Make it Personal: Top Ten Ways to Personalize your Wedding

Every bride wants her wedding day to be special. But brides today are finding ways to make the Big Day one-of-a-kind.  From theme weddings to signature cocktails, gone are the days of the cookie-cutter wedding.  So, here are my top ten ideas on how to personalize your wedding day.

1) Ceremony Vows - When putting your personal touch on the wedding, start with the ceremony.  If there's anything your guests have experienced time and time again, it's the traditional wedding vows.  So, write your own! Hearing the crack in the groom's voice as he recalls when he first met the bride is the type of moment that makes a ceremony memorable.

2) Incorporate your Culture - African-American couples jump the broom.  Jewish grooms stomp on a glass. These types of customs not only showcase the importance of your roots, but they also make the ceremony stand out for guests who may not have experienced these traditions before.

3) Signature Cocktail - According to The Knot's 2010 Real Wedding Survey, 15 percent of surveyed couples have a signature cocktail to personalize their wedding reception. Your signature cocktail can simply be your favorite drink or you can create a new drink especially for the occasion. Design a concoction that will match your wedding color scheme or theme, and name it something catchy that reflects your personality. 

4) Fabulous Food - Give your guests a unique culinary experience that showcases local flavors. Getting married in the Northeast? Start with Clam Chowder and end on Whoopie Pies. Are you a Chicago bride? Set up a Chicago-style hot dog stand as a late-night snack. The food you pick reveals more about who you are as a couple.

5) That's Entertainment - Couples are starting to go beyond hiring a DJ or wedding band and showcasing customized entertainment during the reception.  According to The Knot, 15 percent of surveyed couples had special entertainment at their wedding receptions. If the groom played trumpet as a kid, you could have a marching band parade through the reception.  Maybe the Bride is a huge Gleek (i.e. fan of the TV show Glee).  Arrange for the local high school's show choir to perform.  Acrobats, jugglers, and dancers are all possible showstopping acts that could give that unexpected wow-factor to your wedding reception.

Continue Here for the full article.