It’s all about the details: One-of-a-kind touches, from personalized vows to custom cocktails, make a wedding truly unforgettable. Plus, it’s fun to put a fresh twist on tradition, or even give one of 2017’s hottest wedding trends your own stamp. We polled nearly 13,000 couples in The Knot 2016 Real Weddings Study and gained plenty of inspiration for how to do things your way when you say “I do.” Here are nine of our favorite ideas. Try one (or more) and you’ll create a memorable experience for your guests—and yourselves.
1. Serve a Signature Cocktail
Whether you’re treating guests to a full-service open bar or curating a wine and beer selection, offering a signature drink is a special way to welcome everyone. Twenty four percent of couples are already in on this trend and there are so many ways you can go: Set up a separate drink station, create a themed bar, devise his and hers cocktails, use your favorite ingredients, or select something native to your hometown or wedding location. Whatever you decide, give your drink a meaningful name—it could be based on where the two of you met, your pets’ names or your alma maters.
2. Switch Up the Seating
More couples customizing their reception spaces means new takes on seating arrangements. You might opt for a few long tables over traditional round ones: a nice way to make a larger party feel intimate. (It also helps avoid the pretense of anyone being at the “bad” table.) Other ideas for putting a creative spin on reception seating: Name tables according to a theme, display a seating poster in lieu of escort cards, or have your favors double as seating assignments.
3. Enter (and Exit) to Your Own Beat
The wedding processional is always a highlight—why not do it in a way that feels unique? Some couples have both parents escort them down the aisle, and we’ve also seen same-sex couples walk down together, or enter simultaneously from two separate aisles. Whatever you choose, walk (or dance!) to music that speaks to you: It could be the instrumental version of a timeless love song, or a melody that reminds you and your partner of a moment in your relationship. Bookend your event with a special last dance song (maybe something by the same artist). Then plan a memorable exit that gets your guests involved: Light and release paper lanterns, dash through a row of sparklers, or capture a special group photo.
4. Reconsider the Registry
These days, you can register for just about anything. Think about what you want, what you’ll actually use and which items represent the life you want to build together. With 78 percent of The Knot couples living together before marriage (52 percent of them cohabitate for two years or more), you’re bound to own a few home essentials already. That said, it’s perfectly okay to double down on dishes or opt out of listing them altogether. You can also register for rare books, sports equipment, charitable donations, a honeymoon fund—or all of the above. The choice is yours.
5. Serve Dinner Your Way
Cocktail hour apps are often the tastiest part of the wedding, so why not keep that festive, less-structured mood going throughout the reception? More couples are choosing taste-as-you-go meals instead of full sit-down affairs. Think: food trucks, grilled cheese bars, passed multi-course dinners and bonfire s’mores for dessert. For the just-wed couple who wants to dance all night, this approach is a great way to keep the food coming without a dull moment on the dance floor. If you don’t want to skip out on the plated dinner, serving the main meal family style is another fun way to feast.
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6. Get Married Anywhere You Like
It used to be standard for weddings to take place in (or near) the bride’s hometown—but given the rise in cohabitation before marriage, more couples are choosing to wed in their adopted hometowns, or in a place special to them. If you’re dreaming of an idyllic venue but don’t live near a location that fits what you have in mind, consider a destination wedding: traveling within the U.S. for your nuptials increased by 16 percent in the last year alone.
7. Choose a Dress That Feels Like You
Above all else, your bridal look should be a reflection of your individuality. Before you automatically search the racks for a white gown, think about your personal style, along with your event’s vibe and level of formality. Brainstorming how to pull off something unique? Consider a non-white gown, a detachable skirt, a separate top and skirt, or a second dress for your reception. If you want something even bolder, try pants or a jumpsuit.
8. Create Your Own Traditions
Just because your mom, sister and best friend did things a certain way at their weddings, doesn’t mean you need to follow suit. Sure, 42 percent of brides do a garter toss and 54 percent toss their bouquets to all the single ladies—but if you don’t want to, then don’t! Reinvent the wheel with something meaningful to you. Put your own twist on cultural or regional traditions, or think of a way to showcase your personalities and interests. Take inspiration from The Knot users: Couples tell us they’ve incorporated family heirlooms into reception decor, recited favorite movie quotes as part of their vows, and held a unity ceremony using sand from their hometowns.
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9. Mix Up Dessert
While many couples still hire professional cake bakers, traditional tiered wedding cakes are actually becoming less common. Thirty two percent opt to treat their guests to baked goods, from mini cakes and cupcakes to pies and cookies. One trend we love that’s easily customizable is the translucent cake. A new take on the naked cake, this treat has a thin veil of frosting that allows some of the cake to peek through. It’s typically topped with flowers, fruit or decorative accents, making it easy to create a one of a kind effect. For the couple who wants to add a personal touch, what could be sweeter?
