Unique Wedding Ideas to Make it Special?

[Huskergirl]

I am trying to come up with unique ideas to help us celebrate during the reception to include our families, friends, and the story of "us"...

1. I am going to put a wedding picture of his parents and my parents on the guest book table
2. Slide show during the reception of us
3. The dance that includes those couples who had been married 2 hrs....-50 years...
4. My sister when she wrote out the program she made an insert where she wrote a narrative about her brides maids and he his groomsmen and thank you's to each of their parents.

But I am really wanting to add cute and not obnoxious touches to the ceremony (Catholic), the reception, in the program
I saw someone talk about a wish bowl, ways to get the bride/groom to kiss (putting, sing a song).....etc...any more GREAT ideas? It's those small creative ideas that people take from a wedding and remember about it....

I really enjoy this forum and get ideas from it. Thank you!!!!

[nle5]

Here is an article I found on different wedding ideas:

A Keepsake Wedding
Author: Kathryn D’Imperio

Whether you've been dreaming about your wedding for as long as you can remember, or its advent has taken you completely by surprise, it is an extraordinary day that you will remember for a lifetime! Celebrate your special union with memories of your past, promises of the present and dreams of your future together.

Share Your Blissful Memories

Showcase your love for each other by decorating a table with photos, albums and memorabilia from the various unforgettable times you have spent together. Vacations you have taken, special events and outings you have attended, and basically any fun times and activities you have shared could be displayed in the form of sporting or musical event tickets, a stuffed animal, or countless other small tokens of your lives together. (Reception halls will be very happy to help you set up such a display table.)

Capture the Memories of the Moment

On the individual tables where your guests will be seated, put disposable ***eras so you will receive plenty of photographs of your guests and their dates. You can also be a little more original and distribute a special decorative notebook for your guests to sign, to leave personal messages, inside jokes, old memories and best wishes. Better yet, get a his and a hers notebook, and one for the both of you together. Going through the pages and reading each message will be something for you and your other half to do together one relaxing day after your honeymoon, or whenever!

Take a Walk Down Memory Lane
For a more sentimental approach (or in addition to the previous ideas), compose a slideshow containing pictures of you and your sweetheart growing up until you get to the present. (If you would rather be surprised with the outcome, perhaps your mom or your bridesmaids would compile it.)

Group pictures of you both growing up separately on the same slidesfor example, try to put corresponding photos together-your baby photos, first days of school, and so forthwhatever you can get your hands on! The more similarities, the better- but be careful as you grow into your teenage years. This is your day as bride and groom, so avoid including former flames if you include prom photos and so forth.

As the slides progress through the baby photos, young childhood, middle childhood, teenage years, and so forth, coordinate appropriate music to fit with those themed slides. You can easily do this through Microsoft Powerpoints slideshow functions, or custom create a CD with proper timing to your slides.

Finally, conclude with your grand finale of photos when the two of you met, and progress through the present. This sentimental display will serve as an adorable and emotional keepsake for years to come. Doubtless you will need a few boxes of tissues for your moms and very dear friends!

[nle5]

Some more ideas:

A Romantic Finale

Submitted by: Francine Mendenhall

Have an outdoor sunset wedding. The bride and groom facing the sunset. After the couple give their vows and place their rings, and before they are pronounced husband and wife do the following:


Have two bouquets of flowers set aside the alter for easy retrieval.
Have your favorite romantic song playing.
After the rings have been placed on each other's finger, being the song.
The bride and groom will then pick up a bouquet of flowers. The groom will walk to the bride's mother and the bride will walk to the groom's mother and present the bouquet.
The couple will then meet back at the isle to the alter and walk back together.

When the song finishes playing the ceremony will then be completed by pronouncing them husband and wife.
As the couple kiss, doves will be released against the sunset.
I always thought this would be a memorable and romantic gesture for a wedding finale.

Symbol Of Peace And Love

Submitted by: Georgiana LaSalle

For our wedding we held two doves and incorporated wording into our wedding vows and my husband and I kissed and then each let one go and then at the end when we were walking up the isle we let 50 more go (you have to be outdoors for this one).

For a favor at the reception we gave these away... take a plastic spoon (mine was in maroon, the color of my wedding) and two Hershey's kisses and two Hershey's hugs and some lace and ribbon...put the kisses and hugs in the spoon with the lace and ribbon tied around it and then add a little note card saying...

"A Spoonful of Love and Some Hugs and Kisses, Now we're Mr. and Mrs."

I also had my own wedding song made for me from www.giftsongs.com...they actually sing it with the bride and grooms names and wedding date...VERY COOL!!! I printed up the words and rolled them in scrolls and handed them out for everyone to sing to us while we danced...

