Wedding planning for couples
Scroll down to read the following articles on planning an alternative wedding…
Tips on creating an alternative wedding.
Ways you can have a humanistic wedding.
Why have a traditional wedding, when you can have a weekend wedding! Multi-day weddings explained.
Ways you can incorporate crystals into your wedding.
How to have a more eco-sustainable wedding.
Ways you can have an alternative wedding
When it comes to having a completely unique celebration tailored to your own personality I’m here to show you what’s possible and give you the most wonderful ideas!
If you feel you don’t fit into having a typically traditional wedding then an alternative wedding may be more up your street. Below you’ll find all of the alternative ways you can celebrate your love and have a wedding that is truly unique – and you!
When you are throwing out the rulebook on planning a traditional wedding it can be daunting where to start! First, think about why you are getting married. What do you want to do as a couple on your day? Being clear on a vision for your wedding and asking yourself those important questions is the best way to start planning for your alternative wedding.
Questions to ask yourselves as a couple should be along the lines of:
“What defines you as a couple?”
“What do you want your wedding day to represent?”
“What kind of style do you have?”
“What’s the overall vision of the day?”
“What are your non-negotiables?’
Once you have answered those questions you’ll have a better idea of the kind of day you are putting together and will help you make decisions down the line during the planning process.
The beauty of having an alternative wedding is that anything goes! Here are some ideas to help you when it comes to planning an alternative wedding that’s memorable – even in years to come!
Have a non-traditional ceremony
Alternative wedding ceremonies can be anything you want them to be. If you aren’t the church type or traditional manor house kind of couple then choose somewhere that represents you as a couple. You can also set the timings of your day. Always fancied a Twilight wedding? Then do it, it’ll make for some gorgeous and romantic images! Want to make your wedding a weekend affair, go for it!
Choose an alternative theme
Themes are really fun! Choosing a theme will make it easier to choose color schemes, venue choices, entertainment, and much more! They can be incorporated as much or as little as you like and can reflect you as a couple. Themed weddings don’t need to be tacky – you can incorporate your chosen theme in elegant ways and really create a memorable experience for your guests.
Wear alternative outfits
You want to feel your absolute best on your wedding day – and what better excuse than your wedding to wear whatever the heck you want to! There’s no rulebook – wear what makes you feel fabulous. You don’t even need to wear white! Choose outfits that will complement each other but find ways to infuse your personalities in your choices for the day. Colored petticoats, leather jackets, fabulous shoes, stand-out neckwear, alternative bouquets – the options are endless!
Alternative entertainment
One of the things that people remember about your wedding long after the day is the entertainment. There are so many quirky and alternative entertainment options out there from space hoppers to palm readers to a salsa class. Having alternative entertainment will not only make your wedding stand out from the crowd it’s a really easy way for you to get your personality across in a fun way.
Hire a celebrant
A celebrant is someone who can perform your wedding for you. Although in the UK celebrants don’t have the power to legally marry you, they have the unique privilege of being able to conduct a truly unique and completely personalized ceremony. Celebrants can incorporate spiritual or religious elements into their day.
Be YOU!
The most important alternative wedding advice
The most important piece of advice I can give you when planning any kind of wedding or special event is to be you! Don’t give into having traditional elements that mean nothing to you – or worse make you feel uncomfortable – just because you feel you should. There are often pressures from family or friends to have a particular kind of wedding but just keep in mind that it’s your day. At the end of the day, what matters is celebrating your love for each other. Your day can be as alternative as you like, as long as you’re doing that than the rest doesn’t matter!
I hope this blog post inspires you and supports your in your wedding planning!
Victoria Fenix
Why you may consider having a Humanist ceremony on your wedding day
If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind wedding that’s totally about you and your partner, then a Humanist wedding may be for you.
A humanist ceremony is a non-religious affair held in the setting of your choice.
So if you have always dreamed of getting married in your parent’s garden, in the middle of the woods or perhaps you want to do something totally unique and say your vows in a cave – you can!
They also allow you the freedom to create a wedding that’s completely your way meaning you can throw out tradition if you want to and up the FUN element. If you want to incorporate dancing, a game, an important ritual, something that’s important to your culture, some singing– you can!
After spending time getting to know you, your celebrant will design and conduct a ceremony that’s totally unique to you and your partner. As part of the ceremony they will share your love story with your guests – how you met, how you fell in love, the proposal, your best times, what you’ve learned in your not-so-good times – what you decide to share is up to you. Your celebrant can also help you to choose poems and readings that best represent you as a couple and that are suited to the vibe of your wedding. They can also help you if you want to write your own readings or vows. A humanist ceremony means every part of the wedding is unique and can be personalized. They allow your personality and love story to shine through in every part.
