Thank you to our Guest Contributor Megan Beth for this wonderful article…
From bespoke favors to signature cocktails, today’s weddings are highly personal celebrations that reflect not only a couple’s style but also intimate their vision of a happily-ever-after.
Don’t know where to start? We’re sharing five easy steps — from clever invitations to inspired reception menus — to make your wedding truly yours.
Impress with Invites
Give your guests a glimpse of your wedding day with customized invitations. Draw inspiration from the things and experiences you share as a couple. Do you both like to travel? Consider unique, passport-inspired paper goods.
Nature enthusiasts? Opt for wedding invitation brands that help you create eco-friendly invites and save the dates. Going paperless? Set up a personalized website where guests can RSVP, tick-off from your gift registry, and where you can share your love story’s playlist.
A Few of Your Favorite Things
Ideal for destination weddings and celebrations that span the weekend, bespoke welcome totes and boxes are the ultimate wedding essential. It’s the perfect catch-all for your already personalized items like invites, itinerary, thank you cards, and favours.
Adding some of your favorite goodies give it an even more personal touch. So don’t forget to include your favorite snacks and beverages, vanity must-haves, weather essentials, and some hangover relief. Your guests will thank you sooner than later.
Name It, Claim It
One of the easiest ways to personalize your wedding is by adding monogram details to different components of the big day. Whether it’s a monogrammed napkin or a reception sign with your initials, this “naming” tradition is an elegant and impactful addition to any wedding design.
If you want to break from tradition, consider putting a stamp on unexpected design components: from the aisle runner and drink stirrer, to your wedding cake and cocktails, and down to your groom’s cufflinks and reception dance floor.
Seasonal and Local Fares
Rather than going for a set menu, consider going for a more personalized fare. You can work with a caterer to serve a family favorites-inspired menu for a warm and nostalgic touch.
Tying the knot during fall? Think about seasonal influences too. Have a chat with your chef about serving courses that make the most of fall’s best harvest. Planning a destination wedding? Ask your caterer what local delicacies can be incorporated into the menu.
Make a Memorable Rehearsal Dinner
Are rehearsal dinners still important for the wedding weekend? Of course they are.
Greet your guests for the weekend in a way that is personal to you and your partner. Do you love crab and seafood? Make sure that’s included in the food at your rehearsal dinner.
Or maybe your rehearsal is less about the food, and more about the setting. Consider a rooftop rehearsal at a farm-to-table restaurant. Or, make it even more special by hosting it in a relative’s home (such as your parent’s) or your own.
Honor Your Family
Is there anything more personal than your family photos? These images are windows to our past; and for couples with a rich history, can be a way to evoke how the family tree is branching out.
At the wedding reception, consider displaying your favorite family mementos in a dedicated photo wall for guests to view or simply as part of the tablescape. Vintage framed photos – including those from your parents’ or grandparents’ weddings – make for an intimate ambiance.
While personalizing your big day may sound daunting, it simply comes down to choosing the things you like. Your wedding should be a reflection of your individual personality, as well as who you are as a couple. Start looking at the bigger picture, and then branch out to how you want your creative ideas to be reflected in the details. Be creative and be patient. Some unexpected inspiration may just be around the corner that will make your wedding truly yours.
