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South SouthWest WestWedding WeddingAwards Awards2016 2016 feature | NEW ORDER
26/04/2016 26/04/2016 11:42 11:42
NEW ORDER Throw confetti to the wind and reimagine your wedding day to make it just right for you words Elizabeth Chester Many of us are probably aware of the traditional
over one or two friends you both want at your do –
amazing photographs, but also – in a day that is about
order of wedding days. And even if we don’t
gone are the days when hens were girls and stags were
sharing joy with others – it’s special to have a moment
know, most weddings are structured in a way
boys so why not combine everyone together? You
to yourselves to take it all in alone.
that is easy for guests to be seamlessly guided
can always split up for part of the weekend and enjoy
from ceremony to evening celebration on a sea
different activities, then resume as one group again,
Pre-ceremony drinks
of champagne toasts.
depending on the do. Great group activities for guys
Granted, nobody wants their guests to be slurring and
and gals include surfing, golf, bowling and wine tasting,
staggering around their ceremony, but it’s a lovely idea
to name a few.
to start some gentle celebrations early. If you’ve chosen
But what about non-traditional days or couples who
a later ceremony time, there’s no reason you can’t pop
want to follow tradition but also want to mix things up? Perhaps you have time constraints or venue or guest list
First look
the champagne corks before you take your vows, and
tweaks that mean you can’t stick to the order you had
Couples who share a sneak peek of each other ahead
this works especially well if you’re opting for a relaxed
imagined, or maybe you just want to do it your way to
of the official start to their day have what’s known as a
ceremony style. Outdoor dos also lend themselves to
refashion and refresh your celebration…
‘first look’. We love the idea that the happy couple see
this idea – a mulled wine or glass of bubbly may help
each other for the first time on their wedding day alone
everyone mingle while awaiting the happy couple’s
Combine your hen and stag dos
(except for their photographer if you want to catch that
arrival.
OK, so this one isn’t strictly on your wedding day, but
wow factor moment). There’s something so special
have you considered throwing your last big celebration,
and emotional about sharing this private moment
Walking in together
before you start married life, with your other half as
before anyone else has seen you and to really take
Have you considered arriving at your ceremony or
opposed to without them? Combined stag and hen dos
in each other’s wedding day looks. First looks are an
walking down the aisle together? This ties in well with a
can work brilliantly, particularly if you’re both fighting
opportunity to make wonderful memories and capture
first look and is a lovely way for guests to see the happy
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