Including your guests in your ceremony
If you’d like to get your guests or key people within your ceremony more involved in the service than just watching, the options at a humanist wedding are endless. There are lots of rituals that your celebrant can include in your ceremony to symbolize your love for one another.
Your chosen celebrant could perform a hand-fasting or knot-tying ceremony. You could ask your guests to bring along ribbons on the day. These can then be plaited together or woven to form your tie. If you feel nervous about relying on your guests to remember to bring enough ribbon along have your celebrant bring some spare or ask guests to send their chosen ribbon a few weeks in advance.
A ritual that is becoming more and more popular is ring warming. The wedding rings are passed around all of the guests and held briefly in their hands ‘warming them up’ with good wishes for your future together.
Another way you can get your guests involved in your ceremony is by having a sand-blending ritual. Each guest will take turns adding his or her chosen coloured sand to your container. This ritual symbolizes the coming together of families.
It’s not just about getting your guests involved – yes- I’m talking pets! If you want to get your fur baby involved in your ceremony by being your ring bearer it’s possible with a humanist ceremony.
Whether you decide to go with any of these rituals, plant a tree, light a candle, or choose to drink from a Quaich, your celebrant will ensure your ceremony is crafted to celebrate all of the strands of your relationship and tradition you are bringing together.
Timings
In some places in the world you can only be married between 8 am and 6 pm. With a Humanist, celebrant-led wedding, you can get married at whatever time you like, you could plan a ceremony that rolls into your New Year’s Eve Party and see in the New Year as a married couple. Or if you’re a morning person, perhaps you want to have your wedding ceremony as the sun rises over your favorite cliff top view with just the two of you. A Humanist ceremony gives you the opportunity for a fully flexible wedding day on your timings!
You get to choose who conducts your ceremony
Your wedding will be a day when you want to be surrounded by the people you like and love, more than ever am I right? So wouldn’t it be great if the person with you at the front, the one sharing your story and gently guiding you through your vows, was a wedding celebrant you had chosen and who you had the chance to get to know before your day.
Having a Humanist Celebrant means you can do just that. With a celebrant-led wedding, your ceremony will be delivered by someone you have come to know, like, and trust. Not just by the person allocated to your date and who you meet that morning. Your Humanist Celebrant will take time to meet with you both in the lead-up to your wedding, getting to know you both, your story, your likes, dislikes, your values, and then craft a personalized ceremony that is absolutely unique to you both as a couple.
Although not legally recognized in some areas at the moment, humanist ceremonies are becoming more and more popular in modern couples wanting to do away with stuffy traditions that don’t mean much to them. You are able to legally register your wedding for around £50 before or after your ceremony and your chosen celebrant can advise you on the options that are best for you as a couple.
Would you consider a Humanist celebration on your wedding day? I’d love to know in the comments below.
I hope this blog post inspires you and helps support your wedding planning.
Victoria Fenix
Why Have a Wedding Day when You Can Have a Wedding Weekend!
With all the wedding planning that goes into making your big day just perfect, it's no wonder more and more couples are choosing to have their weddings over multiple days. Having a wedding weekend instead of one long day lets you celebrate with your loved ones for longer, and can be a lot more fun! Plus, it gives you a chance to really show off your creativity with themed dances, parties, and other activities. If you're thinking of having a wedding weekend instead of a day-long event, here are some tips to help make sure it goes smoothly.
If you're looking for ideas on how to make your wedding weekend stand out, check out our blog post on 5 Unique Wedding Weekend Ideas!
If you are looking to plan the ultimate, show-stopping wedding…. this could be just the thing for you. Gone are the days of traditional weddings and these days pretty much anything goes. Which we think is great. Your wedding should be as unique and special as you are, so why settle for a one-day wedding when you can have a three-day one? Having your wedding spread over a couple of days allows you to spend more quality time with your loved ones and share in the joy of your union with friends and family. It is worth remembering though that having a 2-day wedding will take A LOT more planning and almost certainly, more budget.
If you are sitting here thinking ‘Hmmm, YES! This is a bit of me right here’- Then read on to discover how you can make your wedding an UNFORGETTABLE event, not only for you but your guests too.
One of the most special reasons why you might like to consider a wedding weekend is you get to spend more time with your loved ones. You probably have family and friends that are traveling from all corners of the county and beyond, so getting to spend precious time with them may not happen that often. What better way to spend time together than celebrating your wedding over a whole weekend? Most brides and grooms say their big day is that it goes by in a flash. By hosting an entire wedding weekend, you can extend that “best day ever” feeling for just a little longer.
