So it’s wedding season (obviously right?), well I’ve been seeing a few posts by others about all the wedding traditions that they aren’t doing. I thought that it would be fun to do the same.
- No save the dates – I already talked about this one in quite some depth.
- No receiving line – the ceremony and reception are at the same place, and there’s just no convenient way to do it so we aren’t. I never really liked them anyway.
- Non religious ceremony – This is probably the biggest non-traditional thing we are doing. While we were raised catholic for the most part (my religious history is a bit scattered) we have decided to have a friend become ordained in order to legally marry us. The ceremony will be off the cuff, non religious and very simple. It’s exactly what we want.
- Non-traditional guest book – I think this is becoming a thing, but I’m listing it anyway. I’ll be sure to share my guest book when I get around to actually doing it.
- No champagne toast – I don’t think this is necessary, it’s just and added cost. Especially since everyone will already have their cocktail of choice in hand. Half the stuff doesn’t even get drunk!
- I’m nixing “Here Comes the Bride” – I love Ave Maria so that will be played/sung instead.
- A desert table instead of a cake – I never really liked cake, plus we save on the cutting fees with a desert table. It helps that my aunt and step mom are pretty much pastry chef’s also. We are going to have a small cake to cut and save for our anniversary, but that’s it.
- I didn’t register for fine china, silver, towels, or linens – There’s probably 10 types of china sitting in my grandmas basement from old relatives, we prefer casual dining, I think storing extra stuff to use it once a year is silly, and a million other reasons not to get china and silver. Why towels and linens? We have been living together for nearly 4 years we have things we like, I don’t need doubles and triples of stuff just because.
- No fancy exit – That means no birdseed, rice, sparklers, bubbles etc., we are trying to reduce the awkward factor here by just sneaking out when we feel like it.
- No bouquet toss – And subsequently no garter toss. The whole thing always made me feel awkward. I mean it’s fine for some, but I want no one going up my skirt for any reason in front of my family thank you. As for the bouquet I just personally think its kind of overdone, and not everyone gets married these days and a million other reasons, so no just no.
- I ordered my dress offline and made the alterations myself – This is just my style, when all is said and done my dress and all its accessories will cost under $200. This is just my opinion, but spending excessive money on a dress that is worn once and then takes up closet space seems silly and frivolous. My dress was cheap, it won’t wrinkle or stain, I can move in it, and I feel beautiful in it. What more do you need?
- I’m not wearing shoes – I hate shoes. I usually sit at my work desk without them, and take the off as soon as I get anywhere. Most of the summer I don’t wear them and most weddings I hide them under the table to dance. Does anyone keep their shoes on during a wedding? I’ll have a pair of flip flops around for outside portions of the evening and pictures in the trees, but otherwise I might just wear a cute bohemian slipper. I’m working on making it now, so don’t worry I’ll post that one soon as well.
- I’m letting the girls pick their own dresses – this might be a “new tradition” but seriously I’m not into over thinking every stupid detail. I just want my girls there, happy and comfy.
- I chose mix matched table linens – If the girls aren’t going to match then there’s no reason everything else has to.
Phew! I didn’t realize how much of a hippy I am until I wrote this all out. I’m kind of shirking a lot of traditions here and I don’t even feel bad. This wedding is going to be everything that Chuck and I want. It is the laid back affair that is reminiscent of us, and our lifestyles. It’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea that’s for sure, but it’s ours and I couldn’t be happier about it.