According to WeddingWire, couples spend an average of around $28,000 on their ceremony and reception, no small chunk of change. No matter what your budget, you’ll want to get the most for your money while ensuring a memorable ceremony for all. One of the best ways to do that is to change things up a bit by using one or more of these ideas.
A Unique Venue
Holding your ceremony at a unique venue is one of the best ways to ensure that it will be remembered for many years to come. Think outside the box, considering your interests. You might hold it at an art gallery, an aquarium, on the ski slopes with guests riding the chairlift up, or even in a cave – after all, stalactites make for the ultimate wedding décor. The Bridal Cave in the Missouri Ozarks has been named one of the nation’s most scenic, with massive draperies and columns, and its chapel can accommodate up to 50 guests. For those who like big thrills and are planning a smaller wedding, it’s even possible to tie the knot on a roller coaster, like the Cyclone Roller Coaster on Coney Island in New York, with up to 24 people riding in 12 cars.
Unforgettable Entertainment
Go beyond the usual DJ or wedding band and hire more unique and unforgettable entertainment instead, like Italian singers. Italy is a country known for its great singers, offering some of the best and most highly trained voices, putting lots of heart and passion into their performances for something truly enchanting. This idea becomes even more memorable at a Tuscan-like venue, such as a Napa Valley vineyard or resort.
Unexpected Transportation
Something you probably haven’t considered is a unique transportation idea. If you plan on shuttling your guests from the ceremony to your reception venue, consider making the trip part of the fun. For a small wedding, a hot air balloon ride might even be possible. Or for a ceremony in the countryside, how about vintage trucks decked out with garlands and flowers? Horse and carriage rides are ultra-romantic, or for a wedding near the water, paddle in on rowboats.
Useful Favors
Handing out wedding favors is a nice gesture, but most end up collecting dust and eventually getting tossed out, so why not give something useful to show your guests how much you appreciate them being there? It’s another way to ensure your wedding is a memorable one. If you plan on everyone dancing until the wee hours of the morning, you might put out baskets of comfortable flip flops in your wedding colors so guests can get out of their dress shoes. Or, for an outdoor ceremony in the summer, perhaps some spray-on sunscreen and/or inexpensive sunglasses.
Do a Confetti or Flower Drop
Your first dance as husband and wife is sure to be a highlight, so adding a confetti drop just as you get out onto the floor together brings an extra-special, memorable touch while making for some great photo-ops too. It will be even more romantic by using fresh flower petals instead of confetti. Your florist should be able to make it happen, you’ll just want to be sure the staff at your reception venue will be on hand to clean it up quickly to avoid potential accidents afterward.
