How to choose the Right Wedding Inspo

As we spend more time in the wedding industry, it is clear that more couples are opting for unique, non-traditional moments throughout the wedding process and planning day. Don’t get us wrong, we love a traditional wedding, and there is nothing wrong with going down that path, but more couples are leaning towards creating moments that are unique to them. Which, alternatively, walk in a different direction from the traditional weddings that we’ve grown accustomed to. If you and your partner are wanting to create a unique twist or statement on your wedding day, then this blog post is for you! We’ve gathered some of our favorite non-traditional twists that are bound to make a statement. 

#01: Say yes, to your pet! 

So, we must love dogs, because this is one of our favorite non-traditional twists to a ceremony. We always want our families and loved ones to be a part of our big days, but sometimes it’s easy to forget our furry friends, our pets! Pets are significant in our lives. They are man’s best friend of course! There’s nothing wrong with having your four legged companion walk you down the aisle. We’ve had our fair share of couples who chose to have their dog be their ring bearer or send them off to meet their partner at the end of the aisle. If you’re leaning towards having your pet present on your wedding day, be sure to look for venues that can accommodate your request. Outdoor venues are the easiest choice for our pet loving couples. Parks, beaches, and outdoor venues can often accommodate your request! 

#02: Romantic & Regent Accessories

We can thank Bridgerton for this next fancy twist! We have seen more couples choose to lean on the regency style. This means empire waistlines, simple, clean lines, and bridal gloves. Yes, bridal gloves! But, ditch the satin and opt for something romantic like organza or tulle. If you’re planning on altering your dress shorter, ask your alterations to utilize the excess fabric to make this fun accessory. 

#03: Flexible Seating 

Flexible seating at your ceremony is a fun way to spice things up and to really let your decor shine! There is no rule in the wedding book that says all of your seating must be the same. In fact, we’ve had couples rent furniture such as couches, or vintage chairs for their special day! We’ve even had a few couples select wood logs, benches, and hay bales for their ceremony space. Seating is a fun and creative way to play with decor and incorporate your style. You can even bring in a special seat for your sweetheart table! Don’t be afraid to play with seating! 

#04: Pops of Color to your Bridal Attire 

This is a unique idea that we’ve seen pop up more and more! Don’t limit yourself to just white, or feel like you are limited to certain shades! Feel free to explore other options that feature other colors! If you love yourself in a particular color, see what options are available for you! You do not need to restrict yourself in the search for your perfect dress. Pops of colors can reflect your wedding color palette and your personality. 

#05: Creative Food Choices 

More couples are getting creative with their catering choices at their wedding. Some of our most memorable weddings feature our couple’s favorite foods. Off the bat, I can name my favorite wedding, because of the food. This bride and groom had their favorite pizza place catered, including an assortment of pizzas and salads classically arranged. For dessert, they asked their favorite pie food truck to serve their guests right outside of the reception doors. Then, we ran up to their favorite burger joint and ordered 50 cheeseburgers and fries for a late night snack. Guests raved about their creative food options and it was such a fun way to incorporate the couple’s favorite places around town. 

#06: Audio Guestbooks

Audio guests books are a fun way to get your guests’ well wishes on your wedding day! There are voicemails and audiobook services that you can book for your wedding day. Your guests will be able to record their well-wishes in lieu of writing. Some companies even offer a retro phone for your guests to record into! This is a great option for couples who want a guest book, but want to ditch the traditional guest book picture frame or book. 

#07: Pick your Favorite Restaurant 

Why not pick your favorite restaurant to tie the knot in? This is ideal for couples wanting a smaller ceremony and reception, but it is a creative way to eat delicious food and celebrate with the people you love. There’s many perks to having your wedding at a restaurant. You don’t need to bring in any additional rentals, the chairs and tables will be provided, and dishware will be set to go. You know if it’s your favorite restaurant, you will be more than happy with the food and that your guests will enjoy your selection! You can even opt for a restaurant that you had your first date in – tie it into your wedding journey! 

