritage or blending traditions when the partners come from different backgrounds. 

“Those weddings feel especially meaningful and personal, and a celebration of both the couple and their families,” she said.

Why savvy pros care about wedding theme trends

Why does keeping a pulse on extreme themes matter to wedding pros? Well, for one, Gen Z couples, who are approaching prime engagement age, crave the unique, the individual and, occasionally, the unusual. They are more likely than any other generation to incorporate elements that are special or specific to them—and this very often means “non-traditional” weddings. 

“Overall, there’s a broader move away from ‘traditional’ weddings and toward more alternative, intentional, and expressive ones—where the focus is on celebrating the couple’s unique story in whatever way feels most authentic to them,” Anderson said.

There’s also the nostalgia factor at play for both Gen Z and millennial couples, who are experiencing a revival of 80s and 90s culture, as seen in remakes of popular movie franchises and TV series, such as The Karate Kid, The Smurfs and The Little Mermaid. 

Unique, themed or highly personalized weddings often do require more planning, logistics and sometimes higher costs. Collaborating closely with both your couples and other pros can help you pull off some of these themes just as you would a more traditional wedding. 

“I think working with planners who specialize in weaving themes and storytelling into design, vendor selection and overall coordination makes such a difference. It’s totally worth it to have a wedding that feels like you—and having someone who understands how to balance the creative vision with the practical details helps make that happen without all the added stress.”

Jillian Anderson, Fantastical Adventures

Extreme themes

There’s really no limit to what couples—and their vendors—can dream up for a wedding theme. There are, however, a few overarching categories into which many wedding themes fall. Pros can even consider how these categories align with their brand archetypes, helping them stand out.

TV show and movie wedding themes

Some couples love a particular TV series or movie franchise so much that they devote their entire wedding day to it. Anderson has been part of some really uncommon and entertaining weddings lately that draw inspiration from TV.

“A couple of weeks ago, I helped bring a Brooklyn Nine-Nine wedding to life—fittingly held on 9/9!” she shared. “That one even included a full-on ‘wedding heist,’ just like in the show.”

Jillian Anderson, Fantastical Adventures

Other theme ideas include:

• Wizard of Oz: Yellow brick aisle, ruby red slipper heels, emerald green décor.
• Tim Burton: An eerie yet playful aesthetic, reminiscent of The Nightmare Before Christmas styling.
• Lord of the Rings/Hobbiton: Elven gowns, hobbit feasts and Shire-inspired décor.
• Game of Thrones: Medieval feasting tables, thrones, direwolf motifs, dramatic fire and ice styling.
• Post-apocalyptic/Mad Max: Desert staging, metal and leather fashion, gritty photography.
• Moulin Rouge: Bold cabaret styling, feathers, corsets, cabaret.

Video game wedding themes

With so many adults gaming as a hobby, don’t be surprised if you get some requests for video game-themed touches. In fact, some couples meet online by gaming together. Anderson recently worked on a Monster Hunter-themed wedding, complete with themed signage and monster-inspired details. Some other ideas include:

• Cyberpunk: Neon cityscape backdrop, tech-infused fashion, LED bouquets.
• Mario Brothers: Big bright mushroom caps, faux brick decor, power-up star balloons, red and green decor, a card box made to look like a Super Mario Box.
• Legends of Zelda: Rose gold fairies, Kokiri Forest florals, music from the game.  
• Tetris: DIY Tetris blocks for centerpieces, custom Tetris-themed invitations, the iconic Tetris theme song and wedding rings with interlocking Tetris shapes.
• Minecraft: Square glass vases filled with soil with short grass, ore lights, square plates and pixelated designs for the tablescape. 
• Kingdom Hearts: Tables themed after different worlds from the game, loading/save menu music for when guests start arriving, bottles of bubbles with keyblades and star fruit pins.

Music wedding themes

We all know which famous pop star will sit at the center of music-inspired wedding trends into 2026. But there are plenty of other musical artists and genres couples can draw from to make their special day both look and sound magical. This is about more than just the playlist—there are many other ways to add musical “notes” to your wedding. 

• Swiftie: Monograms, symbolic numbers, 3D or wildflower-inspired florals, funfetti cake.
• Classical: Sheet music bouquets, sheet music rolled up and tied with lace ribbons as their centerpieces, treble clef cake topper, piano or harpsichord dessert table. 
• Heavy metal: Live band altar, moshing guests, pyrotechnics, black colors.
• Vinyl: Music record seating chart, guestbooks, table numbers, vintage-style phonography.
• Soul or Motown: Exposed brick, polished floors, statement lighting, minimalist styling with bold, luxe touches.
• Disco and funk: Glitter balls, flared trousers, dance floor anthems, bold colors, retro décor.

TikTok and social media-inspired wedding themes

“A big trend I’m seeing right now is the rise of cottagecore and fantasy forest aesthetics—lots of soft, whimsical details, natural textures and that magical, fairy-tale vibe,” Anderson said. And TikTok is a primary driver of these themes. 

• Cottagecore: Gingham ribbons, pastel color schemes, tin pails, greenery vines, twinkle lights.
• Bridgerton: Lush florals, gilded touches and antique-classic decor elements, such as candelabras, crests and china table settings.
• Dark Academia: Worn-in leather goods, gold-rimmed china, patina candlesticks, rich textiles and ambient lighting, weathered encyclopedias as centerpieces.
• Old Money: Potted topiaries, Chiavari chairs, oversized urn flower arrangements, white taper candles, dusty blues and light greens. 
• Coquette: Dainty lace, flowing fabrics, porcelain vases, antique mirrors, bow-adorned details.
• Rococo Revival: Soft colors, golden frames, frills and lace, white roses and pale pink hydrangeas.

Book and manga wedding themes

These themes often incorporate the wedding party and their guests—think dress codes, favors, and entertainment. Some examples include:

• Alice in Wonderland: Oversized tea party, Mad Hatter décor, surreal colors.
• Dr. Seuss: Rhyming vows, cartoonish props, bold colors, Whoville characters.
• Manga universe: Cosplay-inspired attire, Sailor Moon and Naruto.
• Marvel/DC superheroes: Hero/villain costumes, comic book centerpieces and themed vows.
• Steampunk: Gears, goggles, corsets, industrial fantasy vibes.
• Cosmic/outer space: Starlit projections, astronaut cake toppers, neon planetscape.

Keep an eye on these themes this engagement season 

Ultimately, these “extreme” themes are another form of wedding personalization that couples hire vendors like you to help create. Here are a few tips Anderson shared for pros: 

• “I think one of the best things vendors can do is stay somewhat up-to-date with pop culture — even just a baseline knowledge helps! You don’t have to know every detail about every fandom or trend, but having a general awareness of what couples might be inspired by (whether it’s Bridgerton, Star Wars or cottagecore) goes a long way in connecting with them.”
• “It’s also really valuable to connect with other vendors who specialize in alternative or themed weddings. Maybe fandom theming isn’t your personal style, and that’s totally fine—but if you know another vendor who thrives in that space, you can refer clients to them or pick their brains. That kind of collaboration not only helps the couple but also builds great professional relationships within the industry.”
• “Showcase your openness to non-traditional weddings. Share photos or videos from any themed or alternative events you’ve done, even if it’s just a few creative details. It shows potential clients that you’re adaptable, open-minded and excited to bring their unique vision to life—and that can make all the difference during engagement season.”

Keep an eye out for the trends that might shape the next wave of themes—and make sure to refresh your Storefront or website to highlight these aesthetics, as well as others that might appeal to couples looking to stand out on their big day.