Romantic Wedding Wishes

Submitted by: Cathy Utecht

My idea of a romantic wedding:


Candles & flowers - Fill the church with candles & flowers. Add some scented candles to add a nice smoothing atmosphere (lavender). Candles make a beautiful church, they are soothing/comforting and very romantic.
Music - Play music that means something to the two of you. The song you heard on your first date, the day he proposed, the first time, etc.
Carriage ride - A carriage ride to and from the church is much more romantic than a simple car or limo. If you want a limo then lose the wedding party and make love before you go to the reception.
A single rose - When your wife to be comes to the alter give her a single rose to tell her "I'm love you & I'm here for you whenever you need me especially when your nervous or scared" before the big I do. It would be nice to pause a moment in the ceremony and pass one on to each of your future mother in-laws too.
Vows - Write your vows & tell your future life partner how you feel about them. Tell them how much you love them, why you love them and how you can't wait to begin your lives together. If you want to go with the traditional vows just say one special line to each other.
Secret between the 2 of you - Have a little secret between the 2 of you that day whether it be wearing matching underwear or having something "just between you" in your hand, bouquet, pocket or even a special look and when ever you get nervous you look at your partner with "the look" and you'll both know what each other are thinking about. Some people may catch it and wonder what it's all about but it'll be "your little wedding day secret" that helped you get through the day together... depending on each other at the beginning of your life as a family.
Respect each other's wishes - Many couples have very different ideas of their wedding day. Make sure you both get at least one wish for your ceremony. The ceremony is for both of you and you should respect each other's wishes and make sure it's a special ceremony for each of you. Remember the plan is to only get married once so make sure it's special for both of you.

[nle5]

Wedding programs

Ideas for fulfilling tradition with your wedding program while maintaining the personal touch.
The programs for your wedding will be your guest's road map. While you, your betrothed, and your wedding party all know how the ceremony is going to progress, and all of the symbolism you’ve chosen to use, your guests may not understand. Making the program clear and informative is a must, so that you guests understand how meaningful the day is. Making it beautiful is another tiny detail that you will want to be perfect.


You local office supply shop can provide you with papers in colors and patterns to suite your needs, or you can inquire about program paper to match your invitations. Basic word processing programs offer options for dividing the document into columns, which is the easiest way to plan a program with multiple pages.



There are four traditional shapes for the program: flat single sheet, single fold, bi-fold (or brochure), and booklet. In addition to these you can use shaped papers, such as bells, hearts, doves, or flowers. You could also roll the program into a scroll or fold it into a fan. Origami shapes like the heart or the International Peace Crane can be opened to find your program inside.


Traditionally, the wedding program has the ceremony itinerary, much like a church might provide for Sunday services. This section can be as simple as telling what each part of the ceremony is called and the names of any musical pieces you've chosen, or you can tell the significance of each step in subtext. If your want to have your guests join in recited prayers, give them the words they are to say in under the heading of what is going on. For example:


*Processional - "The Wedding March"


*The Exchange of Vows

Rebekkah and Scott have written their own vows as alternative lyrics to the song "She Bangs"


*The Lord's Prayer

Our Lord who art in heaven hallowed be they name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven… etc.


After that you have a great deal of freedom. It is fairly common to introduce the wedding party, excluding the bride and groom. This section should have the bridesmaids first followed by the groomsmen, and the maid/matron of honor and the best man should head their sections. At least tell who each person is, in the order they are to stand during the ceremony. If you have chosen a program style that allows for a bit of space (such as the booklet) you can also tell who they are, why they were chosen for the honor, and/or address a short thank you statement to them. For example:


Maid of Honor: Carry Smith - Sister of the Bride

Bride's Maid: Anne Brown - Friend of the Bride

Bride's Maid: Tanya Johnson - Sister of the Groom

Bride's Maid: Lisa Smith - Sister-in-law of the Bride

We five have been friends for the past 10 years. We have laughed together and cried together, and I am honored that you wanted to share my special day with me. Thank you!

~Reba


Don't forget to honor your usher(s), flower girl, ringer bearer, clergyman, musicians, and the nice lady tending the guest book. They are working hard for you as well, and deserve the recognition.


After introducing the entire wedding party you have extinguished your traditional requirements. From here your program is totally unique and sentimental. You could address statements to both of your parents, thanking them for the life they gave you. You can include verses of songs that will be in the ceremony, so the guests can be clear about the meaning of them. If there is a poem or a blessing that you like, but couldn't fit into the actual ceremony you could place it on the back part of the program as a closing thought.


Decorating your program to coordinate with the rest of the day is another subject that depends a great deal on how much work you want to do, and how fancy you want to be. Single fold and booklet programs can be bound with fancy cords tied around the 'spine' and between the pages. Flat and brochure programs can be decorated with ribbons threaded through holes punched in the top or bottom of the sheet. Those ribbons can be tied in simple bows, or even decorated with small lightweight charms. Stamps can be used with ink or embossing powder, and there are some beautiful "watermark" images available for you computer that make graceful backgrounds.


Once you've finished your programs presenting them at the ceremony will be you next concern. A large basket placed on a table that you guests have to pass in order to get into the sanctuary is a subtle way of offering them up. Your usher(s) can present them to your guests as they are being escorted to their seats. They can be placed with the guest book and handed out by the guest book attendant. If you have a young, energetic person with nothing else to do, give them a basket and have them offer them to guests as the are coming into the church (the last is particularly effective for the 7-10 year old child who is feeling left out).


Once you've decided how your guests will get their programs, you're finished. Relax. Remember, your wedding is supposed to be a happy day - not the day of your first heart attack!

[SusanM18]

NLE5 ***e up with every suggestion I think I could have thought of!

I really LOVE the idea of wedding pics. of both your parents at the guestbook, I would even try to do some of your grandparents if you can find them.