Non-Traditional Wedding Ideas For Modern Couples

Congratulations on your engagement! Planning your big day is an exciting time but it requires some serious thought too – whether it’s setting a budget, choosing a venue or deciding who to invite. When it comes to wedding planning, many couples realise that while they want to follow tradition and get married, they don’t necessarily want a traditional run-of-the-mill wedding. Here are some ways to make your wedding different to all the others you’ve been to over the years!

Get Married Abroad

Getting married abroad is one way to make your wedding day extra special. Whether you revisit a destination that means something important to you both or choose your dream destination for your ceremony, there are lots of options available, from low-key remote elopement with just the two of you, a romantic getaway with your nearest and dearest or a big family wedding abroad. Just be sure to check the legal requirements of the country you’re planning to marry in so that your marriage will be legally recognised when you get back home.

Have a Themed Wedding

A themed wedding is a great way to make your wedding day memorable. You’ll need to feel confident that whatever theme you choose is something you’ll both still love years down the line when you look back on it but beyond that, the world is your oyster! You could base your theme around something that has deep meaning to you both, like your blended culture and heritage or opt for something fun and light-hearted like a favourite book or movie franchise. Weddings themed around events like Halloween and Christmas are also popular options, along with festivals, funfairs or beach-themed weddings.

Ditch the White Dress

If you want to wear white, that’s great but don’t feel you have to just because it’s the done thing. Some brides don’t like the historical connotations of wearing white and its links to chastity or purity or many feel that they simply don’t suit the colour. Deciding to ditch the idea of the big, white dress will likely save you money that you can then spend on other aspects of your wedding day set aside to save for the future.

Choosing to wear something unique to you also allows you to express yourself fully on your big day. Not to mention, you’ll probably be comfier too! The big white dress is often impractical and requires specific undergarments to keep everything in place but if you go for something colourful instead, you could be wearing some sexy lingerie underneath your outfit rather than squeezing yourself into an ivory corset!

Have a Buffet at Your Reception

Some couples feel that a formal, sit-down three-course meal is just too stuffy and old-fashioned for their wedding plans. Having a sit-down meal also means you have to think about seating plans, whether you’ll have a head table or a children’s table, and if your friends and their plus-ones can sit together, whereas a buffet-style reception is much more laid-back and allows people to mingle.

Make it Pet-Friendly

Traditionally, our four-legged friends have been excluded from wedding celebrations but why should your beloved pet miss out on one of the most important days of your life? Planning a pet-friendly wedding requires a little extra thought but providing you have a confident pooch who won’t be fazed by the disruption to their routine, there’s no reason why you can’t include them (or any other pet) in your wedding!

Get Your Friends Involved

Many people assume that their friends won’t be interested in wedding planning but your friends are likely as excited as you are about your upcoming wedding and many will be more than happy to play a special role. Whether that’s organising a particular aspect of the ceremony, helping you decorate the reception venue, giving a speech or organising the hen do, don’t be afraid to get your friends involved. If you happen to know any singers, dancers, musicians or even magicians, you could even have your friends provide entertainment on the night for a truly memorable wedding reception!