Manly Bands | January 23, 2023
19 Non-Traditional Wedding Ideas That Make a Statement
Wedding Tips
There’s a lot to be said for the standard, cookie-cutter wedding. Like a navy blue suit or a Honda Civic, it just works for pretty much everyone. What if that isn’t your vibe, though? What if you want to drive your 80 series Toyota Land Cruiser while wearing a lime green suit? Maybe you don’t need all-terrain tires to make a statement at your wedding, here are some Non-Traditional Wedding Ideas to get you started.
What to Consider
Use These as They Make Sense
There’s no sense in being non-traditional for its own sake. Sure, it’s fun in theory, but if it doesn’t really mean anything to you, it’s really not gonna have the same pull. Pick the things you love and put your own spin on them. Want to wear a dinosaur bone wedding band? Awesome. As long as it's your vibe, it won’t feel forced. If it’s not, though, you just lose some of the luster.
Less Is More
Sure, you want the wedding to be exciting and non-traditional. Awesome. However, there’s a thin line between coolly pushing the boundaries of long-standing tradition and ending up a spectacle. If spectacle is your goal, then spectacle away. If not, though, be discerning in how you break the rules. As Pablo Picasso is often quoted as saying, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Know Your Budget
You know what is traditional? Wedding debt. Metric f*cktons of wedding debt. Want to break the rules? Be fiscally responsible. The great part about putting a unique spin on your wedding is that you control the rules of engagement (no pun intended) and can allocate and save money as you choose.
Non-Traditional Wedding Ideas That Make a Statement
Change the Venue
Sure, the church is a classic one. Beach is up there, too. What about something a little different? Hike a mountain for it (assuming you’ve got the requisite fitness), have it in your backyard, call a local Chuck E. Cheese — do whatever has meaning in your relationship. Fun fact: That horrifying mouse mascot’s full name is Charles Entertainment Cheese, and he has a wild backstory.
Throw a Surprise Wedding
Hey, it’s been done before. What’s a better way to make a non-traditional statement than springing a wedding on your guests? This is great if you want to have a general theme at your wedding anyway. Invite people over for a dinner party, barbecue, murder mystery night – whatever the vibe is. If you planned for a theme, you just have to send out the invite and everyone will come dressed accordingly, expecting nothing. Genius.
Groomswomen and Bridesmen
This is another trend we’re seeing a bit more of. Mixed-gender wedding parties on the bride’s or groom’s side are gaining some steam. It makes sense, right? You’ve got someone of the opposite gender who’s important in your life but can’t stand by you in this huge moment? That seems kinda wack.
Interestingly enough, bridesmaids and groomsmen originated in Ancient Rome. Back then, however, the groomsmen actually accompanied the bride while dressed identically to the groom. The bridesmaids all dressed identically to the bride to confuse kidnappers and evil spirits. How's that for a Non-Traditional Wedding Idea?
We aren’t putting together a squad of bros who are most able to protect the bride from kidnapping anymore. Don’t get us wrong — it’s cool of the boys to make sure the bride doesn’t get kidnapped by robbers or demons, but that tradition sort of died around the Victorian era.
Get the Pets Involved
Let the good boys and girls of the animal kingdom bring the flowers (or the rings if you really trust them). If your four-legged friends are more like family, give them a spot in the show. If nothing else, it’s a great way for them to get a year’s worth of petting in an evening, and who’s going to be upset when a golden lab comes up to them at dinner? Well, maybe someone, but you can just lose their invitation in the mail.
Let Someone Else Throw the Flowers
The flower girl is classic. It’s always fun to see a small child strew flowers up and down the aisle. We’ve seen it, we love it, but we raise you: flower grandma. Not only is it hilarious, but it’s also wholesome as f*ck. Show grandma or some other older member of the family some love and flip this tradition on its head.
How About the Children, Though?
Already have kids together? Kids from a previous marriage? They should get a part, too! This obviously depends on how old your children are, but try finding a way to incorporate them into it with some responsibilities that make sense for their age. If nothing else, it’ll be cool for everyone to see them standing up on the altar with you as you profess your vows.
Change the Music
There are plenty of classic wedding processionals, and there are some absolute bangers among them. However, this is a quick and easy place to switch things up. Got a song you absolutely love? Would you prefer to run up to the altar while “Gotta Fly Now” plays? Do that one at your own risk, but it would be sick. Maybe don’t play “Candy Shop” if grandma is in the audience, but, hey, it’s your wedding.
Have Live Music
This isn’t too uncommon. However, it’s another easy way to flip tradition on its head. Have live music but make it a bagpipe or something. You could, of course, go the other route and get a violinist or something very wholesome, but that doesn’t sound as fun. Live xylophonist, anyone?
