Tell me how you're non-traditional!

-My H and I never had any type of proposal, we just talked about it, agreed to start planning a wedding, and a couple months later went to the store and I picked out a ring and just put it on and started wearing it when it came in. We also split the cost of it because our finances had already been combined for several years.
- I also did not change my name.
-Did a first look and hung out a bit before the wedding (it was the best!)
- I walked myself solo down the aisle, groom walked himself solo too.
- non religious ceremony because atheists.
- no bouquet toss/garter toss.
- we had mini pies for dessert, no cake.
- we had a bonfire after party.
those are the biggest things I can think of

We’re both women so that’s a pretty non traditional start. We have mixed genders on either side of our party and some bridesmaids who aren’t into dresses and will be wearing the same attire as the bridesmen. We’re skipping the bouquet and garter tosses. We’re doing a first look and staying together the night before.

This is the second wedding for each of us.

No bridal party
no church
pig roast instead of dinner
huge bonfire planned
cupcakes instead of cake
very casual....I’m wearing a dress but FH and my teenage sons are wearing jeans and button down shirts.

The bonfire sounds amazing! I've heard first look's are so nice cause you get that extra time alone. I am atheist and my FH is spiritual, so that's the reason for our non religious ceremony! I love that you two made it your own and did things so differently! Thank you for sharing

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I'm hoping it's becoming more traditional these days, cause love is love! I love that you're mixing the genders. We're doing something similar where my brother will be our best man and stand beside me and his sister will be our maid of honor and stand beside him. I bet they're all going to look amazing in whatever they're wearing. I like the idea of staying together the night before. We may do that, but minus the first look, although I love the idea of the first look, too!

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Cupcakes and the like are sooo much easier than cake I feel, so good call! Also for people doing the bonfire, that just sounds amazing! Yeah, we're not doing church at all either. I love how laid back it all sounds. And the pig roast...yummm! Making me hungry haha.

My FH proposed over pizza and we designed my ring together. Our wedding isn’t traditional but it’s going to be fun and full of magic! If people think it looks like a child’s birthday party then I guess some kids are going to be really envious of my wedding. 😋 I like glitter and colors. I don’t want chic and elegant, it’s not me despite my relatives insisting a wedding always look a certain way. If I had it my way I’d rent a “unicorn” horse.
Have the wedding that you want, it’s a celebration of the couple, that includes their personalities!

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This sounds like so much fun haha. I would love to be a guest at that kind of wedding. Yeah, when I first started to plan I was going a more serious route and realized that that isn't my FH and I at all! We love to be silly together and I want that to shine through, so that caused a few ideas to change. And I honestly hope pizza is somehow involved in our official engagement haha cause it's our favorite! It's so great that you guys are going so unique with your ideas and I bet your guests will have a blast!

-Nondenominational ceremony

-No bouquet or garter toss

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Thank you for sharing, Courtney! I didn't want to do the bouquet, but FH wanted to do garter, so I'm making the bouquet my own and giving it a little modern twist haha, but like you I'd rather skip it altogether.

No tosses, no speeches, no dances.
Beach instead of a church.
Bbq buffet at a pavilion on the beach.
Sparkly Kate Spade Keds all day-with tea length dress!
Made instead of bought earrings, necklace and hair comb.

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I love that you made all your jewelry. That's going to be so special to wear them on your wedding day. And tea-length is so gorgeous! I'm so short so I don't think I could pull it off haha. Yeah I'm wearing nicer flats for the ceremony and then switching to TOMS for the reception. BBQ's are always a good idea. Love everything you're doing!

View Quoted Comment I think weddings should always be fun! It just depends on what kind of atmosphere people are going for. A good DJ gets the crowd going but lawn games, board games or even karaoke are fun too. Our after party will be at a karaoke bar and our reception is a renaissance folk dance fest! Just pick an activity you guys already like, it makes entertainment so much easier to choose.
Pizza at the wedding could be nice! I’ve been to a pizza wedding that had a full spread of gourmet flatbreads and good ol’ greasy pizza alike, guests really had a good time and it was still catered with servers so it was like fancy pizza. Absolutely fantastic.

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It's funny you say that cause we originally wanted pizza for the reception, but my mom and her man are kind enough to be paying for our venue so they make all the food there and idk if I trust them with making good pizza haha. We decided we really want people to dance and have a good time, so we're cutting a lot to get more dancing in (no dollar dance, no anniversary dance, etc). I just want people to have good food and have fun on the dance floor.

We're planning a spiritual ceremony for only us (no legal binding, he doesn't believe the state should be involved in matters of the heart) and a shamanic officiant. Then having a reception for 25 of our closest friends and family the next day. No dancing, no tosses, no garter. We're DIY ing basically the whole thing... he wants to make the food (I think he's crazy for this) and I'm baking cakes and desserts. The only traditional thing we have is that I have a wedding dress and he'll have a suit.

Instead of having bridesmaids, I’m having my dad’s two closest friends be my “attendants”. My dad passed away about three years ago and I wanted to incorporate his memory in a fun, unique way. Most people love my idea (my attendants included 😉), but I’m getting a ton of backlash from my more traditional family members who feel I should have my sister as a bridesmaid.

We’re also ignoring the whole sleep apart the night before tradition. Neither of us will be willing to give up our comfy bed!

View Quoted Comment This sounds so beautiful and intimate! Haha I bet the food will taste extra good though! That’s definitely a beautiful memory you’ll both be able to look back on

View Quoted Comment Haha I hear you on the comfy bed thing! You definitely want the best nights sleep that night and I find that myself and many couples have a harder time falling asleep without their person next to them.

And as for the attendants, I honestly think it is so lovely! I’m so sorry for your loss. I think you’ve found the perfect way to honor your father. Family sometimes means well, but this is your wedding, not theirs, so I like that you’re sticking to what you want. I’m sure I’m going to get some backlash for something we’re doing (Non-religious wedding) or not doing (not inviting certain relatives), but at the end of the day, we just need to be happy with our decisions and I think yours is a great one!

Well we’ll be engaged for 3.5 before we are married.
Together a total of 8 years, 9 months before we are married.
My engagement ring is an aquamarine, not a diamond. But FH is upgrading my ring to the Tiffany Setting ring prior to your wedding.
Our ceremony starts at 11am; reception at noon; done by 4pm.
Only MOH & BM
No garter toss or bouquet toss.

Nontraditinal but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I never got an actual proposal either, it makes it kinda awkward when people ask me how he proposed xD. I bought my own temp ring from Walmart while we save up to get me the step up ring that I want haha. He is also wearing a ring during the engagement.

We're planning a Harry Potter themed wedding, so it won't be all sparkles and flowers like every other wedding you see right now.

Instead of buying a cake, my mom and I will be making and decorating cupcakes.

The bridesmaids and groomsmen will be getting hand-knitted Hogwarts house scarves for their gifts.

No officiant, either asking a friend to "marry us" or perform our own ceremony (since you can certify your own marriage certificate in the state of Colorado).

We're not going on our honeymoon right away (most likely)