It’s Tradition, But We Want to do Something Different for Our Wedding!

Memory Plate

It’s true, we hear it from couples all the time, “We know its tradition, but we want to do something different for our wedding!” they’ll say.  We agree, sometimes traditions may seem old fashioned and past their time, but first, traditions should be understood.   Traditions bring familiarity, symbol and meaning to the ceremony and the event as a whole.  As wedding planners, we always explain the etiquette behind the tradition, and then if it makes sense for the occasion and fits the formality or theme of the wedding, we support our couples 100% that breaking with tradition and starting your own tradition can lead to a very fresh and exciting twist to any nuptials.

Here are some traditions to consider:

Guest Book:  Instead of the traditional pen and autograph book, consider a memory plate as seen in this picture as one of our couples did at their recent may wedding.  Each guest signed this decorative plate, some leaving messages for the bride and groom.  This plate will now sit proudly displayed in their home rather than collecting dust, unopened as some guest books in the past have done by many a couple.  Another twist on this concept can be applied, particularly if your wedding is a destination or location wedding, and that is to purchase a coffee table book or book by a local artist.  Be sure the book has large pictures of the area and plenty of writable space in the margins.  Display the book and have your guests write messages to the couple during the reception.  We had a couple do this who purchased a book full of local winery shots from Sonoma-Napa.  Not only did they have wonderful messages from family and friends but they were stored on beautiful pages of photographs of the area where they had their wedding taken by professional award winning photographers.

Special Dances:  While we have all heard of the traditional dances for the bride and groom, first dance, mother/ son, father/daughter, what about having some other types of dances.  We had one couple dedicate one dance as the anniversary dance.  They had all married couples out on the dance floor and then started having couples exit the dance floor based on how many years they had been married until they determined the couple who had been married the longest.  Once they determined who that couple was, the DJ stopped the music so they could be formally introduced and the couple then presented them with a small gift.  Then the two couples finished dancing the dance together. It was a lovely way to celebrate the “gift” of marriage and a beautiful “new” tradition.

Cake and Knife Server:  While a time honored piece of equipment, why not spice it up by not only engraving it with the couples name and date of the marriage but why not hand it down to each child to be used at their wedding and allow for subsequent engraving.  This way the piece becomes an heirloom with historic significance and not to mention cost savings!

The key to traditional thinking and wedding planning is to honor the tradition but go ahead and think outside the box!!!

If you need help in managing your wedding traditions or help in planning your wedding, call Party of 2 at 916-479-3093.

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Party of 2

prtof02@gmail.com