15 Non-Traditional ideas for your wedding!
Weddings are filled to the brim with tradition, and yet not every aspect of your wedding needs to align with the usual customs. Adding some non-traditional elements to your wedding day can liven things up, provide your guests with a unique experience, or even serve to align more with your values as a couple than traditional practices would. That being said, here are 15 ideas to spark your creativity and inspire you to think outside of the box when it comes to your wedding. Rent a Bouncy House
Jump back into the past with a bouncy house during your reception and we promise you all your guests will feel like children again! Be mindful when having an open bar and hire extra staff to tend to the bounce house in case of any leaks, drunken shenanigans, or power issue! Or as an alternative, speak to your wedding planner about working the timeline in a way that allows use of the bouncy house before the heavy drinking begins. We highly recommend our friends over at Bounce and Bash Co. in STL; they have some pretty unique and beautiful bouncy houses for weddings! 
2. 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). (We can design and print these for you too, just ask!)3. Have a Cocktail Wall
OrMobile Bar Option
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 having a unique mobile bar option. This could include staff passing out drinks when the bell is rung or beer or wine that guests can pour with a handle. Mobile bar options are great for outdoor weddings or cocktail hour! Our friends over at Tenleigh's Mobile Bar service can hook you up! They have the cutest mobile bar, and they love to dress it up to fit your theme and color palette! 4. 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 beginning of your ceremony and then to ask them to put them away so that they can be present with you during the vows.5. 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 else 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.6. Walk Down the Aisle Together
Whether your parents have passed or they’re not going to be attending, or maybe you just want to break tradition and do things differently. Either way, 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!7. 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.
8. 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. We highly recommend local vendor Makes Scents who can make a custom scent for you to wear on 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 or save your perfume from that day and wear it when you are feeling nostalgic! (We have scented candle options available, just ask)9. 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.
10. 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. (2024 Trend alert)11. 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 her to 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.12. 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.13. 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. (Tag a simple mood board template from canva)
14. Create Your Very Own Wedding Logo
Your wedding is sure to stand out if you create your very own wedding logo and have it plastered on your cocktail napkins or even on top of your cocktails! That’s right! Cocktail toppers are so underrated! (We sell these)15. Karaoke Anyone???
This is one of our favorites to add to this list! Instead of the traditional open dance floor, switch it up and have the bridal party or parents only do some karaoke, guests tend to pay attention more and interact more! Karaoke is always a hit no matter if the singing is good or not, it’s entertainment! So go for it!! Ask your DJ if this is something they can offer in your package!As planners, we have seen a lot of non-traditional ideas from our couples in the past and we are always so excited when our clients think outside of the box and allow us to also bring our ideas to the table! Weddings are a representation of you and your partner, so we believe that it should actually reflect you both as a couple! In closing, these 15 are just ideas to get you started. The most important thing to remember is that your wedding doesn’t have to abide by all of the usual traditions simply because they’re traditional. Embrace what makes you different and celebrate your way! 