Most people tend to go fairly traditional when it comes to weddings. Sure, the modern bride may add a little color to her white gown in the form of a sash, embroidery, or other embellishment, but by and large, many happy couples still walk down an aisle of some sort, have someone pronounce them married, and then proceed to get roaring drunk at the reception. Have you ever been to a wedding that doesn’t have at least a few of these classic elements? But if you’re looking for something off the beaten path, you simply have to think outside the box to ensure a wedding that’s as distinct as you and your partner are (just look at the lady in Taiwan who married herself, becoming her own life partner when she got fed up with failed relationships). In fact, the sky is the limit when it comes to planning unique nuptials. Here are just a few ways to spice up your special day.
- Location. If your stomping grounds don’t hold much appeal and you’re bored by the thought of the cliché Hawaiian wedding, then you’re in luck, because the world is full of interesting destinations to host your service. Why not do an impromptu guerilla ceremony in the mall courtyard where you first met (with a hundred guests crowding around)? Or pile into Stonehenge to do it where the Druids did? The point is, you don’t have to confine yourself to a church, courthouse, or sandy strip of beach. The world is your oyster when it comes to a wedding locale.
- Mixed bridal party. Forget the notion that the bride must have girls and the groom must have guys in attendance. In this modern world, you’re likely to have a mixed bag of close friends who should be at your side. So get guy friends and girlfriends on both sides of the aisle. And just to be fair, they should all get bouquets!
- Marry yourselves (not like the lady in Taiwan). It’s easy enough to become ordained online these days, so if you’re not particularly religious, make your wedding into a totally unique event by getting certified and marrying yourselves (as in, you co-perform the ceremony). You can go totally free form with your vows, even opting to sing, recite poetry, or put on a skit for the assembly. It’s bound to be a lot more entertaining than the average yawn-inducing nuptials you’re accustomed to. And at the very least, your wedding will stand out in the minds of all attending as one of the most distinctive marriages in memory.
- Activity reception. Skip the ho-hum dinner and dancing and opt instead for an exciting activity to kick off your married life. Think about renting out a bowling alley if you want to accommodate friends and family of all ages and ranges of motion. Or head over to your local sky-diving field and see if you can get a deal on a couple hundred jumps. Also fun (and probably less expensive) is a bonfire at a local wilderness campsite.
- Vegan desert. So many people these days are allergic to gluten and dairy, eschewing sugars and fats for their health, or simply trying to stay svelte. Accommodate them all with a totally delicious vegan cake or fruit and vegan-pudding parfaits.
Sarah Danielson is a writer for Adiamor Engagement Rings where you can find loose diamonds, engagement ring settings, and other fine diamond jewelry at affordable prices.
I totaly agree with your comments,the planning and work that goes on behind the scenes is Realy stressful .The more the planning the better the day.Try if you can to pay for caterers or a location where they do the complete job for you.
Kind Regards
David Head
Great ideas. I've seen a wedding where the bride and groom had a garden party for their reception but they had games like croquet and hopscotch for the guests to get involved in. Very cool!