A good part of the responsibility for this situation is from the fact that the wedding ceremony has changed very little since the Middle Ages. And while then, standing in front of the altar and having the feast afterward was probably considered a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the situation in the 21st century is much different. So, let’s take a look at how to break up this monotony, and bring in some sense of joy, excitement, and fun into weddings again. Here are eight ways to make your wedding truly memorable.
1. Geeky Wedding
The geek culture is on the rise. So, if you’ve ever dreamed of dressing up as a Starfleet officer and having a Star Trek-themed wedding, you couldn’t be born at a better time. But, here’s an even better idea. Induce the ceremony with a healthy dose of Hogwarts magic. Just imagine – you are walking to the wedding aisle where the official is dressed like Dumbledore. You and your future spouse are wearing Hogwarts robes, and your guests are saluting you with their magic wands/fireworks. Weddings can’t be more magical than that. The other two usual suspects are Star Wars (Han and Leia), and comic books (a lot of options to choose from but Superman and Lois Lane are one of the most famous married comic book couples).
2. Medieval Wedding
The best way to turn the tables and make your wedding as archaic as it gets. The best place to do it – a Medieval Fair. Medieval Fairs are usually packed with tons of interesting content. You can organize knights’ duels, a Robin Hood-style competition in archery, horse race, and why not – you can even try to save your maiden from the tower where she’s entrapped. Once you’re done with these exhausting activities, you can heal your wounds with venison, good wine, and the gentle sound of the lute.
3. Competitive Wedding
Most weddings follow the same basic pattern – you welcome your guest, go to the aisle, say “Yes” and then proceed to eat and dance. Why wouldn’t you bring in some competitive spirit into this pretty stale set-up? The possibilities are endless – you can make a karaoke contest, pick some of the Minute to Win It games, or even turn the wedding into a full-blown pub quiz. The first prize could be the first dance with the bride or some other wedding-inspired treat. Split the guests into interesting groups (e.g. bride’s guests vs. groom’s guests, or even better women vs. men), and you ought to have a blast.
4. Exotic Destination Wedding
How cool it would be if someone asked you, “Where did your wedding took place?” and your answer was “Well, we took the plane to Maldives, brought some friends with us and had a beach wedding. It was unbelievable. All during the winter.” Although the logistics of such a wedding can be more than challenging, you have to admit it – it’s more than worth it. Especially when talking about costs and complications that you have to deal with. But, when you think about it, the cost of this type of wedding can be the same like you’re hosting a traditional 80-guests wedding. You only have to decide.
5. Active Wedding
Not everyone finds so much fun in sitting and eating in an enclosed space. Some of us are more outgoing and like a physical challenge. In that case, spending one of the most important days of your life in nature seems like an excellent idea. And to be quite honest, conquering the nearby mountaintop represents a beautiful metaphor for all the struggles you and your partner went through and all the future mountains you are going to climb by working together. A long hike to some beautiful, remote location where the wedding will take place is just as good of an alternative.
6. Time-Travel Wedding
If you want a themed wedding and can’t decide on a specific theme, why wouldn’t you simply make a quick breeze through the 20th century. Start with roaring 20s, proceed to dapper 50s, feel the disco fever of the 70s, and try out the glam makeup of the 80s, and baggy pants of the 90s. If you want to, you can go even further in the past, or even try to predict the future. All these eras offer a lot of possibilities for fun. Pair the attire with the decade-appropriate food and snacks, and you are in for a treat. So, start looking for vintage clothes and checking online recipes – your time-travel journey is just about to begin.
7. Extreme Wedding
A wedding for all the people who enjoy a good adrenaline rush. You know how they used to say that entering a marriage is like making a giant leap of faith. Well, now’s your opportunity to make this statement as literal as possible. Take your future spouse on a short flight, pack yourself with a pair of parachutes, and leap into the unknown. If you manage to pull this off in a wedding suit, you will be treading deep into the James Bond territory. Alternatively, you can do a simple bungee jump. Remember, you will be both tempted to scream “Nooooooo,” but you have to say “Yes!” What a way to test your partner, huh?
8. Underwater Wedding
An excellent way to put a slight twist on the idea of an active wedding. This time though, instead of hiking to the location of the ceremony, you are going to swim there (or to put it more precisely, dive there). Granted, you will have to find the official who is fit enough to dive to the sea bottom, and you will have some trouble saying the marriage vows (cue cards, anyone?), but all these small challenges make an underwater ceremony only more exciting. As for the party, the traditional seaside setup makes the most sense. And there’s a lot of symbolism going on here. You and your future spouse will dive into the water as two separate souls, and resurface as one.
Be creative. Do something unique.
All you have to do now is to pick one of these themes that is the closest to your heart and start the preparations. If some of these ideas spark an idea of your own, even better. What’s most important is to make your wedding truly fun, exciting and engaging. Life is made of fond memories. Let your wedding take the deserved number one spot. Featured photo credit: Jakrapong Kongmalai, Flickr via flickr.com