There are SO many venue types that can accommodate a ‘Wedding weekend’, from manor houses to tipi tents you really do have a lot of choice. If you are looking for a more relaxed style wedding, why not consider a festival theme and have a stretch tent with glamping pods for your guests with an outdoor BBQ for your evening meals. If you are looking for a more elegant feel there are lots of country houses that accommodate for a 2-day wedding. These types of wedding venues tend to have a smaller number of rooms available for your guests but to get round that you could see what local hotels and B&Bs are nearby. If you let them know you are looking for a few rooms for a group of wedding guests they will more than likely give you a nice little discount.
Another way you could organize your wedding weekend is to have it abroad, then you could call it a wedding holiday. This would work fab as you and your guests could stay in the same resort and then, either have the ceremony in-house or look at other possibilities like a local chapel, on the beach, or on location with a beautiful backdrop.
Your wedding is going to be one of the most important and memorable days of your life, with months even years spent on planning it to perfection. So spending those extra few days with your loved ones and being able to fully relax over a few days will ensure you get to take in EVERY single moment.
So, would you consider a wedding weekend? It could be the perfect way to celebrate your love with all of your favorite people in one place. And don’t worry – we can help take care of all the details so that you can relax and enjoy your special time. Get in touch with us today to start planning your dream wedding weekend!
I hope that you found some value and inspiration from this wedding blog.
Victoria Fenix
Incorporating Crystals into your wedding planning
From helping you to relax to kick-starting creativity crystals are perfect to help keep Zen like thoughts throughout the planning process. It’s likely you’ll never have planned an event on this scale and there’s bound to be a few hiccups or stressy moments along the way. Today I’m exploring crystals and how, beyond their beauty, they can aid in managing any upcoming wedding planning stress.
If you are already into crystals or open to trying something new, keep these crystals close whilst wedding planning to make the experience even more magical.
Rose Quartz:
One of the best stones for wedding planning. Rose quartz is said to amplify the love around you and bring an extra punch of romantic air to your surroundings. Making it perfect for a wedding! Cotton candy pink in colour and available in a million different shapes, from points to sleep balls, to jagged raw pieces – you can even pick it up in cute little heart shapes. Rose quartz’s energy goes right to the heart chakra – could it be any more perfect for a wedding? Some experts advise to keep a bit of it close to promote self-love, love from others and compassion. Rose quartz pretty shade of pink also makes it an excellent option to incorporate into your décor if it fits with your wedding theme. Rose quartz crystals as favours for all of your guests will make gorgeous gifts and will look beautiful on your tables too.
Red Jasper:
The benefits of red jasper as a wedding planning crystal are immense. These problem-solving crystals encourage creative thinking and help you to think on your feet if you hit a little hiccup in your planning process. It also promotes stability, something you’ll need in abundance during this time and will provide a comforting foundation for you and your partner as you begin your married life. If you feel stuck during the planning, twirl some red jasper between your hands or sleep with it under your pillow – it’s said to open up your creative thinking and help those ‘aha’ moments take place.
Moonstone:
Moonstone is said to alleviate stress and emotional turmoil. Throughout your planning keep moonstone close to enhance feelings of calm and peace it’s this property that makes it such an apt crystal for wedding planning. As your day gets closer and closer, keep the moonstone close, such as in your pocket and give it a little rub to promote feelings of calm and being in control.
Pyrite:
Although you want to keep your wedding planning as calm as possible as you plan the big day, there are many other times where you just really need to get stuff done. This is where fiery pyrite comes in, it’s a healing crystal that gives you a nice kick of motivation to get things in order and done. Pyrite is also a protective stone, shielding against negative energy. Keep it close to feel your calm, positive self during the process.
Amethyst:
Amethyst is not only a beautiful, romantic-looking crystal it’s said to soothe nerves and anxiety. These magical crystals are said to help with communication and facilitate self-love. This healing crystal is a powerful one to help stressed couples stay sane. Its purple hue is related to inner clarity and an overall sense of connection to a higher power. Amethysts are the perfect crystal to incorporate into your day wedding décor, their magical energy will help create the perfect atmosphere for everyone attending. You could use smooth round pieces of amethyst adorned with guest names doubling up as a place name and favour your guests will treasure.
I hope this blog article helps inspire and guide you in your wedding planning.
Victoria Fenix
How to have a more sustainable and eco-friendly wedding
As much as a wonderful affair it is, a wedding can be a pretty wasteful affair. Between the travel to and from your chosen location to the food waste and maybe even the left over favours – weddings can actually produce as many CO2 emissions as 5 people would in an entire year! But worry not, I’m here to say that there are ways you can reduce the carbon footprint of your wedding day and it’s not as difficult as you may have originally thought.
