Are you looking for something a little different on your special day? Here are some ideas to consider if you want to have an alternative and original wedding!
When it comes to having a completely unique celebration tailored to your own personalities, we’re here to show you what’s possible and give you some wonderful ideas!
If you feel you don’t fit into having a typically traditional wedding then an alternative wedding may be more up your street. Below you’ll find some alternative ways you can celebrate your love and have a wedding that is truly unique – and completely you!
Why Are You Getting Married?
Once you’ve answered the previous questions, the next things to ask yourselves as a couple should be along the lines of:
“What do we want your wedding day to represent?”
“What’s our kind of style?”
“Do we have an overall vision of the day?”
“What are our hobbies or special interests?
“What do we want to do that might surprise everyone?”
“What are your non-negotiables?’
What Do You Want Your Wedding to look Like?
Once you’ve answered the previous questions, the next things to ask yourselves as a couple should be along the lines of:
“What do we want your wedding day to represent?”
“What’s our kind of style?”
“Do we have an overall vision of the day?”
“What are our hobbies or special interests?
“What do we want to do that might surprise everyone?”
“What are your non-negotiables?’
Once you have answered these questions, you’ll have a much clearer idea of the kind of day you are putting together and this will help you make decisions further down the line during the planning process. You can revisit your answers to the questions at any time - and your answers will make for some lovely reading to look back on in the years to come.
The beauty of having an alternative wedding is that anything goes. Here’s some ideas to consider that might help you when it comes to planning an alternative wedding that’s all about you and your love story, making it truly memorable and amazing for you and your guests!
Have A Non Traditional Ceremony
Alternative wedding ceremonies can be anything you want them to be. Literally anything! If you aren’t the church type or traditional manor house kind of people, then choose somewhere that truly represents you as a couple. Are you nature lovers and would relish the idea of being married within a stone circle, in a beautiful woodland?
Are you water babies who love a bit of wild swimming? How about marrying beside running water? In Celtic mythology, couples held hands over a running stream or brook to seal their union.
`If you’ve always fancied a twilight or candlelit wedding, why not arrange the timing of your ceremony for sunset? You can set the timings of your day and of course it’ll make for some seriously gorgeous and romantic images.
Want to make your wedding a whole weekend affair, go for it! Festival-style weddings are a fabulous way to make the most of your time with your guests and create special moments. Get your friends involved, perhaps some of them are musical or could help out with group sing-alongs!
You might decided to weave the wedding around the Celtic calendar, with a beautiful ceremony at dawn and lots of exquisite symbolism. Or, if you have children, you might consider a family-themed ceremony with lots of music, fun and games or even good old-fashioned egg and spoon races for the children.
Hire A Celebrant
A celebrant is someone who can perform a unique wedding ceremony for you. Although in the UK celebrants don’t have the power to legally marry you, they have the unique privilege of being able to conduct a truly unique and completely personalised ceremony. Celebrants are able to incorporate spiritual or religious elements to your day and are the ideal person to run your ideas past. Celebrants are creatives, so if you have a nugget of an idea, talk to a professional celebrant and watch that idea fly!
Choose An Alternative Theme
Themes are really fun! Viking ceremonies, Game of Thrones or even a gothic themed wedding are fabulous ways to indulge your dreams and individuality. Remember there are no rules for wedding clothes and colours schemes– don’t be afraid to be you!
Choosing a theme will make it easier to choose colour schemes, venue choice, entertainment and much more. They can be incorporated as much or as little as you like and can really reflect you as a couple. Themed weddings don’t need to be tacky – you can incorporate your chosen theme in elegant ways and really create a memorable experience for your guests. Are you a hearts and flowers or a cotton candy kind of couple? Or a little bit steam punk meets rock-n-roll? Fabulous!
Wear Alternative Outfits
You want to feel your absolute best on your wedding day – and what better excuse than your wedding day to wear whatever the heck you want to! There’s no rulebook – wear what makes you feel fabulous. You don’t even need to wear white!
Choose outfits that will compliment each other but find ways to infuse your personalities in your choices for the day. Coloured petticoats, leather jackets, fabulous shoes, stand out neckwear, alternative bouquets – the options are endless! How about themed headgear for the wedding party? Or requesting your guests embrace a little of your heritage – think tartan and all things Scottish!
Alternative entertainment
One of the things that people remember about your wedding long after the day is the entertainment. There are so many quirky and alternative entertainment options out there from space hoppers to palm readers to a salsa class. If you’re having lots of children at your wedding, think of some ideas to keep them occupied or if your budget allows, perhaps a magician or children’s entertainer to keep them occupied for a couple of hours to let their parents enjoy some time with you. Having alternative entertainment will not only make your wedding stand out from the crowd it’s a really easy way for you to get your personality across in a fun way.
Be You! The most important alternative wedding advice
The most important piece of advice I can give you when planning any kind of wedding or special event is to be you!
Don’t give into having traditional elements that mean nothing to you – or worse make you feel uncomfortable – just because you feel you should. There are often pressures from family or friends to have a particular kind of wedding but just keep in mind that it’s your day.
At the end of the day, what matters is celebrating your love for each other. Your day can be as alternative as you like, as long as you’re doing that, than the rest doesn’t matter!
The Celebrant Circle are an inclusive and supportive community for professional Celebrants providing community, gold standard training, support and mentorship.
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