If you’re a travel lover like me, you may be strongly considering travel as a theme for your Virginia weddings. There are lots of fun ways to draw the theme into your setting, as well, even if you don’t have a venue you’d automatically associate with the theme.
Here are some fun touches you can consider as you plan your wedding day, whether local or destination.
Travel-Themed Guest Book Alternative
If you scroll through Pinterest for a second looking for travel-themed wedding ideas, one of the quickest things that will pop up will be a globe as an alternative to your traditional wedding guest book. This is a fantastic idea that helps launch the idea directly into your guests’ minds: this is a travel-themed wedding.
Another idea I like, though, is using a classic paper map for your wedding guest book. This would be especially fun if you have guests coming from around the country or planet even for your special day.
Ask guests to sign wherever they like, of course, but you could encourage folks who’ve traveled to sign near their hometown or previous location or somewhere they used to live. You might learn a lot about your guests that way, while also spreading out some of the signatures and creating a spread on the map.
Another option could be a travelogue or guidebook for your honeymoon destination, a favorite place you’re looking forward to traveling to again, or similar destination that means something to you. And if you’re having a destination wedding, center the theme (and book!) on the destination for your wedding.
Faux Passport Invitations and Stationery
Another touch that can help get your guests in the mood for the celebration is using travel-themed stationery, specifically a faux passport. There are tons of companies out there that can help you find the exact design you’re looking for; with highly customizable information you can fill in for the perfect feel for your special day.
Send out faux passports as the invite, use maps and destination stickers for decorative touches for any stationery goods at the wedding itself, and find travel-themed signs to use for guiding guests to various locations (including tables) at the venue.
Find Thrift Store Goodies for Décor
For some authentic travel pieces to place around the venue as part of the décor, hit up your local thrift stores, vintage shops, consignment shops, and sites like Craigslist and Freecycle or OfferUp to find old suitcases, train cases, travel typewriters, vintage maps, and much more for your wedding celebration.
You’ll want to get started early, though, as the treasures may take a little while to find – especially the perfect ones in the right colors, right wear, etc.
Go with Travel-Themed Wedding Favors
A friend of mine had taken a train trip before her wedding and found herself playing cards a lot as she and her soon-to-be hubby traveled along. This inspired their wedding favor: travel-themed playing cards.
You can choose from a ton of fun favors, including travel-themed matchbooks and bottle openers, vintage postcards, coasters, bottle stoppers, luggage tags, and much, much more. Do a simple internet search to find tons of options.
Use Fabric Map Table Runners
There are many companies out there who have picked up old vintage maps and turned them into fabric patterns. You can find some of these pieces pretty easily wherever fabric is sold and either make or hire someone to turn them into table runners.
Types of fabric to look out for include vintage maps, airplane themed patterns, destination patterns (even if you’re not going to Paris, it’s an easy location to find fabric based around), or anything that screams to you about the destinations you’re focused on for your theme.
Travel Props for Your Photo Booth
Another fun option is having some travel themed props for your photo booth. This could be anything from maps and globes, suitcases and valises, to hats from around the world or dress up accessories themed around your honeymoon or wedding destination (Hawaiian luau gear anyone?).
Add a travel backdrop as well, for that extra boost, whether it’s a destination image or a world map or something else along those lines.
Consider a Travel-Themed Venue
There are some venues around the city you live in (or near) that might actually not be your first thought for a wedding venue – but they could make the perfect one. Think about airplane hangars at the local regional airport, for example. It certainly wouldn’t be like any other wedding you’ve gone to yourself – and your guests will remember it forever!
Others might be a local aviation museum, a restaurant featuring international cuisine you love, or even one of those “World’s biggest” roadside stops that would add some fun flavor to your wedding photos.
