It seems that in recent years, more and more people are going down a quirkier and more alternative route for their wedding that reflects their personal style and tastes versus the more traditional idea of a wedding that has been passed down by our parents and grandparents. Your wedding is entirely personal to you and you can choose when and where to highlight your tastes in your wedding. We’ve put together a guide that has some ideas on how you can shy away from tradition and bring your own personal tastes and uniqueness to your wedding, and hopefully help make the decision-making process with planning a little easier.
It’s All About The Dress
Getting married in a traditional long white wedding dress is not always the dream dress for some women. Your wedding dress should really reflect who you are and switching it up a little and wearing an alternative wedding dress can really make your wedding one to remember. If you’re not the type of girl who would normally wear a long, floor-length dress, then a shorter, more retro dress might be the style for you. In fact, many high-end retailers are creating their own more purse-friendly wedding dresses that deter from the traditional style. More floaty, boho inspired dresses are available from retailers, such as French Connection and ASOS. You could also choose a vintage dress, meaning your dress will truly be unique. Or if white isn’t your style, you could choose a dress that’s a shade of pale ivory, soft pink, or sweet lilac or your favourite colour. Alternatively, if you don’t want to go high-end, many wedding dress designers are creating quirky dresses in shorter styles and different colours and fabrics. You could even ask them to tailor a dress to suit your style even further.
The Venue
Choosing a venue and location that is unique and quirky is even easier than before, as more unusual venues are becoming readily available for both the wedding ceremony and the reception. If a more traditional location isn’t your personal taste, then there are a whole host of different locations to get married in. If you’re planning a wedding abroad you could opt for a beach wedding where the sea and nature create a peaceful and tranquil backdrop for your wedding. Luckily, many wedding and travel specialists are creating wedding style guides based on the perfect wedding location, helping your search for a venue that suits you.[1] Alternatively, if you really want a unique location that will have your guests talking about your wedding for months after, you could even get married in a windmill, an underground lake, or a treehouse. There are lots of options for you to bypass the traditional route and to have a wedding that’s truly tailored to suit your needs.
Putting On a Show
Even your wedding entertainment can be tailored to your style. If your style is quite vintage and retro, hire a vintage-themed band to get all of your guests dancing. Photo booths are increasingly popular at modern weddings and there are a variety of different style photo booths, such as vintage booths, retro booths, and even camper van photo booths. You could stick to a traditional DJ and disco ball if you really want, or you could mix it up and make it even more personal. In fact, you could always get a family member or friend to go all DIY for your wedding entertainment. For extra little additions to your wedding, things such as disposable cameras for guests to take photos with are a lovely way to get additional photographs for you to remember your big day from. It’s also a nice way to get your friends and family involved in the photography! Other ideas to make your wedding reception extra special could be a wedding speech bingo, hiring a caricaturist, or hosting lawn games if you’re having an outdoor wedding reception.
Keeping the Guests Happy
Gone are the days when the food at the wedding reception is a traditional three-course meal. While we won’t say no to a three-course meal, having smaller, bite-sized food that guests can help themselves to might be a nice alternative. If you’re wanting a more relaxed and informal meal, perhaps have mini burgers or small cones filled with bite-sized fish and chips for a real British feel. A hog roast and rustic wood-fired pizzas made-to-order are a tasty alternative to a traditional roast dinner. For an alternative to the traditional wedding cake, you could have a three-tiered cheesecake or tiers of cupcakes. Your wedding food really is down to your own personal tastes. Picture Credits: Source, Source, Source,
