If you’ve always curbed tradition and want that to be reflected in your wedding, then we’ve got 26 amazing alternative wedding ideas you need to check out!
More and more couples are defying convention when it comes to their weddings, getting creative and tailoring their ceremony to be more unique to them and their interests.
It’s certainly a way to make the big day more memorable!
So without further ado, let’s get into some alternative ideas for the wedding ceremony, the food, the outfits, and everything in between.
1. Joint Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties
Usually, the couple will have separate parties with their friends in the run-up to their wedding day. But combining these celebrations is only becoming more popular!
Especially if you and your partner are part of a large friendship group. Why would you celebrate on your own?
Even if you’re not part of a large, mixed friendship group it can be a great way for the wedding party to get to know each other ahead of the big day.
2. Bridal Suit
Take a leaf out of Bianca Jagger’s book and wear a bridal suit to your wedding!
Bianca rocked a suit designed by Yves Saint Laurent to her wedding in 1971, that featured tailored pants and a blazer top.
If you’re a bride who isn’t a big fan of dresses, it’s a great way to ensure that you’re confident, comfortable and true to yourself on your big day.
3. Non-White Wedding Dresses
To put a twist on tradition, wear a wedding gown in a color other than white.
Trust us, you’ll stand out as a beautiful, unique bride and have your guests’ jaws on the floor!
4. Alternative Wedding Bouquets
If you want to put a subtler spin on tradition, go for a bouquet alternative. Rather than colorful flowers, go for bouquets that better suit your aesthetic.
You could go for parasols, clutches, or your favorite romantic book.
If you would like some shrubbery – or wear your flowers differently – go for a bunch of succulents, or wear a floral crown or floral cuff.
5. Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses
Following on from our last idea, you could go for mismatched flower arrangements or even mismatched bridesmaid’s dresses, so your bridesmaids can express themselves!
6. Rooftop Wedding
Reading your vows with your city stretched out in front of you, or the sea in your periphery is so romantic!
It lets you make the most out of the outdoors, and if you get married at sunset it really adds to the ambience.
7. Festival Venue
Combine your love of festivals with your love for each other!
This alternative wedding idea is growing in popularity, and is great for summer weddings and Bohemian couples who want a fun, comfortable, and relaxed atmosphere to their big day.
You can lean into the trend with fun photo booths, glow sticks, a live band, tents, and, of course, lots of flower crowns.
8. Unusual Seating Options
Yes, you can even get creative with the seating! You don’t just have to have your guests sitting in straight rows.
You can create swirls, a ring, or a semicircle around you and your partner, or have a more laid-back seating option like the benches above.
9. Include Your Pets
Pets are members of the family too, so why not include them in your special day? There are many ways you can do that, depending on your wedding venue and pet.
For example, some couples like to have their pets walk down the aisle, and some can even act as ring-bearers!
But if your venue isn’t animal friendly, you can still honor them in the decor.
10. Pool Wedding Party
This alternative wedding idea is perfect for a destination or summer wedding, and is an amazing way to create a cool, fun vibe.
The still water and pretty views also make for beautiful photos.
11. Food Truck Catering
The food is one of the most-talked about aspects of a wedding, and is a perfect chance to buck convention.
Food truck catering is undeniably trendy, and makes weddings more sociable and less stuffy and formal.
It emphasizes the guest experience, letting them choose their food so they have a good time.
If you and your partner are a foodie, you’ve got to have a food truck! If you want to keep things elegant, there are luxurious food trucks available too.
12. Ditch The Traditional Cake
Arguably, the most iconic and important wedding food item is a wedding cake, and this is often symbolized by a beautifully layered cake.
If you want to put a twist on things, or if cake just isn’t for you, then go for a delicious alternative!
There are a range of contemporary, delightful alternatives to choose from.
You can go for individual cakes, a tower of macarons, a giant candy bar, a cannoli, cupcakes or a homemade pie.
Or, if you don’t have a sweet tooth, go for a cake made of cheese!
