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 order of wedding days. And even if we don’t know, most weddings are structured in a way that is easy for guests to be seamlessly guided from ceremony to evening celebration on a sea of champagne toasts.

But what about non-traditional days or couples who want to follow tradition but also want to mix things up? Perhaps you have time constraints or venue or guest list tweaks that mean you can’t stick to the order you had imagined, or maybe you just want to do it your way to refashion and refresh your celebration…

Combine your hen and stag dos

OK, so this one isn’t strictly on your wedding day, but have you considered throwing your last big celebration, before you start married life, with your other half as opposed to without them? Combined stag and hen dos can work brilliantly, particularly if you’re both fighting over one or two friends you both want at your do – gone are the days when hens were girls and stags were boys so why not combine everyone together? You can always split up for part of the weekend and enjoy different activities, then resume as one group again, depending on the do. Great group activities for guys and gals include surfing, golf, bowling and wine tasting, to name a few.

First look

Couples who share a sneak peek of each other ahead of the official start to their day have what’s known as a ‘first look’. We love the idea that the happy couple see each other for the first time on their wedding day alone (except for their photographer if you want to catch that wow factor moment). There’s something so special and emotional about sharing this private moment before anyone else has seen you and to really take in each other’s wedding day looks. First looks are an opportunity to make wonderful memories and capture amazing photographs, but also – in a day that is about sharing joy with others – it’s special to have a moment to yourselves to take it all in alone.

Pre-ceremony drinks

Granted, nobody wants their guests to be slurring and staggering around their ceremony, but it’s a lovely idea to start some gentle celebrations early. If you’ve chosen a later ceremony time, there’s no reason you can’t pop the champagne corks before you take your vows, and this works especially well if you’re opting for a relaxed ceremony style. Outdoor dos also lend themselves to this idea – a mulled wine or glass of bubbly may help everyone mingle while awaiting the happy couple’s arrival.

Walking in together

Have you considered arriving at your ceremony or walking down the aisle together? This ties in well with a first look and is a lovely way for guests to see the happy

couple for the first time. It’s also a fabulous way for the nearly-weds to share their excitement and nerves, rather than walking down the aisle or waiting at the altar alone. Again, this provides a perfect moment for some beautiful and unique photographs.

Bridesmen and maids

As with the hens and stags, who says men can’t be maids? We have seen some fabulous wedding photographs of brides with their best lads and ladies in an eclectic group mix. Bridesmen can coordinate their suits with bridesmaids’ dresses, with pops of colours from pocket squares to socks, to perfectly blend your crowd of besties together.

Marry at candlelight

Ceremonies at sunset or lit by candlelight can be truly magical. A late ceremony allows for lots of fun and games beforehand, such as garden games or circus performers entertaining your guests. Or you may prefer to have the day to yourselves and commence the wedding ceremony and celebrations as the sun sets. Then keep going into the early hours – or as long as your venue allows!

Post-ceremony party

Another brilliant idea for late-in-the-day ceremonies is starting the party as soon as you’ve tied the knot. This idea relies on your venue but if you’re able to make it work, then go for it! We loved a recent wedding where the bride and groom exited their venue to be met with an outdoor dance floor and the music starting just as the confetti spiralled out of the sky. Similarly, we have seen a couple exchange their vows in a themed garden, and once they had been pronounced man and wife, a painted party backdrop dropped to the floor, the music began, and they didn’t even need to move from their positions to begin dancing the night away.

Just-married swim

This is clearly dependent on location but, for any couples tying the knot beachside or even retro-style in a lido, why not encourage your guests to celebrate your union with a dip? This suits an informal kind of do – towel-dried hair and fascinators really don’t go! – but if your style and your guests are up for it, you’ll get some great photos of everyone running into – or out of – the sea or leaping into the lido. Retro bathing suits optional!

Two-in-one wedding and honeymoon

Head off on holiday (whether at home or abroad), invite your guests along, tie the knot, celebrate and then stay on to honeymoon once your guests have departed for home. This unique take on a wedding and honeymoon rolled into one benefits from everyone being in one place, and, once you’re there, little to no travel for you and your guests, so all you have to do is relax, enjoy and celebrate!