Article and photos contributed by Andy Sams Photography

Weddings are as varied as the lucky brides and grooms who plan them. Gone are the days of strictly traditional ceremonies and completely formal receptions. Anything goes when it comes to planning your special day, which may make narrowing down your options difficult. That’s one of the reasons we put together this quiz…that, and just for fun.

Take a look at the hodge-podge of items below.  Circle the ones you find appealing. Don’t think too long about it, just mark the items that you like. Afterward, we’ll see which types of things you favored and what that trend reveals about your wedding style.

Now look back at the items you circled. Count the letters corresponding to each item and see if you came up with mostly As, Bs, Cs or Ds. Most likely, you’ll be a mix of several themes, which means your day can draw inspiration from a number of styles that flip your switch.

If you circled mostly As, you’re attracted to vintage items and might like to weave an antique thread throughout your wedding day. If you marked mostly Bs, you’re charmed by tradition and might love a formal wedding with all its glorious pomp and circumstance. If you chose a lot of Cs, you take pleasure in things artistic and may want to add a stroke of true art to your special day. If you circled mostly Ds, your style is playful and your wedding might as well have a touch of whimsy and some flight of fancy to match. Read on to discover more about each of these themes. There’s also information on how to ensure your style is captured and created by a professional photographer. We hope you find fun and inspiration in the descriptions, and great ideas in the accompanying pictures, all of which were taken by Andy at Andy Sams Photography.

A – Vintage Style

Yellowed posters from classic movies…That perfect piece from your favorite thrift store…Flower children waist deep in wildflowers…Wistful settings that make you nostalgic for eras you never lived…That’s vintage style.

If you are partial to a particular decade, look for elements that bring the rock-a-billy style or 1920s flair to life. Use brooches, wear fishnet stockings, play jazz music and set up a martini bar. Maybe you’ll rock a poodle skirt, have a juke box and serve malted milkshakes.

Comb vintage, thrift and second-hand stores for items that can be used for centerpieces, accents, furniture or accessories. Don’t be afraid to mix and match pieces. Open antique luggage can hold wedding favors, weathered boots can hold flowers, parasols can hang from above. Look to incorporate beige lace, tulle, buttons, or burlap to really highlight the sense of antiquity. One awesome idea we saw at a recent wedding was a table covered with old wedding photos and newspaper clippings of the bride and groom’s families and friends, all in ornate frames. The images were from bygone eras but tied in seamlessly with their look. And it was a lot of fun to try and guess who was pictured in each photo.

Take a look at the portfolios of the photographers you’re considering to see if they have a knack for capturing the wedding theme. Look to see if they played up the apparel of the bride and groom and the décor. Eye the types of objects included in the shots. Don’t be afraid to discuss with your photographer the type of vintage pictures you find really interesting or to suggest using props at your engagement or bridal shoot to really amp up the vintage style you crave.

B – Traditional Style

Waltzing couples dressed to the nines…Starlets on the arms of gentlemen with top-hats…Posed portraits that reveal grace and elegance…Children running through well manicured gardens…Scenes that expose the beautiful formalities of ceremony…That’s traditional style.

If you’re drawn to traditional weddings, you’ll have hundreds of years of ceremonies from which to draw inspiration. Stick with white for your dress, cake, tents and linens. You can’t go wrong with choosing a metallic tone, maybe gold or silver, as your accent color. Lace and flowers also add a traditional touch to table tops and decorations. Remember to keep it clean and uncluttered though. Choose identical dresses for the bridesmaids and formal wear for the fellows, like 3-piece suits. Just because your wedding is traditional doesn’t mean it needs to lack flair. Outfit the men with pocket watches, top hats or interesting pocket squares.

Be sure to look for a wedding photographer with traditional experience. Examine the formal family portraits for arrangement and framing of the image. View posed portraits of the bride and groom looking for classic positioning and formal settings. If you’re interested in portraits of you and your new spouse in particularly formal places, the church sanctuary or under an archway, tell the photographer about these spots ahead of time.

C – Artistic Style

Ornately framed works of art by true masters…Images that beg you to look at them and consider them more closely…Colors that work so well together you’d expect the combination to be found only in nature…That‘s artistic style.

If the bride or groom is an artist, you’ll be well on your way to creating a wedding that is truly a work of art. Utilize your artwork, no matter what medium you work in, to decorate the site.

Perhaps you could choose a particular item of significance to you, a flower that you both like, something that figured prominently in your first date, and create a body of work depicting that item in different ways. You might also feature the work of a particular classic or modern artist that inspires you along with information about their life and works. Try using mini easels for place cards, paint cans as centerpieces or brushes for bouquets.

Get in touch with your local museum of art or a gallery that you enjoy visiting; many of these venues are happy to host receptions and ceremonies. One of the most amazing receptions we’ve attended was in the lobby of an art museum where they’d recently hung a huge red and orange hand-blown glass sculpture from the ceiling. It made for an amazing scene that none of the guests will ever forget.
When checking out the work of potential photographers, look for images from interesting angles and with unexpected emphasis; these are a good indication that the photographer has an artistic eye.

Framing shots to pull your attention to specific details is also an artsy technique. Look for photographers that expertly play with the focus in photos, not to the point of being completely out of focus, but just enough to add a unique touch. Pictures that make you say, “I would have never thought of that” probably mean that photographer has great artistic sensibilities.

D – Whimsical Style

Children flying high on swing sets…An assortment of candies in a circus of colors…A brightly lit ferris wheel…A scene that inspires in you the wide-eyed wonderment of a child…That’s Whimsical Style.

To ensure your wedding is a true flight of fancy, keep it playful and light. Use games, like paddle ball or yo-yos, or funny accessories as decorations that the guests will be happy to take home. Go for a fairy tale slant, with dreamlike accents. Use tulle to create billowing clouds and hanging beads to create shimmer. Plan to exit your reception through a line of guests blowing bubbles or holding sparklers.

For complete immersion in whimsy, use Alice in Wonderland as the inspiration for your wedding. You can decorate with off-the-wall tailored hats and hat boxes, use mix-match teacups and plates, bring in brightly colored, velvet-covered, high back chairs for the bride and groom. If you’re wedding is outdoors, set up croquet and horseshoes.

Seek out a photographer with a playful style. Look for someone with a knack for catching candid shots so he or she will be sure to document all the fun. Ask that they incorporate plenty of natural shots, where you aren’t holding a stiff pose. Role playing during photos will also add a whimsical air; have the groom re-enact the proposal or the bride replay her reaction. Finding a photographer that is skilled at catching moments will ensure he or she is ready for your fun photo session.

In the end, you’re probably a lot like us – a mix of all these styles. Keep these styles in mind when you are choosing your photographer as well as the rest of your wedding vendors.