13. Unique Wedding Guestbook
Like wedding photos, guestbooks are an important token of your big day. But who says it has to be a traditional guestbook?
You can get creative by asking guests to record their well wishes on a special phone, take Polaroids, or write out postcards.
14. Comedy Wedding Photos
Weddings are full of emotions, packed with laughs and happy tears. Couples normally want flawless, perfectly poised photos as mementos of their special day.
But comically staged wedding photos are sure to put a smile on your face when you look back on them!
15. Livestream Your Wedding
As technology advances, couples have embraced such technology to live stream their weddings, which is great for guests who are unable to attend in person.
Just make sure your venue has a good Wi-Fi connection.
16. Adventure Wedding
If you and your other half are adrenaline-junkies, then why not incorporate that side of you into your special day?
This will take the idea of an ‘unforgettable wedding day’ to a whole new level.
This alternative wedding day involves spending some of your wedding day on an adventure.
For example, crossing a glacier, going on a jeep tour, or hiking in a new country.
17. Surprise Wedding
Now this is what we call an exciting alternative wedding idea!
If you love to be spontaneous and a big, lavish wedding isn’t for you, then invite your guests to an engagement party with a twist… it’s actually a wedding!
This type of wedding is particularly popular among celebrities, but is the perfect wedding for anyone who wants their nuptials to be intimate and laidback (Also check out Amazing Backyard Weddings).
18. Wedding In A Gallery Or Museum
If you love history, science or art then why not weave that love into your wedding day?
Go for an alternative venue like an art gallery or a museum to really stun your guests. It’ll give you a unique setting for your big day.
19. Wedding Brunch
Wedding brunches are great for a morning wedding, as you’ll have coffee on hand for your guests, you can create a wedding program inspired by morning newspapers, and you can even have a waffle wedding cake and mimosas all round! What’s not to love?
20. Drag Queen Officiant
If you want to add some glitz and glam to your wedding, then why not hire a drag queen as entertainment at the reception, or to even be your officiant.
Gig-based websites are a good place to book drag performers, or you could hit up your favorite drag queen’s social media.
21. Matching Tattoos
While some people think that couples’ tattoos are a bad omen, if you love your ink and you’re a hopeless romantic, why not swap the wedding rings for something more permanent?
22. Mixed Gender Wedding Parties
We love that couples are now including their best friends forever in their wedding party, regardless of gender.
If you’re a bride with a male bestie, why not make him your Man of Honor? Or if you’re a groom with female friends, then why not ask them to be your groomsgirls?
23. White Bridesmaid Dresses
From mismatched bridesmaid dresses, we have another idea that frees your bridesmaids from traditional restrictions of what they can wear, i.e. wearing white!
Just look how elegant the bridesmaids in the above picture look in their white dresses.
24. Funny Wedding Signage
Wedding signage is often used to direct guests to where the ceremony is being held, but we also love the idea of using them for funny messages.
25. Arcade Games At The Reception
A twist on the traditional dance floor, renting some retro games is a great way to turn your reception into a fun, colorful arcade!
Challenge your spouse to Hoop Shoot, brush up on your pinball skills, or take a stroll with Pac-Man down memory lane. Guests young and old will have a ball.
26. Time Capsule Guest Book
Another great alternative to a guestbook, ask your guests to put notes, Polaroids or predictions into a lockbox that you and your partner can open on your anniversary, or the anniversary of your choice.
Opening this up a year or more later can ignite nostalgia for your wedding day, and also acts as an alternative to eating the top tier of your wedding cake on your 1-year anniversary.
Final Thoughts
We hope our article has given you some ideas to turn wedding conventions on their head and have a fun day bespoke to you and your partner’s personalities.
Hey everyone! My name is Cody, and welcome to my site!
Having worked as a Wedding Planner for the last 9 years, I have learned a few things about planning weddings! I know the strain it can place on a couple, and how much there really is to consider before the big day.
I hope that you can find all of the information that you need on my site, and you can get back to being excited rather than stressed about celebrating with your partner in a way that works for both of you.
