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If you’ve been to one wedding, you’ve seen it all.
From the flowers and the candles to the dress and the music, the typical wedding
can be as predictable and generic as your Uncle Leo’s dance moves. For your
wedding to stand out, you need to involve your guests in the sentiment and
process of the day. It’s not the cake or the great food that will be remembered,
but all the little details that will make your wedding as unique and memorable
for your guests as it will be for you. These 25 ideas on how to personalize your
day will make it the event that will be talked about for years to come:
1. Write a welcome note for your out-of-town guests on postcards from the city
your wedding takes place. It’s a nice personal touch that shows tremendous
thought as well as a keepsake that can be saved with photos of the wedding.
2. Include an “About the Wedding Party” section in your programs or on the
reception tables for your guests to learn more about the members of your bridal
party. Not everyone will know that you and your Maid of Honor have been best
friends since preschool.
3. Hang your dress on a pretty silk coat hanger the day of your wedding. People
will be taking photographs of the dress before you put it on and you’d like to
avoid having it on an old wire coat hanger.
4. Send your invitations to Loveville, Maryland first – they’ve developed
special wedding postmarks that add a nice “love” touch to your envelope. Call
301-475-5243 for details.
5. Invite the President, Pope, and the Queen of England for a special wedding
surprise. Be sure to send their invites out early.
6. If you’re planning on taking pictures prior to the ceremony, clear everyone
out of the ceremony site and have your groom at the end of the aisle. Walk down
the aisle, so it’s only the two of you. It’s a very sweet and special moment
that you can share… and the pictures of the tears in his eyes will be priceless.
7. Place tissues or personalized embroidered handkerchiefs in the rows where
family will be seated for their “tears of joy".
8. Write a letter to your mom and dad and have it waiting for them at their seat
during the ceremony. It could be about anything: a thank you, how you hope your
marriage turns out like theirs, your gratitude everything they have done for
you, etc. They will be so touched and honored that you took the time to arrange
for this and you’ll have them in tears before you begin to walk down the aisle!
9. Have each bridesmaid carry a bouquet made entirely of their favorite flower.
Your bouquet will be a combination of all of their flowers.
10. Dress your flowergirl in a bright color rather than a replica of your dress
so that the dress can be worn again.
11. Read your vows to candlelight. All your guests will receive a candle on
their way into the ceremony. When it comes time for the vows, have your ushers
or groomsmen go around and light the candle at the end of the row and let them
“pass the flame.” It’s a nice romantic touch to a very sentimental and powerful
moment.
12. For family members who have passed away or cannot physically be there with
you, wear something of theirs so that they are with you. It could be a lapel pin
tied to the ribbon of your bouquet, your great aunt’s pearls, or your
grandmother’s handkerchief.
13. Pick a special ceremony start time, like 5:17 – the exact time he proposed
to you.
14. Serve your cocktails from a “Something old, something new, something
borrowed, something blue” menu. Take recommendations from special people
involved in the wedding for their favorite old/classic drink, a new/modern
drink, a favorite borrowed unique drink recipe, and a blue cocktail. It’s a
festive way to get the party started!
15. If an ice sculpture is a must have, go for a martini luge. It’s a great
accent to every bar and it will certainly give your guests something to talk
about!
16. Write special love quotes on the inside of everyone’s place cards.
17. Forget the clinking glasses and ringing bells. Have your guests sing loves
songs to get you and your groom to smooch during the reception.
18. Have guests sign a tablecloth or guest book platter to be used at special
dinners in the future in lieu of a guestbook.
19. Set small photo albums, notecards and a disposable camera at each table.
Create a sign asking each guest to write some words of wisdom on the notecards
and put the card into the photo album. Make sure they take a photo of everyone
at the table. After the wedding you can combine the notecard on the same page as
the photograph and you’ll have a special keepsake of every guest at your
wedding.
20. Be sure to have your parents and married siblings first dances played at the
reception- and make sure the DJ or band recognizes them when its played!
21. Rather than doing the money dance, do a “wish dance". The bride and groom
start off dancing together, then guests cut in for 10-20 seconds of dancing and
their chance to give you any last minute marriage advice and parting words.
22. Assign table numbers by age and accent the decor with pictures of you and
fiancé from that time. For example…at table sixteen you could show pictures of
your fiancé with his new car and you at your sweet 16 birthday party.
23. Be sure to have a kid oriented table. Lay down block paper for them to draw
on, have them make you cards, serve hot dogs, chicken fingers, ice cream
sundaes. Perhaps even have a side room for them with Disney movies playing or a
magician for entertainment. Your guests will love you for getting the kids out
of their hair for the night!
24. Wrap a “keep out” or “no trespassing” sign around your leg outside of the
garter. Your groom will find a shocking surprise when he dives in and your
guests will find it to be quite humorous!
25. Race through a tunnel of swords, ski poles, sparklers or boat oars for a
different grand exit.
Remember that this wedding is about celebrating your love and inviting your
family and friends to see a glimpse of who you are. Don’t be afraid to do things
a little differently… your guests will appreciate and remember your day all the
more for it! |