These are just a few ideas that you can incorporate to personalize your wedding. Now, we understand that straying away from tradition can be scary, but this is your wedding and it is what you make of it! Simple ways to make a non-traditional statement is through your wedding attire, don’t be afraid to get creative with your food, or even use your favorite restaurant as the venue! And if you’ve got a friend with four legs, don’t leave them out of your big day – make accommodations and incorporate them into your wedding. But, whatever you decide when planning, make your wedding speak to you and your partner. After all, this day is about you and your love. Happy planning!

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

7 Non-Traditional Ideas to Make a Statement

As we spend more time in the wedding industry, it is clear that more couples are opting for unique, non-traditional moments throughout the wedding process and planning day. Don’t get us wrong, we love a traditional wedding, and there is nothing wrong with going down that path, but more couples are leaning towards creating moments that are unique to them. Which, alternatively, walk in a different direction from the traditional weddings that we’ve grown accustomed to. If you and your partner are wanting to create a unique twist or statement on your wedding day, then this blog post is for you! We’ve gathered some of our favorite non-traditional twists that are bound to make a statement. 

#01: Say yes, to your pet! 

So, we must love dogs, because this is one of our favorite non-traditional twists to a ceremony. We always want our families and loved ones to be a part of our big days, but sometimes it’s easy to forget our furry friends, our pets! Pets are significant in our lives. They are man’s best friend of course! There’s nothing wrong with having your four legged companion walk you down the aisle. We’ve had our fair share of couples who chose to have their dog be their ring bearer or send them off to meet their partner at the end of the aisle. If you’re leaning towards having your pet present on your wedding day, be sure to look for venues that can accommodate your request. Outdoor venues are the easiest choice for our pet loving couples. Parks, beaches, and outdoor venues can often accommodate your request! 

#02: Romantic & Regent Accessories

We can thank Bridgerton for this next fancy twist! We have seen more couples choose to lean on the regency style. This means empire waistlines, simple, clean lines, and bridal gloves. Yes, bridal gloves! But, ditch the satin and opt for something romantic like organza or tulle. If you’re planning on altering your dress shorter, ask your alterations to utilize the excess fabric to make this fun accessory. 

#03: Flexible Seating 

Flexible seating at your ceremony is a fun way to spice things up and to really let your decor shine! There is no rule in the wedding book that says all of your seating must be the same. In fact, we’ve had couples rent furniture such as couches, or vintage chairs for their special day! We’ve even had a few couples select wood logs, benches, and hay bales for their ceremony space. Seating is a fun and creative way to play with decor and incorporate your style. You can even bring in a special seat for your sweetheart table! Don’t be afraid to play with seating! 

#04: Pops of Color to your Bridal Attire 

This is a unique idea that we’ve seen pop up more and more! Don’t limit yourself to just white, or feel like you are limited to certain shades! Feel free to explore other options that feature other colors! If you love yourself in a particular color, see what options are available for you! You do not need to restrict yourself in the search for your perfect dress. Pops of colors can reflect your wedding color palette and your personality. 

#05: Creative Food Choices 

More couples are getting creative with their catering choices at their wedding. Some of our most memorable weddings feature our couple’s favorite foods. Off the bat, I can name my favorite wedding, because of the food. This bride and groom had their favorite pizza place catered, including an assortment of pizzas and salads classically arranged. For dessert, they asked their favorite pie food truck to serve their guests right outside of the reception doors. Then, we ran up to their favorite burger joint and ordered 50 cheeseburgers and fries for a late night snack. Guests raved about their creative food options and it was such a fun way to incorporate the couple’s favorite places around town. 

#06: Audio Guestbooks

Audio guests books are a fun way to get your guests’ well wishes on your wedding day! There are voicemails and audiobook services that you can book for your wedding day. Your guests will be able to record their well-wishes in lieu of writing. Some companies even offer a retro phone for your guests to record into! This is a great option for couples who want a guest book, but want to ditch the traditional guest book picture frame or book. 

#07: Pick your Favorite Restaurant 

Why not pick your favorite restaurant to tie the knot in? This is ideal for couples wanting a smaller ceremony and reception, but it is a creative way to eat delicious food and celebrate with the people you love. There’s many perks to having your wedding at a restaurant. You don’t need to bring in any additional rentals, the chairs and tables will be provided, and dishware will be set to go. You know if it’s your favorite restaurant, you will be more than happy with the food and that your guests will enjoy your selection! You can even opt for a restaurant that you had your first date in – tie it into your wedding journey! 

