Doing your wedding differently doesn’t mean you have to promise to despise each other until death do you part or have your first dance to Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name Of” (your gran really wouldn’t like it). No, don’t worry, you can inject a bit of boho into the proceedings quite easily by adopting one or two of these ideas; it’ll get people talking – but in a good way…
Have tattoo favours
Not permanent tattoos, of course, because that’d be a step (or a needle) too far. Almost all wedding favours are eaten, left behind or dropped into the bottom of a closet during or after a wedding. This is a sad state of affairs, so do something about it by making your favours the star of the show. Turn a favourite photo of you and your SO into a set of temporary tattoos and give them out to guests at the wedding lunch. Add a few cameras and it’ll be comedy gold.
A customised aisle runner
It’s customised, so it can be whatever you want it to be (although we don’t do a jig as you walk all over photos of your fiancé’s exes…). You can have your clan’s tartan, the lyrics of your favourite song, a collage of photos…whatever floats your boat.
A simple wedding feast
Of course, weddings are occasions where culinary creativity can really do its thing, but sometimes it takes it too far (hello, cold carrot and ginger soup served in an espresso cup…). All those amuse bouche and canapes can feel a bit, well, fancy. How about bacon sandwiches and pizza, the food of champions?
Your first dance
The first dance has given many a bride and groom-to-be the cold sweats and if you are really dreading busting a few moves to Etta James’ “At Last”, just don’t bother. Invite the whole guest list to join in you for Netta’s Eurovision-winning Toy, complete with the chicken dance.
Get an alternative officiant
Not everyone wants a priest, a vicar or even a judge to officiate, so find someone else to officiate. There are loads of alternatives these days, so you could have a secular celebrant, or even someone to combine the cultures of you and your loved one.
Superannuated flower girls
Everyone has sweet wee flower girls to coo over and forgive for needing a wee when the vows are being exchanged. Nah. Ask your grandma and her disreputable bridge club friends to do it instead; if Noreen is renowned for her acerbic wit, and can scatter petals in a sarcastic manner, even better.
