Wedding ideas - unique locations, receptions, and vows

Coming up with a unique wedding idea is a piece of cake! It all depends on you, your spouse-to-be and what elements of a wedding would make the day perfect for you both. Ideas can be big — like choosing a distant location for your wedding and reception, or small — like personalised wedding vows. The purpose of having a good wedding idea can be to ensure that your day is wonderful for everyone, or it can be to help express your romance, or even sense of humour.

Some of the most extreme wedding ideas include marrying in unusual or unexpected places. Couples have married aboard aeroplanes, or even on a tandem bicycle! But you don’t need to go to those lengths for an unusual wedding idea. Marrying in the Grand Canyon, on a tropical beach or in the countryside of Italy are being made more accessible by specialised wedding companies who can organise the event for you. Plan this well in advance so your chosen family and friends can save their money and vacation time to celebrate with you.

If travelling a distance for your wedding is not appropriate for you, a themed wedding could be just the idea instead. This is ideal if your guests cannot travel to be with you for example. A fairy tale theme is fun — you can marry your own Prince Charming amid ice-carvings and candlelight. Guests may even be persuaded to come in costume! Other theme ideas include Western, Rock ‘n’ Roll, James Bond, or even Intergalactic. Historical themes, such as Victorian or Elizabethan are also a great idea, allowing you to co-ordinate your wedding dress and reception décor to maximum effect. On a smaller scale, a theme revolving around an unusual colour can be used for dramatic effect. Fashionable tones like acid green or hot pink can create a powerful impression.

Big ideas can create very memorable weddings, but smaller ideas can also provoke emotion and remain in everyone’s memory long after you have left for your honeymoon. A recent trend for facing the congregation during the ceremony is very popular with guests, and is guaranteed to create positive feedback. Writing your own vows is a perfect way of making your wedding day unique. You can consider poetry, a song or story, or simply open your heart about your feelings towards each other. It is possible to incorporate some of your guests in your ceremony too, by inviting them to publicly impart advice to the newlyweds borne of their experience.

If you want to share your good fortune, it is a good idea to consider donating leftover reception food to nearby charity kitchens. Some couples also ask for guests to make donations to their preferred charities instead of a wedding gift.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Wedding Ideas