These are just a few ideas that you can incorporate to personalize your wedding. Now, we understand that straying away from tradition can be scary, but this is your wedding and it is what you make of it! Simple ways to make a non-traditional statement is through your wedding attire, don’t be afraid to get creative with your food, or even use your favorite restaurant as the venue! And if you’ve got a friend with four legs, don’t leave them out of your big day – make accommodations and incorporate them into your wedding. But, whatever you decide when planning, make your wedding speak to you and your partner. After all, this day is about you and your love. Happy planning!

---

Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

The Wedding After Party.. DO or DON’T?

Picture this, you’ve planned every detail of your wedding day, including attire down to your nuptials. But, have you figured out what will happen after the reception or if you want to end the night in private or with your loved one? A popular end of night celebration is to hit the town or venue for an after-wedding celebration or party. Some of our clients have seen this as a final hooray with their guests. But, as we know the wedding after party is not on everyone’s to-do list. So let’s break it down and you can decide are wedding after parties a DO or a DON’T? 

Take it from me, I didn’t expect that my husband and I would have an after-party. Our reception ended at 10 PM and I assumed that everyone was tired. But instead, we headed over to our hotel with our friends and family and parked ourselves in the hotel’s conference room. We played games, shared memories, and continued our celebration until the wee hours of the morning. It was a casual affair, but I wish I would have planned some aspects out. The wedding after-party is not the reception. It’s not a time when guests sit down and enjoy music with a meal during the wedding. It’s when the venue is closed and the decor is taken down. It’s for the guests and loved ones who want to celebrate just a little bit more. For example, some of our favorite after-party events have taken place at a piano bar and karaoke bar! 

Hosting a wedding after-party can be a causal or planned affair. If you’re hosting the afterparty, include the details in your budget.  Most of the time, the after-party is held at a different location, whether it is another venue or a local eatery. Plan on hosting it at another, accessible location for all. If guests are required to travel to a different location, have a preset plan on how your guests will get there. Whether you provide transportation or put in an additional transportation card in your wedding suite. All of your guests should be invited to the after-party, whether it’s a quick DJ announcement or on your wedding website, there should be no exclusions. You want to accommodate all of your guests. If you do choose to just invite certain members of your guest list, please send out private invitations. 

You don’t have to make it an extravagant event. Unless you want to place funds in your budget, specifically for decor, do not feel like it is necessary to create an after-party decoration or theme. If you want to opt for specific decor, see what you can utilize at the venue or see what you can reuse from the wedding reception. You can always opt for something fun and budget-friendly like some fun party sunglasses, glow sticks, or photo props. Add some Polaroid cameras or create an Instagram hashtag to capture the after-party. After all, some of the best wedding guest photos are candid ones, where your guests can let their hair down. 

If your reception is ending late in the evening or goes into the early morning, think about hosting an after-party brunch! Who doesn’t love brunch!? It allows your guests to get some much-needed rest and rejoin one another in the morning sunshine. Select a brunch eatery that can accommodate all of your guests and decide what your budget can afford. If you’d like to spring for a buffet, your guests would appreciate it, or message your guests that you’ll be meeting at the location, but food and drinks will not be provided. 

Whatever you decide for your wedding after-party, keep it responsible and within your budget. If you are having an after-party directly after your wedding reception, be sure your guests are leaving the venue and getting to the location safely and responsibly. As a host or hostess, it is your job to ensure your guests not only have fun but are safe in the process. 

Hosting an after-party is not a requirement, but an opportunity to spend more time celebrating or even catching up with your loved ones. If you want to lean in this direction, be sure to plan and prepare prior to the post-wedding reception. You will want to create a budget line for the event, whether it is casual or glamorous. Be sure that your guests are invited appropriately and that the plan is messaged. Most importantly, be sure that your guests are safe in getting to the separate location. So DO have fun with your guests and celebrate the night – or morning away, but DON’T feel pressured into hosting if you’d rather just enjoy some quiet time with yourself and your partner. 

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.