Top Wedding Customs Nobody Wants to Live Without

By Zachary-Cy Vanasse

Wedding trends are ever-changing, but when a unique ceremony moment or head-turning guest amenity is favoured by brides again and again, they transform into time-honoured traditions. Here are some game-changing destination wedding trends that have, over time, become beloved, can’t-miss customs.

LONG-LIVE SAVE THE DATE!

Often featuring the couple’s name and the wedding date with a note that the invitation will follow, the Save the Date is crucial for destination weddings as they often require more planning on the part of guests than a traditional wedding. Traditionally sent out before the actual details of the wedding (such as the resort name, time, etc.), the Save the Date allows for guests to mark their calendars – and book any necessary vacation time – well in-advance.

MEMORIAL BOUQUET CHARMS

Bouquet charms allow brides to incorporate special people from their past or present – typically those who couldn’t attend the wedding proper – into their big day. Charms can be black-and-white photographs of family who have passed on, or special tokens such as jewelry or ribbons, each with their own significance.

SIGNATURE COCKTAILS

You’d be hard-pressed to find a destination wedding without a signature cocktail these days – and for good reason. Signature drinks are an easy – and delicious – way for a couple to put their own brand on their post-ceremony celebrations. Couples work with the resort mixologist to create their own special drink – usually christened with a very clever name – for guests to enjoy during cocktail hour.

THE SYMBOLIC SAND CEREMONY

This colourful and dignified ceremony has eclipsed the once-favoured unity candle ceremony, which can be troublesome to keep lit, especially on a windy beach. The sand ceremony, which has the bride and groom each pouring their own vial of coloured sand into a single vase, is a vivid symbol of the coming together of two people in marriage. The result is a beautiful memento of a moment that the couple can keep for a lifetime.

WELCOME-TO-OUR-WEDDING BAGS

Destination weddings are about making the entire trip special for everyone, so welcome bags, typically filled with amenities to make a guest’s stay safe and fun, are a fantastic way to kick off the festivities. Wedding bags can include items like sun lotion, band-aids, and wedding-themed t-shirts and drinking glasses, and the best destination wedding resorts will arrange to have them waiting in guests’ rooms upon arrival.

THE OH-SO-SMART “SHOES OPTIONAL” STATION

It can be difficult to navigate a sandy beach in heels, so having a station inviting guests to remove their footwear before stepping onto the beach is a great way to make everyone feel comfortable. Some clever brides have also been known to equip the station with alternative beach accessories, such as fans, flip flops, or sand brushes.

THE PERSONALIZED MENU

Careful consideration and tremendous effort are put into every detail of a destination wedding, and why should the menu be any different? A personalized menu of regionally-inspired meal items selected by the bride and groom, such as locally-caught fish or authentic street foods, can really bring a well-thought-out theme together.

INSPIRED PHOTOGRAPHY

While pictures have been a classic wedding tradition since the invention of the camera, destination weddings have given rise to a new breed of creative-concept photography. From the “everyone jumps in the air” picture to “the big dip” photo where the groom dramatically dips his bride in a kiss and the “veil blowing” photo, there’s always new and innovative ideas cropping up to keep wedding photo sessions fresh.