Whether you’ve been dreaming of this day since you were a kid or since yesterday (hopefully, the ceremony isn’t today, then), you want it to be something to remember.
You don’t need to descend from a hot air balloon to make it personalized, though that would definitely do it.
If you want to put some meaningful touches on your wedding ceremony, here are some good places to start.
Before You Get too into It, Remember
Less Is More
Ever gone into a house that’s overcrowded with decorations and furniture? You know the one. Grandma’s house that’s got the vinyl paneling from the ’70s that makes it look like a recovering Chicago Bears man cave. What could otherwise be a cool place is prevented from being so because there’s just too much shit going on. Less is more on the personalization front. Trust us.
Make Sure You’re Doing It for the Right Reasons
You want custom wedding rings to express your love? Awesome. A certain reading at the ceremony that has emotional meaning in your relationship? Great, we love it. As long as it’s true to you, then there’s no issue. Once it becomes a competition of who’s going to get more likes on Instagram, something’s just missing. Sure, the guests are going to think it’s cool (probably), but will you? Just something to keep in mind.
8 Ways to Personalize Your Wedding Ceremony
1. Start with the Venue
There’s so much potential for personalization in the venue. This is especially true if you can rent out a place that has special meaning to you. Whether it’s the small chapel in your hometown, an outdoor space where you always went together or the Olive Garden you got engaged at (hey, it’s your life), make sure the venue adds emotional value.
2. Lean into Cultural Traditions
This one is probably a no-brainer if you’re in touch with your cultural heritage. If you aren’t, or you aren’t as much as you used to be, now could be a good time to bring that back. Including cultural traditions can show your guests something they may never have seen before and may never see again. Also, it’s a great way to connect yourself to your greater family history.
3. Write Your Own Vows
Of all the options on this list, writing your own vows is probably the most obvious, but it bears mentioning anyway. While there are stock vows that are great, they’re the ones that your guests have heard before. If that doesn’t bother you, hey, they work great. If you want to do something a bit unique and give your guests an in-depth look into your relationship, the vows are a great time to do that. Make sure you go through a couple of drafts first, though.
4. Who’s Officiating?
You don’t have to get an Elvis impersonator to officiate (though, outside of Vegas, that is pretty unique). You definitely could, though. More likely, you want someone close to you, like a sibling or maybe the friend who introduced the two of you. In the age of the internet, you can get ordained online in basically zero time, so find an entertaining friend and let them have at it.
5. How About the Rings?
This is more for just the two of you, but it definitely adds an element of personalization. With so many types of men’s wedding bands out there, you can find something unique that you love and many people haven’t seen before.
6. Switch Up the Music
Any amount of money to shout “Alexa, play Pony by Ginuwine” and dance up the aisle to the late ’90s classic. Okay, we won’t actually give you any money, but Pony is its own reward.
The point is, while it doesn’t have to be an R&B hit, the music is a great way to customize your ceremony. Find a song meaningful to you and pop that in place of classic wedding entrances.
7. Four Legs Are Better Than Two
We’ve all seen the flower girl and the toddling ring bearer. They’re great and always very cute, and we aren’t here to say otherwise. However, if Winston, your bullmastiff, feels a little left out, let the boy have some airtime.
Attach the ring to his collar or have him as a cool wedding mascot. If a small child can do it, a reasonably smart dog probably can, too. Maybe stick to jobs that don’t require opposable thumbs, though.
8. How Are You Processing in?
The father giving away the bride while the groom waits at the altar is classic, sure. Interestingly enough, it wasn’t always that way, but it’s a fairly default option now. If you want to switch that up, there are a couple of choices that couples tend to go for.
The first option is for the couple to process together at the same time. This is a great symbol of unity and something more unique. If you want to split the difference, you can each walk in with one or both of your parents.
There’s so much you can do to personalize your wedding that it can be overwhelming. Just remember that while you want your guests to have a great experience, too, the two of you will remember it more vividly than anyone else.
