6 Photographers Share the Best Traditions From Real Weddings

Photo: Meredith Rogers Photography

When it comes to wedding traditions, there are several classic ones that spring to mind: the bouquet toss, cake cutting and first dance to name a few.

In search of more personalized and unique ideas, we asked photographers to share the best traditions they’ve seen at real weddings.

Getaway Dress
"I had a bride whose getaway dress was the same one her mom and sister wore at their wedding exits." —Angela Fleming of New Seasons Photography

Something Old
"I have seen brides add a part of the grandmother's or mother's wedding dress to the inside of their wedding dress." —Svetlana Frolova of Svetlana Photography

On the Wedding Day
"One bride had a handkerchief that was passed along to each girl in their sorority and embroidered with her new married monogram on her wedding day. Another bride was given a family ring that each bride in the groom's family was given on her wedding day. I loved this one so much that I designed and gave my mother a ring from our local jeweler to start the tradition in our family." —Heather Kline of Heather Kline Photography

Cake Topper
"I recently second-shot a wedding and the cake topper was used by the bride’s grandmother, mom and aunt. The same topper survived all those weddings." —Rebecca Faulk of Red Bridge Photography

Wear a Veil
"One of our recent brides wore her grandmother’s veil. We’ve also had brides sew a piece of fabric inside their dresses to remember family members who passed." —Melissa Lacouture of M.Studios

In the Bouquet
"One of our brides had a sprig of ivy that was in her bouquet that had also been in her mother’s bouquet. After her mother’s wedding, they planted the ivy in their garden at the mother’s home and it grew for many years. When it came time for her [daughter’s] wedding, they cut a piece to include in her bouquet." —Robin Dini of Steve Depino Photography