5 Tips to Make Your Wedding Uniquely Yours

Weddings are about love and the joining of two lives but they’re also about you as a couple. With all of the resources available for wedding planning today, there is absolutely no reason to have a run-of-the-mill wedding that doesn’t suit you. Dreaming of a unique and personalized wedding but you're not sure where to start? Get inspired by these five tips. 

bride and groom with balloons
Photo Credit: Ty Boyce of Disney Fine Art Photography and Video

1. Incorporate Your Hobbies
If you both love touring local wineries, consider throwing a wine-themed wedding. This can be done by simply choosing a winery as your wedding venue, or you can incorporate wine in other ways. Personalize your reception with wine bottles serving as table numbers, giving out bottles of wine for the favors or even by adding grapes to your floral arrangements and bouquets. Wine is just one example; the more unique the hobby, the more memorable the wedding becomes.

Excited about the idea of incorporating your hobby, but want to do something more subtle? You could showcase your shared love of horseback riding with a saddle-shaped groom’s cake and a photo booth filled with props such as helmets, riding crops, red coats, etc. Check out 25 of the most unique wedding themes we've ever seen ►


wine bottle guest book
Photo Credit: EVC Creations

2. Be Unconventional
Every wedding has the standard components of a ceremony, reception, meal, music, cake and dancing. While that structure has served couples for hundreds of years, it’s a bit stale. Pick a component and do something unconventional that makes both of you happy. If you don’t like cake, have a banana split bar. If you don’t want a DJ, hire a polka band.

Wedding guests enjoy knowing the inside scoop on why you decided to do something different, so post small signs or cards that explain that you shared a banana split on your first date or your proposal was interrupted by a polka band. Plus, 101 more ways to personalize your wedding ►

wedding band
Photo courtesy of Bobby Borg

3. Select the Right Time
Not every wedding has to be held in the evening. If you’re both early risers, think about a morning wedding. My favorite meal is brunch, so I got married at 9 a.m. and my reception was a champagne brunch. Guests raved about how unique the experience was and I got to celebrate my marriage with all of my favorite people while enjoying my favorite meal.

Hosting your wedding on off-days and times is often a cheaper alternative as well. Let go of the constraints of time (keeping in mind that unusual times may make guest accommodation planning more important). Feel free to host your wedding at midnight under the stars with s’mores or at noon with a picnic reception. Remember, your wedding is whatever you dream it to be, and your guests will go with the flow. Learn 10 ways to cut wedding costs without sacrificing style ►

wedding brunch
Photo Credit: Shawna Yarbrough & Damion Hamilton

4. Include Important Members of Your Family
If you adore your grandma or great aunt, find a way to include them in your wedding. I love the idea of older women as flower girls, especially if there aren’t little girls in your family. You can also include your pets or family members with entertaining talents. Who wouldn’t be amused by your cousin doing sleight-of-hand magic tricks during cocktail hour? Each family member you include helps make your wedding day a little more "you." Plus, 101 sentimental wedding ideas you'll love ►

grandma flower girls
Photo Credit: Genevieve Leiper

5. It’s All About the Details
If you want your wedding to be unique, add things that make guests think of you and your fiancé. Jokes or fun facts about your relationship tucked into napkins, your favorite sports gear as props for a photo booth, or a taco truck for late-night snacks are just a few ideas to get you started. Check out 150 ways to make your wedding unforgettable ►

football wedding cake
Photo Credit: Gabrielle Touchette Photography

Now that you’ve read my tips, go plan a wedding that reflects your individual style. Your guests will be delighted and it will be a day you’ll tell stories about for the rest of your life!

— Danielle Tate 

As a successful entrepreneur, Danielle is a name change expert, on-camera personality, writer, author of a top rated Google newlywed blog and a bridal magazine contributor. It was a 13-hour struggle to change her name after getting married in 2005 that prompted Danielle to leave her medical sales career to develop and launch MissNowMrs.com. Wanting to save other brides countless hours of hassle, Danielle researched name-changing laws and rules in all 50 states to streamline and implemented her unique three-step, 30-minute online service. She is also the founder of MarriedNameGame.com, the original proprietary name change algorithm to determine your ideal married name, and GetYourNameBack.com, an online service dedicated to helping women get their name back after divorce.