Image by Kelsey Justice Photography. Keep scrolling for unique wedding ideas you’re going to want for your big day

The days of tradition have come and gone. As the years go by, more engaged couples are throwing out the wedding planning “rule book” and doing things their own way–and we’ve never been more excited about it. Although there’s nothing with sticking to tradition, we love seeing newlyweds plan the wedding of their dreams. So, if you’re looking for unique wedding ideas that you have not seen all over the internet, you’re in luck. We’ve seen some pretty special additions in our years and now we’re sharing them with you!

21 Unique Wedding Ideas

1. Leave The First Row Open For Wedding Party

While the tradition is for your wedding party to stand beside you, you can switch it up by leaving the first rows open for them to sit and enjoy the ceremony with your other guests. This allows them to relax, get off their feet, and get a better view of you exchanging your vows.

2. Stand On Opposite Sides

If you want your wedding parties to stand up with you, try this instead. Typically, you stand on the same side as your wedding party as well as your family members. While there’s nothing wrong with this, if you want your wedding party and family members to see your face throughout your ceremony, consider swapping sides. For example, a groom would stand by the bridesmaids, and the bride would stand by the groomsmen. This gives your loved ones a chance to see your face rather than your back.

3. Send a Mood Board With the Color Palette in the Wedding Invitation

Want all of your guests to dress in a specific color palette? Send them a mood board with the color palette of your choice in their wedding invitation. This way they can take the mood board with them while they are shopping for an outfit. Just think about how cohesive your photos will look.

4. Flower Grandma

While we absolutely love little flower girls, assigning the role to your grandmother is an adorable way to include her in your ceremony. She’ll feel honored that you asked to her be a part of your special day and your guests will get a kick out of seeing her walk down the aisle with her basket of flowers.

Image by Stephanie Velez Photography. See more of this real wedding here

5. Wedding Day Scent

You’ve probably heard about choosing a specific perfume or cologne for your wedding day (which we are all for), but have you considered incorporating a wedding day scent through candles or diffusers? That’s right. Having scented candles on your reception table and lighting them during dinner is an easy way to encapsulate your special day. When you’re in the mood to be reminded of your wedding years later, you can simply light a candle with that scent and be taken back to one of the most cherished days of your life.

6. Monobloom Wedding Party Bouquets

More often than not, a bridal bouquet is made up of multiple different flowers. And, in the past, bridesmaids typically carried bouquets that were very similar to the bride’s bouquet (aka also made up of the same different flowers). However, if you’re looking for something unique, consider having each member of your bridal party carry a bouquet of one singular flower type that makes up your bouquet. For example, one bridesmaid may carry a bouquet of sprayed roses, while another carries rununculas.

@xxmrsbunnxx A GENIUS wedding idea! One ive never seen before 😱 We’re about to change the game for Bridesmaid’s bouquets! 💐 Wedding ideas and wedding inspo ♥️ A unique wedding idea ♥️ #weddingtiktok #weddingtok #weddinginspo #fyp #weddinginspiration #weddingtips #weddingtipsfromabride #weddingtok💍 #2024brides #2025bride #bridesmaids #weddingbouquet ♬ original sound – summer songs&lt333

7. Incorporating Love Notes

Do you and your significant other share love notes with one another? Share these notes with your guests as wedding decor. Whether you use them as signage or put them on cocktail napkins like this couple did, it’s a great way to showcase your love story in a unique way. And your guests will love getting a glimpse of your love story leading up to your big day.

@meganjfrederick so many people were keeping them & taking photos! #weddingtiktok #weddingdetails #weddingplanning #bridetobe #2023bride #2023wedding #cocktailnapkins #customnapkins #2023weddingtrends #aestheticwedding #weddingdaytips ♬ original sound – grace *ੈ✩‧₊˚

8. Have An “In Memorial” Table

If you have family members who have passed, put together an “in memorial” table comprised of photos, memorabilia, and some of their favorite foods and beverages. It’s a unique way to honor them and the life they lived.

