5 Ways to Make Your Wedding Personal

However, lately, you've been thinking. You've been to more than a few weddings recently and to be honest, they all seem to blend together. It's not that they are not fun, it's just that they seem to all be the same, and sometimes you don't even know why you've been invited! And now that it is on your mind, you don't want anyone to feel that way about YOUR wedding. Your wedding will be special, it will be unique, it will be an event that everyone feels a part of. You're thinking that's easy if you're having a really small wedding, but you are expecting 100, 150 maybe even 200 people! How personal can THAT be? How can you make your event personal and intimate, no matter the size?

The answer is simple. This day is not about the colors, the food, the open bar, the cake, it's not EVEN about the dress. This day is about you and your fiance. It is also about the people who you love, who have been there for the two of you, and who have helped you along your way. When you think about it that way, It is suddenly VERY personal and VERY intimate.

But, there are a few ways to translate that thought into personal touches for your wedding.

1. Location, Location, Location. Let's face it. We live in a beautiful country. From the east coast to the west, there are thousands of stunningly beautiful places to say "I Do", whether it is in a gorgeous cathedral, cute chapel, a bluff overlooking the ocean, or in the vineyards of wine country. It's great to get married in a beautiful place, but wouldn't it be even better if that particular place had special meaning to you and your fiance? Maybe even to your guests? Today, wedding locations are no longer restricted to the bride's home town or church (of course, you still CAN get married there if you like!), so you can choose a place that is extra special to you and your fiance. Do you love to be outdoors? Maybe there is a special park that you two have spent time hiking in. Are you wine lovers? Perhaps getting married at your favorite winery is the way to go. Did you meet in a unique location? Look into opportunities to tie the knot there. By choosing a location that speaks to you and your fiance, your wedding day will be extra special, and your guests will notice it too!

2. Choose a Theme That Speaks to You and Your Fiance Personally. There are a MILLION different ways that you could theme your event, from colors to flowers to something fun you saw in a magazine. But why not sit back and think about it for a minute? What is something unique and special about you and the person you are marrying? Why not make your wedding day a celebration of where you are both from? How about a special activity you two like to do? What about your cultures? What is it about you that makes you who you are? A theme that speaks to you can make your whole celebration warm and intimate, no matter the size.

3. Welcome Your Guests. I wrote about this last week, but it is something that I do feel is pretty important. As I mentioned above, when it comes down to it, your wedding guests are witnesses to your life, and when you invite them to your wedding, you are asking them to be witnesses to one of the most important days in your entire life. It is important to honor that. Welcome those traveling from afar with a gift basket in their hotel room. They will feel at once a part of a very special celebration.

4. Take Time To Celebrate Special People In Your Lives. You and your fiance wouldn't be where you are right now if it weren't for some special people along the way. Acknowledging these people in your ceremony and at your reception can really add a personal touch to your special day. For example, my husband and I chose our wedding date because it was very close to both of our parents' wedding anniversaries. We both are fortunate to have such great role models of healthy, loving, supportive relationships that we felt it important to honor that. We had our baker make small cakes for them and as we cut our cake, both sets of parents cut their small cakes as well. Not only do we have great pictures of ourselves cutting our wedding cake, we have FANTASTIC, fun pictures of our parents, 35 and 40 years after they cut their own, feeding each other cake. How happy and in love they looked all over again! It was such a special moment that none of us will forget.

5. Give Back. Consider foregoing a physical favor and instead contribute that money to a charity or charities that are important to you as a couple. Maybe it's raising money for cancer research, maybe it's for autism awareness, maybe it is animal rescue. Whatever you and your fiance feel is important! At each place setting, have a card written up for each guest explaining that these causes are important to you, and a donation has been made in their name. Not only will your favor actually be used, but your guests will be honored to be included in something so special.

These are but a few of the many ways you can make your wedding day personal and special. The bottom line is, if you want your wedding to be an event at which people say, "Wow, that was just such a nice wedding", or if you want to feel as though every part of your day incorporates who you are, take the time to think about who YOU are as a couple. Do what matters to YOU, and the feelings of warmth will follow.

Congratulations on your engagement and happy planning!

Sarah

Woods&Company Custom Gifts