Hey gorgeous bride!! Are you stressing about your wedding planning & all of the details from your big day? Last week, I talked about the first steps after you get engaged! Once you get a lot of the big details down, you get to start thinking and making decisions that may seem smaller, but can also make a big difference in making your wedding special and unique!
The amazing thing about wedding these days is that it’s less about formal & stuffy traditions, and more about the two of you as a couple! This means you guys get to make fun choices on some of your favorite things! You shouldn’t- and can’t please everyone and your wedding should be about you!!
1- Choose some Save the Date cards full of personality! These don’t have to be as formal as wedding invitations, so choose a style that describes you guys, the theme of your wedding, a favorite photo, or hobby that you like to do together!
2- Pick a wedding venue that has special meaning! A lot of brides choose to have a back yard wedding, or their ceremony at a spot that they like to enjoy together, like a vineyard! Some brides have done a vacation spot they love, a campground they visit often! Even just choosing something that you guys both fully love makes a huge difference in your big day!
3- Select your favorite foods for the cocktail hour or the reception! Gone are the days of “wedding chicken” but instead you can choose exactly what you want! I’ve seen brides do a brunch theme, nachos and tacos, coffee bars, etc!
4- Create your own cocktails! Do you have a favorite drink you order always? Talk with your bartender about serving signature cocktails for the Bride and the Groom!
5- Wedding Cake Flavors you actually like! I’ve seen snickers, coffee, all sorts of things! At my own wedding, I had lemon poppy seed with cream cheese and strawberries because I don’t like cake! And hey, who says you HAVE to have a cake? Instead, you can do cookie bars, assorted candies, pies, etc! Choose something that reflects you guys as a couple!
6- Include your Pet! Oh my goodness, I LOVE when a Bride and Groom have their furry friend come along for engagement photos and wedding photos! These pets are such a big part of your life- include them in your big day!
7- Make sure you’re including your friends on your invite list! It can be insane once you start collecting names from both sides of the families, but be sure you’re able to include your friends as well! You’ll forget the decorations, the food, and so much more about the wedding, but you won’t forget the fun time you had with your friends!
8- Utilizing social media! I truly encourage an unplugged wedding ceremony, but invite your friends and family to use their phones during the reception! Have a snapchat filter, a unique hashtag, etc. can help keep everything organized and you and your hubby can look through everyone’s photos and videos when you get back from your honeymoon!
9- You don’t have to do sparklers for your exit! While they can be beautiful in photos, other things can be gorgeous and super fun! Flower petals, bubbles, confetti, even lavender, etc. can be special and different than every other wedding exit!
10- A unique guest book! I can’t tell you the last time I looked at my guest book from my wedding, but I’ve seen some super unique guest book ideas instead! Choose something that can also serve as an art piece for your new home together, or an art piece you can enjoy instead of something that will be tucked away on a shelf or in a box forever.
Ashley Eiban is a Wedding & Portrait Photographer based in Central Virginia. Serving the Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, and surrounding areas. Available for travel world-wide. Ashley is passionate about cultivating genuine relationships built on mutual understanding, trust and lasting friendship.
Currently booking a limited number of wedding and portrait sessions for 2018. Contact Ashley today for additional information!
