Dreamy weddings

Women often swap notes about their weddings. And if you’re one who has overheard those water cooler conversations, you probably realize most weddings are pretty similar.

The majority of couples tend to stick with tradition or stay close to what the popular bridal magazines or wedding sites recommend.

However, a growing percentage of couples aren’t worrying much about what’s in. Instead, they’re going for something a little different, something their own. That’s why non-traditional, themed weddings are quickly becoming the new water cooler wedding conversations.

So far, though, Patty Hanson, owner of Silk Expressions in Mankato, said only a small percentage of the weddings she plans are non-traditional.

“Mostly, 97 percent are traditional, and the other 3 are different,” Hanson said. “Some of them aren’t brave enough yet to take that plunge to doing something so wacky.”

Her most recent wedding was a Roaring ’20s theme complete with flappers and tiaras. The couple, Melissa Mullen and Marcus Hubmer of Lakeville, chose the theme for sentimental reasons. She chose a wedding ring that resembled her grandmother’s with a 1920s vintage appeal.

“I decided to go with the 1920s theme off of the vintage ring idea, plus I like the look back then,” Mullen said. “Feathers, beads and the pin stripe suits — it seemed like a fun time in life.”

From a Zoot suit wedding in the ’20s to a Vegas theme with flamingos and Elvis, Hanson has much experience working outside the box.

She even had the opportunity to help plan the wedding of her son, Kris Harpham, last October.

The theme, appropriate to the season, was Halloween. The bride wore an elegant orange gown and the groom’s tux featured an orange vest and boutonniere. The reception was transformed into a costume ball where guests came dressed in spooky attire. There were some guests in costume Hanson didn’t even recognize.

“Everyone went so crazy with that costume theme,” Hanson said.

Newlywed Jessica Harpham, Kris’ wife, said Hanson had always wanted to do a Halloween wedding, so they decided to give her that chance. But it was also something she had thought of before.

“I didn’t want the wedding to be like a normal wedding. I wanted it to be something everyone would remember,” Harpham said. “Those who attended still talk about how much fun they had.”

Harpham entrusted her mother-in-law with the majority of the planning after offering a few decorating ideas.

“I wanted it to be a tasteful décor, not tacky,” Harpham said. “We used the usual Halloween colors — black and orange. We had carved pumpkins as vases with beautiful flowers in them, a ghostly bride and groom, spider webs (and) our wedding glasses were goblets being held by skeleton hands.”


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