Unconventional Wedding

10 Ways To Have An Alternative Wedding

Hello! I’m guessing you’re here because you’re planning a wedding. If so, you’re in the right place! Welcome to Unconventional Wedding, an alternative wedding directory and blog dedicated to spreading wedding gorgeousness. We love everything a little bit quirky, creative, or just fun! 

We love writing about unique weddings, so we thought we’d sum lots of advice up for you in one mega blog. Here’s our 10 ways to have an alternative wedding!

Feature photo by Kirsty Rockett Photography
bride and groom holding novelty balloons on unique wedding day
Photo by Jodi Hannagan Photography from our blog 'Gary & Rachel's Alpaca Wedding'
Photo by Liam Collard Photography from our blog 'Maisha & Saif's Thailand Destination Wedding'

1. Find a unique wedding venue for your wedding day

Your wedding venue determines the vibe of your day. Pick one that represents you and don’t be held back by them being an official wedding venue! You could choose a venue like a museum or a space centre that requires little decoration. You could transform a blank canvas into your wedding dream or simply get married in a field as part of an outdoor wedding! Maybe there’s a venue that means a lot to you, or simply one that makes your heart sing. 

Need more advice – check out: Top Tips To Making The Most Of A Quirky Wedding Venue
Kirsty Rockett Photography at The Shack Revolution from our blog 'How To Nail A Colourful Wedding'

Discover unique wedding venues

2. Unique wedding themes to make your day awesome

Why not have a themed wedding day? Choosing a theme makes it easier to decide on a colour scheme, decoration and entertainment. Themes are also just really fun! They can be incorporated as much or as little as you like and can reflect your personality as a couple. Contrary to popular belief, themed weddings do not have to be tacky, either. From Star Wars to Fairytale and Great Gatsby to 80s Disco, here’s Our Favourite Themed Wedding Inspiration.

Amy Faith Photogaphy with Lily Jones Events from our blog 'Disco Western Wedding Ideas'

3. Be BOLD... colourful wedding inspiration!

We adore a colourful wedding! Adding splashes of colour is a brilliant way to brighten up your wedding day…the bolder the better! You could focus on one colour or create a stunning rainbow wedding! Need some more inspiration? Check out – How To Create A Unique Rainbow Wedding or Quirky Rainbow Wedding Ideas

Photo by Kirsty Rockett Photography from our blog 'Colourful Barn Wedding In Sheffield'

4. Create a dream team of Alternative Wedding Suppliers

Wedding suppliers are wonderful creatures. Find the ones that get you and your style – do some digging. If you’re having something specific like a vegan wedding, find suppliers with the same values. When finding a photographer, keep in mind that they all have different styles (Guide To Choosing Your Wedding Photographer) so make sure you chat to them about what you want.

We’re big on supporting independent businesses, so if you have the choice between a corporate chain and an independent creative… we encourage you to choose the independent! Your money goes to growing their business, in turn making their dream a reality! This way, you’ll have real people behind your wedding day that genuinely care about doing the best job possible.

Wedding fairs are the perfect way to meet suppliers face to face and you can have a lot of fun too! We list our favourite ones here!

Angelic Photo from our blog 'How To Nail Your Outdoor Wedding'

5. have a unique wedding ceremony with a celebrant

A celebrant is someone that can perform your wedding for you. Although in the UK celebrants cannot (yet!) legally marry you, they have the unique quality of being able to deliver a personalised ceremony. Many couples are choosing to legally marry the day before/after the wedding and have a celebrant on the day. This means you don’t have to go through any legalities on the day and you can have your ceremony exactly the way you want it. Celebrants can combine religious and spiritual beliefs, perform rituals like hand fasting, and some of them might even dress up to match your theme! Different wedding celebrants bring different things and are perfect for an alternative wedding, so here’s our Ultimate Guide to Celebrants.

Photo by Nick Brightman Photography featuring Proud Fox Ceremonies from our blog 'Simon & Matt's Surprise Wedding'

6. Look The Part- Alternative Bridalwear/ Groomswear

The way you dress affects the way you feel. You want to feel like your absolute best self on your wedding day, so don’t settle for less! We’re strong believers in embracing our quirks, so we think an amazing wedding look is one that shows personality! Don’t be afraid to try everything in the shop on and experiment! There is no rulebook- you don’t even have to wear white! We have some awesome advice on How To Find Your Individual Wedding Style!

You might also like: How To Rock A Black Wedding DressThe Best Unique & Alternative Wedding Dresses
Photo by Pink Photographics - Dresses by Ryley & Flynn, Coordination by Electric Joy Ceremonies

7. Stand out from the crowd- Alternative Wedding Bouquets are the way forwards!

There are so many ways you can add personality to your wedding look. One of our favourite things are alternative wedding bouquets! The great thing about them is they last forever and can be made with your favourite things! You could have a paper bouquet made from song lyrics, or a crystal/wire bouquet with charms of your favourite things! Felt, buttons, fabric- here’s our Guide To Choosing Your Alternative Wedding Bouquet.

Indigo & Violet Photography featuring CRZyBest

8. Alternative Wedding Entertainment

One of the main things your guests will remember about your wedding is the entertainment. There are so many quirky entertainment options for the same price as conventional entertainment. From gaming arcades to space hoppers and niche bands to palm readers, why not wow your guests? For more inspiration, see: The Best Alternative Wedding Entertainment.

Have you thought about your first dance yet? Now that could be entertaining! Bring a tear to your guests’ eyes (from laughter or emotion, you choose!) by choreographing your first dance! Maybe you’ve both been wanting to learn salsa, or maybe you want a comedy routine for the bridesmaids. It could be fun! See: How To Make Your First Dance Unique To You.

Kirsty Rockett Photography with Fletchers Mobile Arcade from our blog 'How To Nail A Colourful Wedding'

Find unique wedding entertainment

9. Go DIY and call in favours

DIY is a brilliant way to save money and still have an alternative wedding. We forget that so many things can be handmade! There are all sorts of tutorials online, and theres no harm in asking favours from friends. Got a DJ friend?  Maybe they’ll sort your music out as a wedding gift. Is your aunty very crafty? See what she can make for you! This will add sentiment to your wedding in heaps and will ensure it’s like no other. You might like: Real DIY Wedding & Money Saving Tips.

Isabelle Briggs Photography from our blog 'Liz & Dave's Colourful Sheffield Wedding'

10. BE YOU! The most important alternative wedding advice

The most important way to have an alternative wedding is to be true to yourselves. If you don’t like a tradition, scrap it! If you don’t want a fancy reception… don’t! There’s often pressure to have a certain kind of wedding.  We’re here to inspire you to embrace being yourself on your big day! At the end of the day, what matters is celebrating your love. As long as you’re doing that, the rest doesn’t matter!

Photo by Nikki Pix Photography from out blog 'Summer 70s Wedding Inspiration'

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