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13
Apr
2011
By Boho
How to make your wedding day different
As a wedding planner it’s my job to make sure that each wedding is as good as it can be, and that it’s not the same as the one before or the one I’m working on the following week. I’m a strong believer of letting your personality shine through on your wedding day.
The wedding industry has changed significantly over the last few years, no longer are you tied to a hotel wedding package, where each wedding seems to be going round on a conveyer belt of sameness……these days people are being given the freedom to use their imagination and really go to town on their wedding day.
photo credit: www.wildflowerstudiophoto.comIn my personal onion, I feel the recession as bad as it has been, has actually been a good thing for the wedding industry, it’s made people use their money more wisely and act on their creativity more. The days of huge opulence and everything being done on a massive scale are, well not dead and gone, but a lot less than they have been. People simply don’t have the money to spend on their wedding day like they used to so they are looking for ways to make their wedding day different.
On a personal note I made the conscious decision when planning my own wedding to move away from what was expected of me. I had my wedding day planned, country marquee, church wedding 3 course sit down meal….but thank god I changed my mind and thank god my husband let me. (and my suppliers) Instead we moved the whole thing to Ibiza, cut the guest list by 70% and had the wedding we wanted…………and it was perfect!
So how can you make your wedding different?
- Throw the rule books out the window and forget about tradition, some of the best weddings I know about, are weddings were neither the bride or groom had been to a wedding before, so had no preconceived idea of what a wedding should be like
photo credit: assassynation.co.uk- Create a mood board, start with all the things you like, colours, patterns, keep a collection of all the things you find you like, One image could trigger off the underlying theme for the whole of the wedding day
photo credit: www.jtjphoto.co.uk- Think about different places to hold your ceremony and reception, be imaginative, is there somewhere you really like but not sure if they would hold a wedding……just ask. Your favourite restaurant, a friends back garden, how about a Tipi tent or a Yurt?
- As for the ceremony, yes the laws in the UK haven’t quite caught up with the US yet BUT with an open mind you can get married anywhere you want. simply get the paper work bit out the way at your local registry office and then book a wedding blessing or non-religious ceremony anywhere you want….top of a mountain, on a beach, the spot where you were proposed to, local farm……it’s only your imagination holding you back
- Draw upon your own personalities. What are you two like as people? What are your likes and dislikes? What are your hobbies? Try to incorporate these into your day to make the day more personal.
image from bluelilyevents.blogspot.com- Be adventurous with your outfits, shoes, dress length, bridesmaids suit (or no suit) they don’t have to follow any rules, if you don’t want to wear white don’t, if you don’t want your bridesmaids all in the same colour then don’t
photo credit: hollydphotography.com/- Look for inspiration. There are so many wedding blogs and websites out there catering for the bride and groom who don’t want the norm. These can give you loads of inspiration and ideas.
- Research, research, research!!! Don’t just book the first thing, or choose the first supplier you meet. Everyone is different, each wedding supplier you meet will bring something different to the table, each with a different price and style, look at a few and then decided who works best with the ideas you have
photo credit: assassynation.co.uk- Think about your food and what you like as a couple, the food at a wedding can really dictate the feel of the day and the mood. Gone are the day when you are tied to wedding packages set meal A, B or C. things like high teas are very much the trend at the moment, BBQs instead of that dreaded evening buffet. Things can be a lot more relaxed. How about incorporating different cultures, big serving plates of paella, curry?? Then bring in extra things for the evening, candy floss machines, popcorn, crepe vans
photo credit: co co catering- Work with like minded suppliers, a lot of suppliers are itching to do something different. I hear so many of my wedding friends say that they would love to do things differently, suppliers are gagging to get creative and run free on an idea, but rarely get the chance.
- Transport doesn’t have to be traditional….think wedding tut tuts, vintage buses, traditional London taxis.
photo credit; www.cloudlightphotography.co.uk- Things like photo booths, candy stations, cake tables, biscuit tables can all make your day different, yes lots of people are doing them now, but it’s how your present yours, and decorate them that makes it personal to you
photo credit: emmacasephotography.blogspot.com- Do it abroad, a bit of sun shine can make all the difference to a wedding, and it automatically create a completely different mood to your day. If there is somewhere that is really special to you as a couple then why not do it there? Also it’s surprising how the little things don’t seem to matter as much when you go abroad, all those tiny details you fuss about here in the UK really don’t matter when the sun is shining and you’re getting married out in the open.
photo credit: www.s6photography.co.uk- Things like favours, place names, guest books, seating plans can all have a twist added to them…follow a theme or just go completely random……..the days of sugared almond are long gone…..all you need is a little imagination.
image from www.theknot.com – photo by www.kayenglishphotography.com- Do it yourself! There is a whole wave of DIY being added to weddings these days, craft is the new bling. Adding your own little touches to your day can really make it stand out from the crowd and if you’re not at all artistic rope in friends and family that are.
photo credit: www.studiolaguna.com- Be true to yourself. Stick to your guns, if you want to do something that is unconventional do it, after all it’s your wedding, no one else’s. If other people think it’s a strange idea that isn’t your problem. Don’t get bogged down by family members or friends telling you to fit around them.
photo credit: www.nouvelamourphotography.co.ukThere are many, many other ways of making your day different, but these are just some starting points. The main thing is don’t be afraid to be different, it’s your day and it only happens once (well hopefully) make sure your stay true to yourself and what you want!…..no one else!
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Thank you Kelly – you may have just saved my wedding from slipping into meeting other’s expectations: rather than abiding by the one image which catalysed the whole feel we were going for (the interior cover of the Rolling Stones’ ‘Beggar’s Banquet’). Think it is very easy to lose sight of the quirks and foibles that make you, you, and give into conventional ‘pretty’ expectations of the wedding market.
Many whoops for you, holding the torch for a personal, rollicking wedding!!
XXXX
I do love your ‘Wedding Wednesday’ posts – always great advise or sparking a great debate!
I completely agree with throwing the rule book out of the window. The only downside of the mass wedding media is that perhaps some bride’s feel that the pressure they used to feel regarding tradition and what was expected from them has switched over to pressure to have the most unique wedding ever (which is of course virtually impossible as there is so much coverage of all the unique ideas!).
The focus, for me at least as a planner, is therefore less ‘How to make your wedding unique’ but more, as you have said, ‘How to make your wedding truly representative of you as a couple’
Fab article that reassures me it’s ok to do things a little bit differently. The latest debate we are having is videographer or no videographer. I find them quite cringey but apparently everybody else thinks it’s a must have!!
Such a wise, thoughtful, and thorough post! Having open-ended choices today for how to make your wedding “your own” is surely mind-boggling for couples. So mapping the key issues out the way you did is really helpful! (Btw, love that photo from studiolaguna…so casual and pretty.)
Thanks Lissa, the whole shoot from studio laguna will be coming up in a few weeks, you will love it! very natural with lost and lots of smiles xxx
Great tips! I love those ketchup bottle favors!
Love looking through your blog … lots of inspiration :)
Great stuff as always, very inspirational, thanks for posting it
A wonderful post that I’ve only just found. Thank you for reminding me that it’s ok to be different and have different ideas for what we want for our wedding day!
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