When you’re getting married, there are an endless amount of details that go into the planning process. Some people have an idea of what must be done at a wedding, and there are traditions that have simply grown tired over the years. Who says you have to follow any of those traditions set up by generations past? Here are five traditions that you don’t have to follow for your wedding:
The whole wedding is paid for by the bride’s family
While it is extremely generous for the bride’s family to offer to cover the bill for the wedding, this tradition just isn’t realistic anymore. Weddings can be very expensive, so why should the mother and father of the bride be expected to drain their entire life savings to pay for their daughter’s wedding? Sit down with both sets of parents and decide who can afford what when it comes to paying for the wedding. Maybe your parents would like to split the price of the wedding, or your fiancé’s parents want to contribute more than to just the rehearsal dinner. Or maybe you and your partner have decided that you want to pay for your own wedding. No matter who is paying, it’s important to get your finances in order and look into your options of footing the bill. For example, you can take out a low-interest personal loan to avoid credit cards with higher interest. Instead of paying for everything at once, you’ll have a monthly payment that will make your wedding costs much more manageable.
Waiting to see the groom until you walk down the aisle
Ah, the age-old tradition of you and your groom waiting to see each other until you’re walking towards them down the aisle. This tired rule is based on the fact that it’s a bad luck to see each other, but if you and your partner are in love it’s not based on luck. Plenty of couples are foregoing waiting and doing first looks so that they can get all their pictures done before the ceremony and enjoy the cocktail hour mingling with their guests! If getting your pictures over with isn’t enough reason to choose a first look, here’s 75 reasons why it’s the right choice. And there’s nothing like capturing photo or video of the first time you see each other with no one else around–priceless!
Providing wedding favors
You’re already doing so much to make your wedding enjoyable for your guests and you don’t need to spend even more money on wedding favors. While a favor is a nice gesture, a majority of your guests will forget to bring it home and some even forget and leave them at their table. If you have a photo booth, let the printable photo strip double as your favor. Or if you’d like, donate the money you would have spent on favors to a charity like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Feeding America. No one is going to even notice if you don’t have a favor, and the thank you cards you send after your wedding will show more than enough appreciation.
Smashing cake in each other’s faces
Cutting the cake is always such a picture-perfect moment during your reception, but leave the cake smashing behind. You’ve most likely spent all day having your hair and makeup done to look beautiful for your wedding day, so no one can blame you if you’re not into getting it ruined within seconds from the cake. Discuss with your partner beforehand exactly what you want to do when you cut the cake, and make a strict no smashing rule if you’re against it. You don’t want to spend an hour getting cake out of your hair and off of your dress, and there are still plenty of pictures to take as the night goes on!
Leaving on your honeymoon right after the reception
You know how the newlywed couples in the movies would always run right into their limo or car after the reception, and everyone is waving them off to their romantic honeymoon together? Well, the tradition of going right on your honeymoon has faded. All of your family and friends have come to town to celebrate you, and leaving immediately just doesn’t always make sense. If you wait, you get to enjoy the day after your wedding with everyone you love and talk about how much fun you all had. You can wait a couple days or a week to go on your honeymoon. Or wait a few months to go. It will give you more time to save money after your wedding and you’ll have more time to plan the perfect honeymoon.
You’re getting married to the love of your life and it’s going to be the most special day of your life. It’s your wedding, so you don’t have to follow any rules or traditions. This day is about you and your fiancé, so do what makes you happy and comfortable.
