10 Fun Alternatives To Wedding Traditions
As with any important life milestone, there are a lot of traditions surrounding weddings. But sometimes, couples may find that these traditions don’t quite resonate with them.
Perhaps you’re a same-sex couple struggling with how to walk down the aisle. Or maybe certain traditions seem outdated through a modern-day lens. Either way, it’s important to remember that traditions aren’t rules. It’s your big day and you have the freedom to celebrate it any way you choose!
One of the most common questions we get asked—especially by our LGBTQIA+ couples—is, “how can we do [insert tradition here] but make it work for us?” And honestly, we love this question!
We do so many weddings, so it’s refreshing when our couples look for ways to get creative. And while we do love all of the traditions of a wedding (flower girls are always so cute!), here are a few that can easily be changed to better fit the two of you.
1. Wedding Dress
Your guests may be expecting the bride to wear a white wedding dress, but why not buck the trend with a unique color or cut?
Colorful (or even black) wedding dresses are a fun new trend for 2024 that we’re so excited about! From bright reds to floral prints, modern brides are free to express themselves however they please.
You can also change up the style with a shorter length dress, jumpsuit, or even a pantsuit, if that’s more your style.
(And speaking of outdated traditions, will anyone really notice that you don’t have “something blue”?)
2. Not Seeing Each Other Before The Ceremony
In the past, it was considered bad luck for couples to see each other before the wedding. But more and more couples are choosing a new tradition: the first look.
Stealing a few private moments for each other before the ceremony not only makes for super heartwarming photos, it helps streamline your wedding day timeline. Many couples are even using this time to exchange wedding vows privately.
Brides Victoria and Christin shared a heart-stopping walk down the aisle after making their grand entrances through separate doors.
3. Walking Down The Aisle
Traditionally, the bride is escorted down the aisle by her dad or other male figure in her life, and is given away to her new groom. And while this is such a special moment to have between a child and a parental figure, who says you have to do it this way?
One of our favorite weddings was Kenny + Kyle. They chose to walk down the aisle together, holding hands and walking their dog (who was dressed in his flowery best)! We can’t imagine a better way to start a marriage than with your best friend and fur baby.
And for two brides who aren’t sure what to do? Why not both walk down the aisle, each escorted by the person who means the most, to be handed off to their beautiful new bride? You can even get creative with seating and have two aisles, where you approach each other at the same time and meet at the altar.
In our opinion, your wedding march music is the one thing that makes this moment memorable and meaningful, so choose wisely!
4. Flower Girls & Ring Bearers
The tradition began in Ancient Rome, where the flower girl symbolically blessed the bride and groom with good luck and fertility by carrying wheat and herbs.
Nowadays, however, the wedding ring and flower petals can be carried by anyone who holds a special place in your heart. We’ve seen incredible weddings where grandparents, male friends, and even pets played these roles (and added some fun into the ceremony while they were at it).
Don’t let anyone tell you what you have to do, because in the end, it’s your big day and it should be a representation of who you and your new spouse are together.
5. Wedding Party
If you’ve seen the movie 27 Dresses, then you know bridal parties can be huge!
And while that movie was definitely just a fun rom-com story, use it as a guide to do whatever you want on your big day. Have one friend, have 12 friends, or any mix in between.
Our office manager Casey and her husband actually had a gender-swapped bridal party, which only had a Best Woman and a Man of Honor standing next to them when they said “I Do.”
And if you can’t choose? Don’t have a bridal party at all! Just make sure whomever is standing up next to you while you commit your life to your new spouse is someone who you cherish and who supports the two of you.
6. Unity Candle
Ceremony rituals such as lighting the unity candle are a beautiful way to symbolize the two of you coming together in marriage. But this is also the perfect occasion for an alternative wedding tradition.
We’ve seen couples pour a unity beer, plant a unity fern, or tie a unity braid. Also known as a marriage braid, a unity braid is symbolic of joining you, your spouse, and God together in matrimony. If you come from a Celtic or African-American background, a handfasting ceremony or jumping the broom is the perfect blend of traditional and alternative.
Another sweet option that we are excited to see more of? Ring warming! During this ceremony, the couple passes their wedding rings to each guest, who holds the rings and “warms” them with a prayer, positive thoughts, or best wishes.
7. Parent Dances
One of the most poignant parts of the wedding reception is when the groom dances with his mom and the bride dances with her dad. But this sweet tradition leaves out two important people—the groom’s dad and the bride’s mom.
Instead, why not honor both parents by dancing with both of them at the same time? Or celebrate the joining of your families with a choreographed group dance featuring everyone?
If dancing doesn’t resonate with you, there are plenty of other ways to include all parents (and the wedding guests!) with an alternative wedding tradition. A musical performance, slideshow, or even a trivia game can all be fun “firsts” that you can celebrate as a family!
8. Bouquet + Garter Toss
The bouquet and/or garter toss are two wedding traditions that are primed for a reboot! In fact, many modern couples are opting out of these rituals altogether, so if that thought appeals to you, feel free to omit it.
But if you’d like to give a nod to tradition—or you’re not sure how to do this as an LGBTQ+ couple—you don’t have to give it up. If both brides are carrying bouquets, have two bouquet tosses. If there are two grooms instead, toss boutonnieres or hit a piñata! (Psst…feel free to choose from our list of bouquet toss song suggestions!)
If you don’t like the idea of singling out your unwed friends and family, skip the “toss” and hand the bouquet to someone who means a lot to you, such as a grandmother or aunt.
9. Bouquets
Bouquets of stunning blooms and greenery add a gorgeous touch to any wedding ceremony, but what if flowers aren’t really your thing?
Succulents, balloons, faux butterflies, books, origami, and even puppies are all fun alternatives to the traditional bridal bouquet, or you can carry a floral arrangement while leaving the more unique versions to your bridesmaids.
10. Cake Cutting
Want to shake up the cake cutting (without smashing dessert in each other’s faces)? We love the idea of doing a traditional cake cutting with a non-traditional implement, such as a sword.
Alternatively, skip the wedding cake altogether in favor of donuts, cupcakes, ice cream, or whatever your sweet tooth desires.
Tie the Knot In a Fun New Way!
Your big day is not only a celebration of your love, but of all the things that make the two of you special. Spice up your wedding planning with some alternative traditions that infuse your event with personality!
At Our DJ Rocks!, we love nothing more than a unique wedding that reflects your passions and celebrates the loved ones that are starting this journey with you. If you’re looking for a way to put a new twist on old traditions (while keeping the dance floor packed!), we’re here for you every step of the way.
