Weddings are rooted in tradition, but as the past few years have proved, more and more couples are nixing age-old rules in favor of modern ceremonies and receptions. They’re tweaking typical timelines, ditching obsolete customs, and choosing to showcase their true personalities with wedding experiences that are tailor-made just for them.
Looking to shake things up at your own wedding? Peruse this list of out-of-the-box ideas, and get inspired to put a creative spin on your big day. Psst: At Flora’s amenity-rich and service-oriented wedding venue in San Diego, custom experiences are even more possible; our versatile space features flexible partitions, allowing couples to let their imaginations run wild. “We are a private space,” Flora experts say. “We’re an intimate space. We have a mobile bar. Couples can get really creative with the room layout.”
A traditional wedding timeline dictates that wedding ceremonies typically occur in the evening, followed by a cocktail hour, which allows newlyweds to sneak off for post-vow photos while guests sip and mingle. But lately, a lot of couples are choosing to switch things up by hosting their ceremony later in the night, post-cocktail hour, when guests are more in a celebratory mood. One couple, Flora experts recall, asked their guests to take their seats for the ceremony following a 30-minute cocktail hour and a family-style dinner complete with speeches. “Then, as they were announced, they walked down the aisle right into their dance party, and all of their guests followed!” Flora experts say. “It was so amazing!”
Who says weddings need to be so official? While some couples send out their save-the-dates around six to eight months prior to the ceremony, others are opting to keep it more casual. Surprise (or “flash”) ceremonies offer a low-maintenance way to tie the knot – sans the pressure of planning a grand event with a long guest list and a budget that’s bursting at the seams. Surprise vow renewals are also gaining popularity; already-married couples can invite their loved ones for a low-key gathering before making the big reveal. “Guests might think they’re just attending a birthday party or other event,” Flora experts say.
For many couples, reception-hour entertainment often comes in the form of dancing. After months and months of planning, organizing, and decision-making, it’s no surprise that newlyweds just want to let loose and have fun. But dancing isn’t the only way to bring some energy to the wedding experience. Couples who are less at ease grooving on the dance floor might find other options more appealing. Pining to perform? Karaoke might be for you. Want to just kick back and enjoy the show? Then hiring a live band for a private concert could be the ticket to a more low-pressure evening. Or opt for a magician or a live painter; the world is your oyster.
Food lovers, rejoice. No longer are weddings confined to gravity-defying cakes and formal, plated dinners. More and more couples are choosing to embrace their inner foodies through active culinary stations throughout the day. Skip the traditional, sit-down meal, and serve tapas-style entrées, for example – or even bring in your favorite food truck. Instead of a traditional bar, opt for a creative spin on the beverage station with signature cocktails, post-dinner nightcaps and even personalized wine labels about your love story. Treat your sweet-toothed guests to an ice cream bar, and win over your caffeine-lovin’ friends with a nitro cold brew or a tea station.
Ice-breakers aren’t just reserved for work settings. One way to bring together a room full of people who might not know each other? Games! From tried-and-true lawn games to trivia, there are so many ways to get your guests mingling throughout the night. Provide your friends and family a place to gather by setting up a lounging station stocked with multiplayer board games. You can also rent a poker table, a giant Jenga, lawn tic tac toe, or a photo booth with props. Have an emcee? Let them lead the “shoe game” or a spouse quiz. Have guests with tots in tow? Keep them busy with coloring and lego stations, or even hula hoops and jump ropes.
If you’re hosting your wedding at Flora, we’ll bring your vision to life with our flexible space, mobile and expandable bars, moveable partitions, in-house tech, and more.