how to fill your wedding with personality
We’ve all been through it. At some point in your life you have a summer where it feels like every second weekend you’re at a wedding. After going to so many - let’s be honest - they all start to blend together in your memory.
Fast forward to planning your own wedding. It’s hard to shake the worry that your wedding will be just like every other one that your guests have attended! You’ll probably find a lot of advice on how to make your wedding unique - often encouraging you to spend more on whatever the latest trend is.
But, at the end of the day, there’s one thing that makes your wedding unique and memorable: you.
No two love stories are the same. The best way to make your wedding stand out from the rest is to play up the the thing that makes it unique - the personality of the couple that’s being celebrated.
It’s easy to forget that many of your guests don’t know you as well as your closest circle of friends do. By incorporating your love story and personality into your wedding, it gives your relatives and friends a chance to learn about who you are and why this wedding day is so special.
With that in mind, here are some of our favourite ways to fill your wedding with personality.
Staying True To Yourselves
First of all, choosing a theme will keep your wedding focused on reflecting your personality. We’re not necessarily talking about hosting a giant theme party (though we do love a good Gatsby-themed wedding!); it can be as simple as choosing a design focus that is true to you. Modern and industrial? Vintage glam? Southern charm? A true-to-you theme will help keep all of your wedding decisions in tune with who you are as a couple.
Whether it’s the place you grew up, or somewhere you’ve chosen as an adult, show off your love for the city you call home. If your wedding is in that city, filling your wedding with local treats is an easy way to bring it all together. If not, subtle nods to your hometown can still be included! Street maps, city skyline photos and vintage photos make great design elements.
The Venue and Food
Invite your guests to experience one of your favourite places by holding your reception at your favourite bar, cafe or restaurant. Booking a restaurant for a private function can be surprisingly cost-effective, and not only will you be able to host your friends and family at a place you love, you’ll also be able to re-live your wedding day every time you go back to visit. Plus, choosing an atypical venue is unique and sure to leave an impression on your guests.
Your wedding menu is another great place to let your personality shine through - great food is easily one of the most memorable parts of any wedding. The ways to make your wedding food unique and personal are practically endless! You could have the restaurant that you went to on your first date cater the wedding, or have dessert provided by a cafe that’s special to you. If you’ve traveled together, choose a menu filled with food from countries you’ve travelled to, whether that’s one place or many.
Rather than simply numbering your tables, an easy way to inject some personality into your wedding is to name your tables after something you love, like places in your favourite books, characters from a video game you enjoy together, or places that are significant to your relationship, like the street name of your first home together.
Your Love Story
Nothing creates wedding memories like warm fuzzies, and one of the best ways to help your wedding guests feel the love is to share your story with them. How did you meet? When did you know that this was “it”? What makes your love story unique? What are your hopes and dreams for your marriage?
It can feel a little self-indulgent, but hey - it’s your wedding! Your friends and family are there to celebrate you, and sharing your love story gives them touching insight to the relationship they’re celebrating.
Of course, one of the best ways to tug on your guests’ heart strings is to include your kids in your wedding. If they’re old enough, have them give a toast to you, or get them to share how they feel about the wedding.
If there are songs or bands that are special to you, be sure to include that music in your wedding! Even if it’s not typical wedding music, your DJ should be able to help you work it into the playlist, whether it’s using an acoustic version or an appropriate cover. You can even include lyrics on your wedding stationery or in your vows.
Lastly, while sharing your love story with your guests, you can also honour the love stories of your family and friends. How has your parents’ relationship inspired you? Is there a couple at your church who have shown you what it means to have a strong marriage? Maybe your best friend has been one of the biggest champions of your relationship, always believing that you two were meant to be. As they say, no man (or woman) is an island, and your wedding is the perfect place to acknowledge those who made you who you are.
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