Sometimes making a wedding day reflect you as a couple � your loves, interests, relationships, personalities � isn�t as easy for some as it is for others, and often can cost more than the budget will allow for comfortably. So we've compiled 8 simple and budget friendly ways to make your wedding personal to you and your guests.
Everyone wants their wedding day to be remembered for the right reasons - the beaming bride in her incredible gown (goes without saying!), the emotional ceremony when you become husband and wife, the beautiful setting, the funny speeches, the delicious food and, of course, the craic on the dance floor. Sometimes making a wedding day reflect you as a couple - your loves, interests, relationships, personalities - isn’t as easy for some as it is for others, and often can cost more than the budget will allow for comfortably. So we've compiled 8 simple and budget friendly ways to make your wedding personal to you and your guests.
- Include photos of family weddings somewhere in your reception room, either beside the guestbook or on the cake table. To keep costs down go for budget frames or ask family members to pop the pic in a frame for you - it adds to the look if they’re all different!
- Write your own vows - Writing the words you will say to declare your eternal love for your partner, is inherently a personal thing. Talk about your hopes and dreams for the future, and feel free to put a little joke or two in there (‘I promise to always support your decision to keep Sky Sports, no matter the price increase’) Check with the priest/registrar first
- Name your tables - Don’t be afraid to go a bit mad naming your tables, table names won’t affect the overall ‘theme’ of your day and will give guests something to talk about as soon as they sit down! You could name them after some of the places you went when you were first dating (restaurants, pubs, gigs, coffee shops), after your favourite films, after gameshow hosts (if gameshows are your thing?!) or after Neil Diamond songs (just cause you can). Have fun with it!
- Have a friend/relative involved in the ceremony - As a singer, on accompaniment, or to say a poem. If you’re having a religious ceremony consider having your family priest say it, but give him plenty of notice if it is not his own parish.
- Brides - do a speech. This is your chance to get up on front of all your guests and thank them for sharing your day with you. It is also a good idea if you think your hubby might forget a few important people! Thank your bridesmaids, your parents, the solemniser etc… It is also the perfect chance to tell everyone what you love about your new hubby and lavish some much deserved attention on him!
- Do a party piece at the reception - If either/both of you are keen dancers (special props for Irish dancer brides in costume by the way!), play an instrument or sing, think about surprising guests with a party piece. Keep it as a surprise in case nerves get the better of you, but you’ll be surprised at the confidence all that adrenalin on the day will give you!
- Donate to a charity close to your heart in lieu of favours. There are so many charities that provide beautiful stationery and notes to tell guest about the donation and about the charity. It is a really lovely way to dedicate a part of your wedding to someone you know who has been affected by a particular illness, or to bring to attention a charity you really believe in.
- Write a short, personal note to your guests (this obviously depends on numbers and time!) A short, personalised note to each guests left at their table is a wonderful way to welcome guests and make them feel special. Try to add something about them that makes them special, such as ‘you’re always there when we’ve needed teabags’ or ‘we hope you keep us in sponge cakes for the next 20 years’ - something short and sweet that you’ve done together, or that you hope for the future.
By Karen Birney | Main image by Studio33Weddings
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