9. Unity Shot or Drink

Get the party started early with a unity shot or cocktail/beer during the ceremony. If you want your guests to be included, doing so at the very end before sealing the deal with a kiss is a great way to get everyone involved. If you want it to be just you and your partner, incorporate it into your readings.

Not a fan of a drink or shot? That’s okay. We’ve rounded up 15 other unique unity ceremony ideas!

Image by Paige Nelson

10. Create a QR Code + Shared Album

There’s a good chance that your guests are going to be taking lots of photos during your special day. There’s also a good chance that you never get to see these photos or they’re added to an Instagram story for a short 24 hours. If you want your guests to share their photos with you, create a Google shared album and a QR code that links to said album and place it throughout the wedding decor. This gives people the chance to quickly upload their pictures so that you can have them forever.

If you’re worried that guests will forget because they’re partying too hard, you can also include the code on your thank-you notes. This allows them to upload when they’re not focused on dancing and celebrating your love.

11. Photo Scavenger Hunt

Speaking of photos, if you’re looking for another way to gather photos from your guests (while keeping them entertained), host a photo scavenger hunt. Create a list of specific photos to take, and then encourage them to upload them to a shared album. To up the anty, put a prize on the line.

12. Walk Down The Aisle Together

Whether your parents have passed or they’re not going to be attending, walking down the aisle together is a memorable way to begin your new life as newlyweds. You get to walk hand-in-hand with your partner in life as you embark on your new journey.

13. Walk Towards Your Guest

Typically, whoever is walking down the aisle toward their partner walks through their guests. Guests then typically have to shift their attention back to see you. To keep everyone facing forward (allow your partner to be the first one to see you walking down the aisle, thus putting an emphasis on your love), consider walking towards your guests.

Image via Vogue

14. Have A Social Media Minute

You’ve most likely heard of an unplugged ceremony, but have you heard of a social media minute? While we’re sure you’d love your guests to stay off their phones, they often don’t listen–even when you specifically let them know it’s unplugged. To give them the chance to capture the footage and photos they want, host a social media minute where they’re allowed to take their phones out and take as many photos and videos as they want. The easiest way to do this is to have your officiant announce it towards the end of your ceremony.

15. Have a Cocktail Wall or Self Serve Bar

We’ll always be a fan of regular reception bars. But if you’re looking to take things up a notch and stand out, consider creating a cocktail wall or self-serve bar. This could include staff passing out drinks when the bell is rung or beer or wine that guests can pour with a handle.

Image by Emily Klarer. See more of this real wedding here

16. Custom Pizza Boxes

Are you and your fiancee pizza lovers? Considering having pizza served as a late-night snack? Although this is a small detail, it makes for some killer photos that you’re going to love. Use custom pizza boxes and add a message to the top of the pizza using ricotta or pepperoni.

 

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17. Rent a Bouncy House

Jump back into the past with a bouncy house during your reception, and we promise all of your guests will feel like children again–just be mindful if you have an open bar!

18. Print a Wedding Newspaper

If you’re hosting a wedding weekend and you want to share your itinerary in a unique way, consider a wedding newspaper. You can include everything from your love story to a schedule to recommendations for food and things to do (especially if it’s a destination wedding).

 

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19. A Coffee Truck

As more and more couples opt for an alcohol-free or brunch wedding, we’re seeing more couples in search of other fun drink options for their guests. Whether you and your partner are huge coffee lovers or you just want to help guests get a little pick-me-up, a coffee truck or station is the perfect way to keep the party going without drinking. Still want alcohol, too? Do both!

20. Create a Time Capsule

Instead of a guest book, create a time capsule where your guests can write messages or predictions for the future. Seal them in the “capsule” of your choice, pick a time to open it, and read them years later. It will be the perfect way to reminisce on your big day and create new memories with your loved ones.

21. Guess the First Dance

You can never have too many ways to entertain your guests. To get them involved, create a “guess the first dance” game, with the chance of winning a bottle of champagne or another prize of your choice.

 

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Now that you’ve got some unique wedding ideas planned for your special day, check out our ultimate guide on planning unique “I do’s” for even more inspiration!

Image by Foxtails Photography