Get a Ring No One Else You Know Will Have
If you want to make a statement that’s unique and personal without drawing a crazy amount of attention at the ceremony, this is it. Go wild with the ring. Maybe go for something custom or a really unique material. How about a men’s meteorite ring? How many of your friends are gonna have that on their finger?
Embrace Culture
Even if you aren’t particularly in touch with your family’s culture, this could be a good place to start — especially if your family emigrated more recently. You can bring something unique to the ceremony and show people something they might otherwise never be aware of. If nothing else, it could be a respectful nod to the older generations in the room.
Vintage Stylings
Vintage dresses are starting to pick up steam. Vintage suits, though, not so much. If you want to rock a disco suit at your wedding, that is your prerogative, Saturday Night Fever. Regardless, if you’ve got an era that you love, why not dress for it? Or consider something custom that takes inspiration from the era with a modern twist? Bonus points if it’s something you could continue to wear to fancy parties after your wedding.
Skip the Whole Thing
A true Non-Traditional Wedding Idea? City hall and a nice dinner sounds appealing when you’re knee-deep in engagement prep, and Aunt Cheryl has been texting you three times a day with her thoughts.
You can, of course, opt for something a bit more romantic, though. Elopements are an increasingly popular option since they blend the romance of a wedding ceremony with the simplicity of just grabbing a judge’s autograph. There are plenty of elopement planners out there, so you can really do it big if you so choose.
Colorful Dresses and Suits
White dress, black suit. It’s classic. It works. However, it’s not exactly the only option on the table here. More and more people are starting to go with colorful dresses and suits that allow them to express more of their personalities. Go wild – it’s your wedding day!
Walk in Together
Not exactly a Non-Traditional Wedding Ideas, giving away of the bride feels like it’s been around forever. It’s a stock standard, especially in the U.S., but it isn’t the only option. The rough history is that the Church of England codified this tradition as more of a business transaction in the mid-16th century. Interestingly enough, Roman Catholicism has had couples walking in together for centuries (though it’s not as common now), and this tradition is being revived and emulated by modern couples.
While it might hurt dad’s feelings, and, of course, you want to take that into account, it is sort of a weird tradition. Look, if it’s that important, it’s not the end of the world because it’s not actually transactional anymore, but like still. Food for thought.
Well, Maybe Both Parents Do It, Then
This is another popular alternative. The couple is walked in with both sets of parents or whoever is important to them. If you want to split the difference between being given away and walking in together, this should be a solid compromise.
Audio or Video Guest Book
When was the last time you had to write something on paper, and you weren’t just signing your name? Point being, your guests probably have shitty handwriting anyway, and audio or video options will just keep things moving.
There are these really cool rotary phones that have been modified to record what your guests say into them. Leave that in place of your guest book, and you’ll have a fuller experience of your guests’ well wishes. That and you don’t have to wonder whether or not that “good for you” was sarcastic or not.
If you don’t want to rent something, you can always have guests record videos and send them to you. Make an email for the wedding and have your guests send you the recorded videos. Just make sure someone helps grandma figure out how it works.
Games at the Reception
Get your guests active! That’s always fun after sitting for a bit. This is perfect for a backyard or field wedding/wedding reception where you’ve got plenty of space as it is. Spread out several lawn games and allow people to just go for it. This way, it’ll be a little easier for people on both sides to mingle and meet each other. Win-win.
If your guests are of the more sedentary persuasion, there are some other choices. How about arcade games? You can rent some of the classics and watch everyone compete for supremacy in Mortal Kombat. Either way, it’s a great way for more people to meet and have fun during the reception.
Cocktail Party Reception
You know what wedding receptions really need? More alcohol and less food? Okay, maybe not. Maybe though. If you don’t want to serve a full dinner (that bill is expensive), do a cocktail hour with charcuterie boards and all types of snacks. Plus, it saves you from having to have a cocktail hour and dinner reception. The fact that it’ll get people drunk and dancing like idiots faster is a hilarious bonus.
Food Trucks
We’ll split the difference with you: food trucks. This will depend on where you are, of course, with metro areas being easier. If you’ve got a local food truck or two that you love, ask them about catering.
There tend to be certain rules in place about minimums and pricing structures, so make sure to have everything in stone before you book. This is some good info to get you started. Food trucks are always tons of fun, and you can save a good deal of money going this route, especially if you have a longer guest list.
Hopefully, these ideas got you started on your non-traditional wedding ideas. You want to make a statement, but you also want to do it artfully and in a fun way. Whatever route you go, as long as it’s something you can look back on and feel good about, you’re already set.
Image Credits
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