Your wedding is your big day, sorry, your Big Day. It’s your time to shine, to sparkle and to celebrate, and you’ll want to ensure that every element is as special as possible, so that it lives in your memory and the memories of your guests, forever more.
That said, and with those grand proclamations dispensed with, the stress of micromanaging all of those disparate elements can quickly turn your dream wedding into a nightmare build-up if you’re not careful.
Fortunately, there are lots of simple things you can do to ensure that your wedding day is extra special, unforgettable and loads of fun; here are 10 tips to help make your wedding everything you dreamed it could be.
Get Serious – And Be Ruthless – With the Guest List
Your wedding day is primarily for you and your fiancé, and you should do everything you can to ensure it is a special day. Some people want it to be as close-knit an affair as possible, perhaps only inviting the closest of friends or family members. Others, however, will see this as an opportunity to celebrate with as many people from across their life as possible.
The decision, ultimately, is yours. If that means leaving annoying relatives and friends who are guaranteed to bring the mood down and cause a scene off the guest list, so be it. Invite only those who will make your day that bit more special and ignore anyone who tries to bully you into changing your guest list; it’s not their day, it’s yours.
Get Creative With Your Wedding Invitations
Your wedding invitations set the tone for the rest of your wedding, which is why it can be a whole lot of fun to make them special and unique. Choose a theme for your wedding and match your invitations to that theme, whether that’s dictating the general colour palette, thematic elements or floral direction. Speaking of which…
Show Off Your Own Unique Style
White lace might be the traditional wedding dress look, but if that’s just not your thing, don’t be afraid to mix things up and wear something that you truly love.
Do a Millie Mackintosh and get married in a suit and an oversized hat or an Olivia Palermo and get married in a tulle skirt and cardigan. Alternatively, do a Kurt Cobain and get married in your pyjamas, wear a bright red flamenco dress or parade around in a 50s prom dress. Personalised, matching wedding cufflinks are also a lovely way to show off your own unique sense of style as a couple, on the special day and at the reception.
As Brides so eloquently writes, “Who says the bride has to be dressed in white or even in a dress for that matter? Weddings are never cookie-cutter affairs—and neither are brides!”.
We couldn’t agree more. It’s your wedding, and there are no rules.
Floral Frivolity
Rather than blowing the budget on gaudy bouquets not in keeping with the occasion or wedding venue, simple seasonal flowers are a lovely idea to anchor the day in a sense of time and place. Not only that, but flowers in bloom will look more resplendent and likely be more affordable too, due to their relative abundance. It’s a win-win-win!
Fortunately, the months of May through September (‘wedding season’, as it were) see a gorgeous variety of summer blooms. Channel rustic arrangements with elements of the wild British countryside; a lovely idea, particularly if your wedding is taking place in these surrounds. This creates a subtle synergy to the disparate elements of the day that tends to work beautifully.
Weave In Personal Touches and Family Traditions
Your wedding is a celebration of your unique love story, so don’t shy away from incorporating elements that reflect your journey together or honour your heritage. This could mean displaying photos from your relationship milestones, incorporating family heirlooms into your ceremony, or creating a signature cocktail named after how you met.
If you have meaningful cultural or family traditions, find ways to blend them into your celebration – perhaps your grandmother’s special blessing, a traditional dance from your culture, or even recreating your first date in miniature form as part of the entertainment. These personal touches not only make your wedding distinctively yours but also create talking points that help guests feel more connected to your story. Remember, these intimate details often become the most cherished memories of the day.
Pick The Perfect Music
Whether you want to have a live band or a DJ at your wedding reception, it is important that you take the time to make the perfect choice. First of all, you should look for musicians and DJs who play the kind of music you want to hear. If you like rock music, don’t be shy about having it at your wedding, the same goes for classical, techno or any other genre. It’s your wedding, and you should be happy. However, do try to have a diverse playlist, so that there is something for everyone to get up and dance to.
Secondly, make sure you choose a DJ or band that have a good reputation for being reliable, and if possible check them out before booking to avoid disaster on the big day.
Create Your Own Playlist
Sure, Wonderwall and Mr. Brightside covers are great, but if you really want to make your wedding day special, work with your DJ or band to create the perfect playlist to keep you and your guests dancing all night long.
After all, you are the best people to know about your musical tastes and the tastes of your guests, so you should be able to create a personalised playlist to keep everyone happy.
If you need some inspiration, earlier this year Billboard rounded up the ‘Best 30 Wedding Songs of All Time‘ which include; Prince and the Revolution’s ‘Kiss’, Black Eyed Peas’ ‘I Gotta Feeling’, and Shania Twain’s ‘You’re Still the One’. And if you really want a challenge, try not to include any breakup songs on your playlist – you’ll be surprised how many popular weddings songs are about just that!
Go For Unique Food Choices
Most weddings have very similar meal options, and it can get very boring very quickly, so if you want to make your wedding special and ensure your guests are pleasantly surprised, make your meal a bit different. Get interactive with huge sharing platters, dish up a curry or swap your dessert for a candy stand – do anything that will make your wedding breakfast stand out from the rest!
Hey, you could even go really wild and just call it a ‘lunch’ or ‘dinner’…
Snacks
As well as putting on a unique meal, why not serve up some tasty snacks during and after your wedding reception? Hire a popcorn machine, set up a sweet stall, order burgers and fries or bring out the chocolate fountain to give your guests a little treat later on in the evening.
Keeping the party fueled with late-night party food is always a good idea. Theknot.com suggest serving a helping of Chinese noodles like lo mein in little take-out boxes and any leftover can be taken home by guests. We love the idea of hiring a pizza or taco truck, too.
If you’re having an outdoor wedding, consider hiring a coffee van for guests who need a little pick-me-up.
Don’t Be Afraid To Be Specific With Your Photographer
Your wedding day doesn’t only have to be extra special on the day, the memories of it can be really special too, which is why it is so important to choose a really talented photographer who can capture every moment of the day perfectly! Don’t be afraid to instruct your photographer to have some fun and take lots of candid shots either because these are often the most fondly remembered as time goes by.
Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the experience. After all, you’ll only get married once!