25 Ways To Make Your Wedding A Unique And Truly Memorable Event

written by: Ashley Rader

He’s popped the question and you are officially a bride to be. You’ve got the dress, the reception hall, the caterer and the honeymoon booked. Now the biggest challenge. how do you take this cookie cutter wedding and turn it into a unique celebration that your guests will be talking about for years to come? Here are 25 ideas to personalize all the details and make it the wedding of your dreams and the event that no one can forget.

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!

About the Author:
Ashley Rader is the owner and editor for Moments of Elegance Bridal, an online boutique specializing in discounted wedding favors, personalized gifts and wedding accents that will truely make your event unforgettable.

A Wedding to Remember: Unique Wedding Ideas They’ll Never Forget

There are very few once in a lifetime events quite like your wedding day. From the flowers and dress to the flavor of the cake, the option to plan and personalize your wedding with your own unique wedding ideas is truly in your court. And we’ve all been to dozens of weddings that follow the standard format – the rehearsal and subsequent dinner, the wedding ceremony where the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and couple walked formally down the aisle, and, finally, the reception, where dancing and dinner is bound to follow.

And yes, points are given to the couples that take the time to personalize their wedding with fun favors, unusual refreshments, decorations, and other unique wedding ideas. But have you ever thought about shaking up your own wedding, perhaps even changing the very structure of it? With a little ingenuity (and planning), you can personalize your wedding in a way that’s fun for everyone!

My Favorite Memorable Ideas for Unique Weddings

Consider the rehearsal dinner. Whereas most couples elect to run through the standard ‘meet and greet,’ practice their walk down the aisle to get rid of those pre-ceremony jitters, and then sit down to a light repast, some brides and grooms choose to infuse this gathering with their very own unique wedding ideas. One example I’ve heard of is eliminating the sit down dinner entirely, which is usually more formal in nature anyway. The brides then invite the rehearsal dinner guests over for a picnic (in warmer months) or a potluck supper (great any time). This option not only takes away a lot of wedding stress, but also encourages the guests to interact more.

The wedding ceremony itself is, of course, meant to be solemn and respectful, but that doesn’t mean before or after the priest or minister marries the couple you can’t infuse the ceremony with your own unique wedding ideas. One of the more unusual examples I’ve heard about is the entire wedding party dancing up and down the aisle to the delight of the guests who get in on the act. Without so much as a hint as to what is going on, an upbeat tempo begins playing and guests start clapping. The bridesmaids and groomsmen get footloose up and down the aisle, making way for the groom’s and bride’s grand entrances. After all, a lively entrance is certainly one way to personalize your wedding and make sure guests never forget your nuptials!

Another way to personalize your wedding is seating guests at round tables at the wedding venue itself (serving as both the ceremony and reception area). Though it appears to be the reception, the guests actually watch as the bride and groom are married while seated at tables, and then after a quick swap out, the area becomes a beautiful reception. The perks? The bride and groom save lots of money because there’s no need to secure two venues, and your guests don’t have to travel.

And, of course, if you choose to have a wedding theme, you can incorporate all sorts of unique wedding ideas. Take the idea of a renaissance-themed wedding. Both the bride and groom, for instance, will be wearing flowing fabrics and unique headpieces, while the entertainment could feasibly be even more entertaining. Couples have hired ‘court jesters,’ ‘jugglers,’ and ‘dancers’ to lighten the mood, carry on the renaissance theme, and personalize their wedding in a unique way. However, whatever your wedding theme may be, just remember to explore all the unique wedding ideas and possibilities available to you. If it’s historical in nature, do your research! If it’s hobby-themed, ask your friends to share their ideas. Not only will collaboration on unique wedding ideas help you to envision a better wedding, you’ll also have the support of your friends.

At your reception, just about anything goes. It’s your day, so plan and personalize your wedding reception how you want. Some brides feel as though they have to please their guests. Bottom line – if you plan and personalize your wedding activities and events, your guests will want to stay all night long. Consider, for example, the buffet or sit down style dinner served at most weddings. A few brides have elected to have wait staff circulate with heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages or have had multiple refreshment tables set up around the room. Usually, one of the most popular attractions at these refreshment tables is the giant chocolate fountain, with fruit and pretzels for dipping.

Another one of the more unique wedding ideas I’ve heard about is a groom’s cake made entirely of meat. Ideally, the groom’s cake is meant for him and his right-hand men, so, in many ways, it’s appropriate. And you might just have a lot of extra ‘cake’ left over to enjoy later!

Memories that Last a Lifetime

These examples of unique wedding ideas are just a few of the more memorable highlights I’ve seen at weddings over the years. Regardless of how you choose to personalize your wedding, it will always be a special day – a celebration of love and romance with your closest friends and family members. And if you ultimately decide to play it on the traditional side, don’t worry – you have those beautiful memories to last a lifetime.

About the Author: Cherie Johnson is the founder and owner of Creative Bride, a one-stop shop for personalized, unique baby and bridal shower, graduation, quinceañera, anniversary, and wedding favors, helping countless couples and families make their big events a success. Cherie’s wedding advice has appeared on several websites including Women Of, Wedding Lenox, and The Wedding Guide. Before she launched her company in 2006, Cherie worked as a professional wedding photographer, capturing the most special moments of the bride and groom’s big day. For more information on Creative Bride or to find a variety of colorful, customizable gifts and favors, please visit www.Creative-Bride.com.

25 Ways To Make Your Wedding A Unique And Truly Memorable

He’s popped the question and you are officially a bride to be. You’ve got the dress, the reception hall, the caterer and the honeymoon booked. Now the biggest challenge how do you take this cookie cutter wedding and turn it into a unique celebration that your guests will be talking about for years to come? Here are 25 ideas to personalize all the details and make it the wedding of your dreams and the event that no one can forget.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 fiance from that time. For example at table sixteen you could show pictures of your fiance 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!

About the Author: Ashley Rader is the owner and editor for Moments of Elegance Bridal, an online boutique specializing in discounted wedding favors, personalized gifts and wedding accents that will truely make your event unforgettable.