How to make your wedding your own!
There are countless ways to have a non-traditional wedding that can be personalized to the couple's interests, personalities, and values. Here are some ideas to consider:
Location: Choose a unique location for your wedding, such as a beach, park, forest, backyard or even a bar (photo above was from a wedding at The Ginn Mill - the bar the couple met at). Consider a destination wedding in a different city or country.
Dress code: Encourage guests to wear non-traditional attire, such as bohemian, vintage, or costumes. Alternatively, have a black and white dress code for a classic yet non-traditional look.
Ceremony: Write your own vows and create a ceremony that reflects your personal beliefs and values. Consider incorporating cultural or spiritual traditions that are meaningful to you.
Decorations: Use unconventional decorations, such as paper flowers, succulents or disco balls. Consider DIY projects to add a personal touch to the decor. Also consider re-usable or rented items for eco-friendly decor.
Music: Music is huge for me! I mean maybe you don’t have much of an opinion in the area in which case a DJ could take over for you. But the song you walk down to or have your first dance to or party the night away can really set the tone. Consider a live band or live music during the ceremony. Or having a silent disco or karaoke for entertainment.
Food and drinks: Offer unique food and drink options, such as a food truck or bar truck, a donut wall instead of cake, or a signature cocktail. There is a thing called a One of the coolest things I saw at the last wedding we captured was a ramen bar by Biscuits and Berries.
Guestbook: Instead of a traditional guestbook, have guests sign a unique item, such as a globe, a puzzle, or a piece of art. Have you heard of After The Tone? It is a vintage phone that guests can leave a message on for the couple. Of course, there are also polaroids or photo booths which are fun!
Wedding party: Have a mixed-gender wedding party, or skip the wedding party altogether. You can still acknoledge the people that are most important to you through out your engagement season, at the rehearsal dinner, or even at the ceremony by having them sit in the front row or make a toast after dinner. And you can always let the photographer know if you want special group photos of friends or someone you really want to make sure you get a photo with.
Ceremony format: Choose a non-traditional format for the ceremony, such as a circle ceremony, handfasting, or unity ceremony. I have seen a couple make an old fashion together (their favorite drink) as their unity ceremony and then they poured some for everyone else and made a toast. I have seen a shaman guide everyone in rituals that felt important to you the couple.
Wedding favors: Offer non-traditional wedding favors, such as seed packets, succulents, or personalized wine or beer glasses. Some of my favorites are the vintage, all unique colored glasses - you pick one in the beginning of the night and that is your glass to keep. This is also more eco-friendly assuming the guest like that glass and re-use it. I have also seen all different coffee mugs at a winter wedding - choose your mug, choose your drink (hot cocoa, cider, spiked) and then you keep your mug.