Trendy Isn’t Trending
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Jennifer Atkins and Ashley Blackwell of Perfectly Planned
Do you find yourself googling, “unique wedding trends” or creating Pinterest boards with ideas that you’ve never seen before? Hello, 2022/2023 bride! Wedding professionals are seeing this trend of being “anti-trendy” and we are here for it. So, want to make your wedding stand out? Here are a few ideas to take your wedding from basic to a ~vibe~ in itself.
Your Ceremony Time
The typical wedding times are on the hour or half-hour. Why not incorporate something unique to you and your fiancé? Instead of a standard ceremony time, pick a special significant time such as 5:17 pm, the exact time he proposed. Guests might not understand the non-standard time at first, but it will be apparent later that it was chosen to represent a significant event for the both of you.
Guest Experience
From a planner’s perspective, we see so many wedding favors left behind at the end of the wedding. They either go in the trash at the end of the night or the bride ends up with a multitude of wedding favors that she has no idea what to do with. Instead, why not spend your money on a guest experience such as a caricature artist or live wedding painter. I promise you that your guests will LOVE this! It’s interactive, fun, and can even capture an aspect of who you are as a couple.
Seating Chart
Let’s face it. We have all been to weddings where they have a seating chart numbered Table 1, 2, 3, etc. Nothing is more disheartening to see that your name is listed at the dreaded Table 13. Add some spice by naming your tables with significance or flare, such as places you have visited, towns you lived in, streets you grew up on, etc. Get creative and have fun with the process! One of our favorite weddings to date was a travel-crazed couple who decided to hone in on their favorite national parks for “table numbers”. It may sound cheesy, but it was done in a way that matched their aesthetic and guests commented on this touch for hours.
The Guest Book
Forget the boring book of paper or even that custom name board you have in your Etsy cart. Let’s get real…the likelihood of you looking for someone’s name among the pages of a standard guest book is minimal and a few years from now you’re likely going to change your wall decor. That’s why we’re obsessed with “After The Tone” – the audio guest book where guests leave you “best wishes” on a telephone. Pretty cool, huh? You and your new husband will get a kick out of listening to the recorded messages over and over again and it would be a great anniversary tradition. Plus, you’ll have a loved one’s voice recorded for years to come – cue the tears!
The Art Effect
Neon signs have been a staple at weddings for some time now, but why not try something totally different. Go for a custom chalk or painted mural instead! This will surely draw attention and you’ll wow your guests with the talent of some local artist in a way that is personal to you.
Cocktail Hour
Only the brave may consider this wedding swap, as it may be considered far from traditional, but having a pre-ceremony cocktail hour will not only surprise your guests, but we’ve seen first-hand that it’s a real crowd-pleaser (even more than the Black Beatles song). Who wouldn’t love a specialty cocktail before the ceremony begins? You could venture even further and have the bride and groom present during this pre-ceremony cocktail hour as well. Of course, a first look would be necessary, but swapping this portion of your wedding day will instantly become a more relaxing atmosphere.
Enjoy being creative about your wedding day, let your personalities shine, and don’t be afraid to go against the status quo – After all, it should be as unique as you are and your guests will love every bit of it.