Just bear in mind that just as there is no such thing as a total, perfect wedding again there’s no such thing as a eco-friendly wedding. The prospect of having a green wedding can come with a lot of pressure and cut yourself some slack – the fact you are being mindful of your carbon footprint means you are more mindful and eco-conscious than most. The ideas on this list aren’t meant for you to use every single one, just choose the ones that mean the most to you and start there! But as a couple, you can strive to have a more ethical and eco-conscious approach to your celebration and perhaps even encourage more couples to follow suit.
Choose your location wisely
It’s no secret that aeroplane emissions are one of the top contributors to environmental damage so it’s a good idea to think about how you and your guests will be travelling to your wedding destination. I’m a big advocate of getting married wherever you like but if you are torn between two destinations choosing one with fewer aeroplanes and car journeys will have less of an impact on the environment.
Having an eco-friendly wedding will also largely depend on the practices of your venue, are they putting their carbon emissions high up on their agenda or are they only just getting to grips with their recycling. Do they source their produce for the meal locally? These are the things to consider when choosing a greener wedding venue.
Food and Drink
Now that we’ve covered the venue and travel, the next BIG eco-topic is the good and drink. Take your time and research the options available to you, along with any policies and practices your chosen caterer has to be more environmentally conscious. Some suppliers; for example, participate in a carbon offset scheme whilst others only use local, sustainable and ethically, sourced produce.
Once you’ve chosen your caterer, work with them to create a menu that’s as eco-friendly as possible. This means thinking about seasonal, organic products and if you can, opt for those that are locally and ethically sourced. Whilst you are thinking about food and drink, you might want to also consider cutting single use plastics by for example, making sure that there are no plastic cups and your bar serves glass bottles.
Décor, Stationary and Flowers
On the subject of single-use, there are more and more companies that are now offering items to hire and biodegradable items too. Perhaps you could use recycled paper in your stationery, name cards and menus and use biodegradable confetti. If you decide you would like to do without favours completely you may decide to make a charitable donation instead.
To keep your wedding as eco-friendly as possible ask yourself with each item and purchase whether you really need it and cut down in areas that seem extravagant. For example, you could limit the amount of stationery that you order and combine it with paperless options or alternatively talk to your stationery designer about using recycled papers and eco-friendly ink.
When it comes to all things flowers, working with seasonal choices that haven’t been forced or grown out of season is the obvious choice to make. Also avoid flowers that have been airfreighted halfway around the world, especially when there are no so many independent flower farmers who are producing gorgeous blooms. Look beyond the flowers themselves and consider what goes into the floral arrangements. Oasis, the floral foam that some florists use as a base to structure arrangements and hold flowers in place, is incredibly damaging to the environment. Floral foam is non-biodegradable and can end up in water systems or sit in landfill for centuries. It also contains chemicals such as formaldehyde, barium sulphates and carbon so it’s right up there on the non eco-friendly scale. The good news is that more and more florists are ditching foam and going foam-free. You can check out the #foamfree on Instagram for inspiration and more eco-friendly florists conscious about their carbon footprint. Foam-free floristry suits an organic, natural style of floristry that’s romantic and modern so there really is less of a need to use foam in your wedding flowers.
Lastly, let your wedding leftovers do some good and try to avoid too much being thrown away at the end of the evening. Re-gift your flowers to family and friends who have gone above and beyond for your wedding or even your photographer! You can also donate any flowers to a local care home and spread some cheer. If you’ve got any leftover cake, make sure it’s available for guests to take with them as they leave.
Fashion
There are a few different ways to be more ethical when choosing the fashion for your wedding day. You could buy vintage, rent your gown like Carrie Johnson, consider wearing ethical jewellery and ensure your engagement ring has been ethically sourced too.
For the groom, there are also some ethical choices with Moss Bros, creating a whole range of eco-suit options. Suits can be crafted from earth-friendly fabrics like recycled PET polyester and responsibly sourced cotton.
Give your beauty and make-up routine a makeover
If you haven’t already, try adding some cruelty-free, zero-waste or locally-produced items to your pre-wedding beauty routine. You can also ask your bridal hairstylist and make-up artist to use cruelty-free substitutes on the day.
The Gift List
Another post-wedding impact treat is your gift list. Think carefully about your gift list as it’s another way to easily overindulge when you don’t really need to. You can build a sustainable brand gift list or look into asking for donations for a bigger purchase for example.
Your wedding day is above all about your future and you absolutely should have the day of your dreams. Hopefully, by being mindful of the above you will show a little love to the future of the planet at the same time.
I hope this blog post inspires you and helps support you in your wedding planning.
Victoria Fenix