Check out 10 of the ideas (including DIY ideas!) we think you should nab for your own wedding, including gorgeous 'here comes the bride' signs, girly fluffy robes for bridesmaids, the first look photo, alternative guestbooks and something for the groom!
1. Flower Girl or Page Boy Carrying 'Here Comes the Bride' Signs
Have a flower girl or page boy (or both, if they're good with sharing!) hold a 'Here Comes the Bride' sign before you make your way up the aisle. These work for outdoor ceremonies or for church ceremonies and will be a real 'awh' moment as well as something special for the little ones to do. We love these gorgeous pennent flags from The Ritzy Rose (€37) and this rustic style burlap sign from Butterfly Above (€25), both on Etsy.
2. The First Look Photo
Nab an idea from couples in the US and go for a 'first look' photo before the ceremony. This is a really special moment to capture as it will be the first time you both see each other in your wedding outfits, and the reactions are often captured brilliantly by the photographer! It is a real intimate moment before the madness of the day ahead and has yet to take the place of the traditional 'top of the aisle' photo, but why not be one of the couples to blaze the trail!? Check out our piece on first look wedding photos for more ideas on how it can be done (some photos can just be teasers if you want to wait til the ceremony!)
3. DIY Cootie Catchers
We LOVED these little kitsch wedding favours from Eimear & David's Chic Clonabreany House Wedding. Bring some nostalgia to your own wedding table with these fun blasts from the past. They're super easy to make and will give the guests a bit of a laugh (and something to play with) as they sit down to dinner.
4. The Alternative Guest Book
Tis the time of the alternative guest book indeed, and we thought this finger painted graphic from super cool couple Anne & Ed's mellow Millhouse Wedding was a great example in how to do it. You could go for a 'wish tree' idea instead and have guests dip their thumbs in colourful paint, leave (of 'leaf') their print and sign their name.
5. Colour Blast Wedding Shoes!
Bring a flash of colour to your attire by wearing a pair of bright shoes. Not only will they make you smile every time you catch a glimpse of them, but they also make a great focal point for wedding photos. Check out Edel's wedding pictures by Michelle Prunty to see how it's done!
6. A Refreshing Lemonade Station
If you're planning an early ceremony for your summer wedding, a lemonade station makes a refreshing (and economical!) option for your drinks reception. Many guests mightn't want to drink alcohol so early in the day (pace is the trick!) and homemade lemonade is a great thirst quencher! If you can stem for it, another great alternative is a non alcoholic cocktail station (ask your venue wedding coordinator if this can be arranged) where guests will really feel treated, but will be able to stay on the dancefloor for longer!
7. DIY Vintage Photo Table Runner
We love this DIY project which brings plenty of personality to the table. Just keep it as a feature on your guest book table if you're having a big wedding. Find out how to make it on the very fabulous Ruffled Blog.
8. Personalised Fluffy Wedding Robes
Super cute fluffy bathrobes make great outfit for the morning of the wedding - fun, comfy, warm and you can whip them off pretty quickly to get changed when you realised you've spent waaay too long drinking champers with your ladies (this happens to brides more times than you'd imagine!) They also make lovely keepsakes after the big day. Get yours from Wowwee.ie, where you can get a set of three for €74.99.
9. Groom's Embroidered Jacket Pocket
This could be a nice surprise to get done for hubby-to-be before the wedding day. Have a dressmaker embroider your wedding date and a little note (as in, two words) on the inside pocket of the grooms jacket. He'll have no excuse for forgetting your anniversary (everyone says that...)
10. Fan-tabulous Mass Booklets
These fan mass booklets caused quite a stir at Grainne & Stephen's DIY wedding, and we just think they're darling. The fan ceremony booklet is especially popular for weddings abroad for obvious reasons, but are quite fun for summer weddings in Ireland too. DIYing ain't gonna be easy we must admit (it rarely is!) but if you fancy giving it a go, check out this post from Cherish Paperie, or go for this easier version which you can do with a professionally designed one page order of services.
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