50 Fun Ways to Personalize Your Wedding
Express yourself! Make a statement with these creative ideas and tips.
By: Rachel Griffiths
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Don't Be Afraid to Be Bold
Los Angeles designer Wayne Gurnick had a bride wild for Alice in Wonderland. He threw her a Queen of Hearts-worthy bash, complete with flower lollipops lining the walkway, cocktails served with “drink me” tags, and a cutout of the white rabbit holding a clock that showed the ceremony time.
Photo Credit: Evan Guston Photography
The Standard Ballroom Not Your Style?
New York City-based Tammy Carmona, the tabletop and event designer behind the “Twilight” wedding, recommends finding a location that’s meaningful to you. “One of my brides wanted to get married in the same castle where her mother married. The place was no longer in use, but we got permission to do the wedding there. It brought back a lot of happy memories for her mom.”
Photo Credit: Longs Photography
Show Your Personal Style
Forget the go-to tulle and gold chiavari chairs — put your personal style stamp on your wedding, says Jill La Fleur, a Los Angeles wedding planner. Jill threw a hacienda-style wedding for a Santa Barabara couple that loves Spanish mission style. The stemware was Mexican blue glass, Spanish tiles served as escort cards, the centerpieces were set in rustic tin containers, and on the dance floor? Maracas, of course.
Photo Credit: Josevilla.com
Showcase Your Favorite Hobby
Jill planned a nautical-themed wedding for a couple that loved to sail. “For the cocktail hours, we had roving ‘cigarette girls’ offering vintage candy, as though guests were on the first-class deck. We flew flags, as if from the mast of the boat. And there were lifesaver rings where the guests could pose for photos."
Photo Credit: Josevilla.com
Find Inspiration in Unexpected Places
Look for inspiration in the . . . office? For a bride and groom who were teachers, Tammy placed shiny red apples in the centerpieces and mini number-two pencils on the escort card table. For a racecar-driving groom, Wayne created a purple-and-white checkered flag motif and used it as a border on the table numbers and escort cards.
Photo Credit: Evan Guston Photography
Pass On Cocktail Hour
Is a sit-down dinner a wedding must? Sabdy says to plan the meal your way. A Cuban couple couldn’t wait to get the dancing started, so they skipped the cocktail hour altogether. Instead of passed hors d’oeuvres, guests were seated at the dinner table right away. There were nibbles on big lazy Susans for between dances, and when it was time for dinner, waiters cleared the lazy Susans and set the first course.
Photo Credit: Larsens Photography
Pick a First Dance Song That Moves You
Let Hollywood inspire you, suggests Frank Macioce of Windy City DJs in Phoenix, Arizona. The best romantic movies almost always have a gorgeous song you can dance to, such as “Flightless Bird, American Mouth” from “Twilight” or “There You’ll Be,” from “Pearl Harbor.”
Photo Credit: Minerva Photography
Get the Right Dance Music
There’s a secret to getting the right dance music for your friends and family. Just ask them. E-mail your crew for their top dance songs about six weeks before your wedding, then pass along the list to your DJ. That way everyone hears a favorite during the night, and you know your DJ is spinning the right tracks for your bffs.
Photo Credit: Becky Brown Photography
A Memorable Father Daughter Dance
The best love songs are about heartbreak—which can make it difficult to find something to dance to with your dad. Frank suggests casting back to childhood. Ask your father what song reminds him of you as a kid, whether it’s a silly campfire tune or an instrumental version of a lullaby. When your dad twirls you with tears in his eyes, it will all be worth it.
Photo Credit: Hailey Erickson
Pick Flowers That Reflect Your Personality
There’s a flower for every personality says Kim Sutherland of Mountain High Flowers in Sedona, Arizona. For instance, she sees sunflowers as fun and playful — large flowers for a bride with a lot of personality. Girlie girls love the fluff of the peony, and free spirits swoon over wildflowers.
Photo Credit: Antonia Christianson Events
Honor Your Loved Ones
Jill La Fleur tucked lilac into her own bouquet because it reminded her of the lilac that lined her grandmother’s drive.
Photo Credit: Scott's Flowers
Let the Cake Be All About You
That's what Charleston’s Jim Smeal, who has baked for Southern trendsetters such as Reese Witherspoon, says. He’s made traditional white towers for his Carolina belles, but he’s also created unexpected confections — like the Japanese pagoda cake he baked up for a bride and groom who had a love of Asia.
Photo Credit: Matt Andrews Photography
Show Off Your Fashion Sense With a Cake
It’s a common request for Jim to recreate the lace from a bride’s gown on her wedding cake, but lately his girls are taking it further. They’re asking for big buttercream flowers and ruffles to mimic the soft, romantic textures on the latest couture dresses.
Photo Credit: Palermo Bakery
Get Personal on Your Invitations
Feature a custom monogram, crest, or even a logo made just for you. Ceci Johnson, the couture designer behind Ceci New York, loves to create logos for her couples based on what they love, their favorite city, or even their pets: “We can make a pattern from the logos, and then use it on the envelope liner.”
Photo Credit: Ceci New York
