Many long-standing traditions are still included in modern wedding ceremonies. However, your wedding day is your opportunity to celebrate exactly how you want, in a way that reflects the love you and your partner share.
Take a look at some of these one-of-a-kind wedding trends to consider including in your nuptials.
- Welcome Guests with a Champagne Wall
Who says cocktail hour has to follow the ceremony? Today, many couples are choosing to rearrange the traditional order of wedding events, and you might decide to welcome guests with some bubbly as they enter the ceremony.
If you’re not a fan of champagne or you’d prefer to include a non-alcoholic option, feel free to pass out your beverage of choice instead.
- Seat Guests in the Round
Another idea is to forgo the traditional seating arrangement and set guest chairs up in a circle around the happy couple and officiant.
Not only does it look completely different from typical wedding set-ups, but it can feel more intimate, too. With guests curved around the wedding altar, you’ll be completely surrounded by your closest friends and family, giving everyone in attendance an up-close view of the ceremony.
- Include a Ring Warming
If you want to get your guests involved in the ceremony, a ring warming celebration is a great way to do so. Before the couple exchanges the rings, have the guests pass them around to “warm” them up and make a silent prayer or wish for the newlyweds.
It’s a symbolic way to show the community support that a couple has, and allows each guest to play a special role in the ceremony.
- Choose an Unconventional Venue
Your wedding doesn’t have to be held in a church or event hall. Nowadays, couples are getting more creative when it comes to choosing a venue, helping to curate their desired ambiance and atmosphere without a ton of extra decor. Plus, it allows couples to share their personal interests and hobbies with guests, making the day feel even more special.
Especially if you plan on having a small guest count, you have some flexibility regarding where you hold the ceremony. Some unique options to consider include:
- Botanical garden or greenhouse
- Bar or brewery
- Museum
- Library
- Art gallery
- Zoo or aquarium
- Airplane hangar
- Sporting club
- Rooftop
- Yacht or boat
- Plan a Unity Ceremony
Some couples decide to include a unity ceremony as part of their wedding celebration. It helps to symbolize the union of two individuals, either through a tree planting, sand pouring, or candle lighting moment.
Couples that are blending families might find this particularly meaningful, and it gives them a way to include their children in a fun and interactive way.
- Incorporate a Butterfly Release
Create a truly unforgettable moment during your wedding by planning a butterfly release before, during, or after the ceremony. It makes a wonderful photo opportunity and is sure to wow your guests.
Butterflies hold powerful symbolism related to beauty, transformation, and new beginnings. Thus, they’re the perfect addition to a modern wedding, where couples can release butterflies into the sky as a visual representation of entering a new phase of life together.