Image by Daniel Lopez Perez. Keep reading on for unique wedding ideas

The days of traditional 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. And 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!

Unique Wedding Ideas

1. Leave The First Row Open For Wedding Party

While the tradition is to have your wedding party 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. 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. This video is the perfect example of just how well it works!

@ryendishner When you tell your guests all black formal attire for your wedding and they deliver!🤩🖤✨ #weddingtiktok #weddingguestdress #weddingday #formal #ootd #bridetok #weddinginspo ♬ Opr – Gesaffelstein

3. 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

4. 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.

5. Film Wedding Photos

Film has made a huge comeback these days, so why not incorporate it into your special day? If you’re not willing to shoot your entire wedding in film, see if your wedding photographer is willing to use both. You can also set up disposable cameras on every table so that your guests can capture moments through their eyes. If your wedding is small enough, you may even want to consider a disposable camera wall as your seating chart.

6. 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 *ੈ✩‧₊˚

7. 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.

8. 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.

Image by Paige Nelson

9. 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.

10. 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–gives us goosebumps just thinking about it!

Image by Map and Compass Photography

11. 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.

12. Have a Cocktail Wall or Self Serve Bar

While there’s nothing wrong with a regular reception bar. 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

13. Rent a Bouncy House

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

14. 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).

@haleyelexis our programs were one of the most fun things to create for our wedding 😍 #weddingprograms #weddingnewspaper #weddingtiktok #weddingday #weddinginspo #bride #brideandgroom #bridalparty #2023bride #2023wedding ♬ som original – Renillça Maria

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 The Family Films. See more of this real wedding here