5 Ways to make your wedding day unique

As a destination and Georgia wedding photographer who has been lucky enough to witness countless celebrations of love, I've noticed that some of the most memorable wedding days are those that authentically reflect my couple's unique journey and personalities. Today, I'm sharing five fun approaches that will make your wedding day 100% true to you, your partner, and your love story.

Create Local Food and Beverage Experiences

A great way to make your wedding day unique is by creating local food and beverage experiences for your guests. Georgia has some of the best food and a rich culinary heritage, making it the perfect hub to eat good and support local businesses - a win-win if you ask me.

To do this, you can replace your typical caterers with a curated collection of local restaurants, or you can create a culinary tour of your relationship while supporting your favorite date night spots on a grazing board during cocktail hour. Local breweries are also a great way to enhance the wedding experience for your guests and enjoy some celebratory wedding beer to celebrate!

Wedding Planning Tip: One way to add a personal element to your food and beverage experience is by designing "Taste Journey" cards that map each food station to a specific relationship milestone. "The shrimp and grits from Tybee Island represent our getaway where David proposed during sunrise on the beach." It not only will incorporate the local food scene here in Georgia but will add another way to curate and showcase your love story.

Prioritize Moments of Intimate Connection

You always hear couples say “It all went by too fast”, however, reimagining the day and focusing on prioritizing moments of intimate connection is a sure fire way to make sure you and your partner soak up every blissful minute of your big day.

We all know about a first look, which is a great option to have some more 1:1 time with your partner - but as a Georgia Wedding photographer, I feel like this moment can be deepened even more. I always encourage my couples to add in private vow reading at their first look. During a private vow reading, you can exchange personal vows intimately, allowing the emotions to flow freely without the worry of others watching. Not wanting to ruin the “vow” portion during your ceremony? No worries, that’s where saving traditional vows for the official ceremony comes in. Distinctively creating space for both allows for more meaningful and impactful moments - some more private and mushy gushy and some to share with friends and family.

Wedding Planning Tip: Schedule a 30-minute "reset moment" between your ceremony and reception where just you and your new spouse decompress and just BE. We did this on our wedding day and I couldn’t recommend it more!

Hire a Live Event artist

Elevate your wedding experience by commissioning a live event artist to capture your wedding day in real time on their blank canvas. Work with a professional artist like Fig and Font, Maggie Smith Kuhn, or Ronni Paints to set up an elegant easel station within view of your wedding’s most significant moments. Throughout the evening, your guests can witness the gradual transformation of a blank canvas into a vibrant artistic interpretation of your wedding, that will soon turn into a lasting heirloom. 

Position your event artist strategically where they can capture key elements, perhaps your first kiss at the altar or your first dance at your reception. It’s important that when hiring an event artist you choose based on an artistic style that complements your aesthetic, whether impressionist, modern, or classical portraiture. A completed painting from your special day becomes not just wedding decor for your home but an heirloom that captures the emotional essence of your day. 

Wedding Planning Tip: For a truly immersive experience, arrange for your artist to begin painting during your ceremony, capturing the background and initial moments of the big day, then continue through the reception, adding guests and key moments as the night unfolds.

Infuse Personal Elements into Your Wedding Décor

Another way that couples are able to make their wedding day more unique is by thoughtfully curating details that tell their love story. Consider developing signature cocktails named after significant milestones in your relationship. Many couples also choose to incorporate their sweet pets into their wedding decor or signage through custom-engraved cocktail napkins featuring their silhouettes. If that’s not your speed, family heirlooms can also become powerful décor elements. Your grandmother's vintage brooch collection is displayed on velvet cushions, or your grandfather's pocket watch is incorporated into your centerpieces. Even your menu can tell your story through dishes representing significant moments. Featuring cuisine from your first vacation together or recreating the meal from your proposal. The opportunities are literally endless!

Wedding Planning Tip: Instead of trying to incorporate personal elements as afterthoughts to traditional wedding décor, begin your entire design process by identifying the 3-5 most significant aspects of your love story - how you met, shared passions, cultural heritage, transformative experiences together, etc. - and let these core elements drive your decisions. This will feel so much more authentic!

Create an Immersive Experience For Guests

Last but certainly not least, elevating your wedding by crafting interactive experiences for your guests can make your wedding day the most memorable amongst friends and family. A custom photo booth with props not only is a fun addition to your reception but incorporating props that tell your unique love story also adds a more personal element. 

Consider interactive food experiences like a build-your-own garnish bar for signature cocktails or a dessert station like s’mores where guests can personalize treats. If you love games, interactive experiences like oversized Jenga or custom cornhole boards create opportunities for guests to mingle and get to know other people who are in attendance - especially during cocktail hour. For some of you who love puzzles, a great way to create a more interactive experience is by developing a custom scavenger hunt accessible through a QR code that can guide guests through significant moments in your relationship while exploring the venue. Having this interactive element on your wedding day will not only keep your guests entertained but will surely stick in their minds for years to come! 

Wedding Planning Tip: When choosing interactive elements, create an intentional flow that can guide your guests through different experiences as the evening progresses. You can begin with easy ice-breaker activities during cocktail hour to connect unfamiliar guests, and then transition to more collaborative experiences during dinner!

5 Ways To Make Your Wedding Day Unique

Remember that personalizing your wedding day does not have to be stressful or difficult. Oftentimes, the most meaningful touches are the subtle details that may go unnoticed by some guests but will hold so much weight to your story.

As you begin your wedding planning journey, prioritize elements that genuinely reflect your relationship rather than those that simply fulfill expectations. A truly unique wedding doesn't necessarily mean reinventing every tradition, but rather infusing conventional elements with your own unique twist.