17 Non-Traditional Wedding Ideas For The Big Day

Weddings are a once-in-a-lifetime event that takes a lot of planning to pull off! You’ll have a lot of people trying to tell you how to do it right, though. Truthfully, there are no hard and fast rules for how to host a wedding. From elopements to beach parties, a wedding is whatever you want it to be. So celebrate your marriage in style with a few of Peerspace’s non-traditional wedding ideas for the Big Day!

1. Throw a surprise wedding

Of all the non-traditional wedding ideas we’ve come up with, a surprise wedding is our favorite! What could be better than guests showing up to the venue, thinking they are attending an engagement party or other event…Only for them to slowly realize they are at the actual wedding! Surprise weddings are thrilling for everyone attending and super unconventional as well.

2. Have food trucks cater the wedding

You don’t have to have a regular wedding caterer or restaurant on hand to serve dinner for the day. How about something a bit more hip? Make a list of your favorite food trucks and have them show up to serve grub at your wedding! Korean fried chicken vendors, ice cream trucks, beer trucks…What better non-traditional wedding idea could there be than to dispense with the usual pasta and serve street tacos instead?

Many of the wedding venue rentals on Peerspace are spacious enough for multiple food trucks to gather.  Not to mention themed to match the idea; this beer garden venue in Los Angeles, CA, is a prime example of a non-traditional wedding space open to food truck catering!

3. Wear a colorful wedding dress

Your outfit can be as unconventional as the theme; remember, it’s your wedding day and you make the rules! How about something – anything – other than wedding white? You can wear a red, gold, purple, or even a black dress if that’s more to your taste! Colorful wedding dresses are perfect for holiday-themed weddings, a color party, or simply for brides who want a color that has special meaning for them

4. Arrive and leave the wedding on horseback

Are you countryfolk who want to honor that part of your heritage? Why not have the bride and groom show up on horseback? If you are a good rider a horse should be no trouble at all. It might be a little uncomfortable riding in a wedding dress but you won’t have to go too far. You can even leave on horseback together as a unity ceremony! Make sure your photographer is well prepared as you’ll have an opportunity to make some wedding portraits like no one else you know.

Planning a springtime wedding? Then you need to check out these unique May wedding ideas that share inspiration for the venue, decor, and more!

5. Have an adventure wedding

Does the idea of solemn vows and a quiet church bore you to tears? How about planning an adventure wedding instead? Jet off to a foreign country, say your vows after spelunking to the bottom of a massive cave, go on a climbing trip to the top of Mount Everest…A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime affair so go big or go home! 

6. Host a wedding brunch

Pancakes, mimosas, paninis, omelets, coffee…Is there any better way to satisfy a guest list of hundreds of people than a brunch menu? You’re combining two excellent menus into one plus you’ll have a beautiful brunch venue to match, assuming you book a restaurant, dining hall, or other food-oriented space.

A brunch party for a wedding should be cheerfully lit, with ample natural light, beautiful interior decor, and an airy feel to it. Peerspace has plenty of venues that fit this style; have you seen this French Mediterranean restaurant in South Orange, NJ?

7. Have family or friends officiate the wedding

Who says the officiant has to be a priest or other official? Since it’s your wedding, why not invite the groomsmen and bridesmaids to each take a few minutes to officiate part of the ceremony? They can share stories about the couple and lead them through their vows like any other officiant. You can also have your parents, friends, or even your children play an active part in the ceremony!

8. Give your dog a wedding role

When you plan a wedding, you want the entire family to show up. That means the furry, four-legged members of the family should also be present! Why not have your dogs do something special, like act as the ring bearer and flower girl? You want to invite all of your pets but let’s face it, cats aren’t going to be too keen on playing a set role. Best stick to canine companions for a pet-friendly wedding.

9. Have wedding tattoos made

Tattoo lovers rejoice; a wedding is the perfect chance to show off your art rather than hide it away! Some couples opt for special tattoos that celebrate their union together; the pieces can be as subtle or involved as you like. A simple pair of tattooed wedding rings, special messages written by your partner, or even a full sleeve are just a few of the ways you can showcase your commitment to one another through ink.

10. Choose unique shoes

Can’t get excited about high heels or loafers? Think about shoes that are bound to catch people’s eye with delight! Cowboy boots, clown shoes, hiking boots, sneakers, fuzzy slippers…Wear whatever you like and bring a smile to your guests and soon-to-be-husband or wife as you confidently stroll down the aisle in them!

11. Get married on a Monday

Weekend weddings tend to be significantly pricier because everyone is off on the weekend. A weekday wedding, on the other hand, can save you thousands since caterers, venues, party planners, and other businesses are far less likely to be booked. Rates for everything from plane tickets to alcohol are all more reasonable if you hold a weekday wedding instead.

12. Let your bridesmaids and groomsmen get creative

At a traditional wedding, the bridesmaids and groomsmen wear matching apparel for a more minimalistic feel. How about adding a splash of creativity to the affair by letting them choose different colors? Mismatched bridesmaids is one term for the idea but you don’t even have to limit them to dresses. Each of your bridesmaids and groomsmen might even wear something more personal to them, so guests get a better feel for why you chose them for the ceremony in the first place!

Some of our favorite non-traditional wedding colors? Emerald and gold! Learn how to plan an emerald green and gold wedding theme with this guide.

13. Have a ring-warming ceremony

The wedding ring is one of the most important physical embodiments of your commitment to each other. You can let guests take part in imbuing it with additional significance with a ring-warming ceremony. Guests take turns holding the rings in their hands as they impart the joy, love, and well-being they want for you two as you move forward with a new life. The rings get passed to each pair of hands before being put on as usual!

14. Book a drag queen performance

Music and dancing don’t have to be led by the usual kind of performers you see at most weddings. Whether you want to celebrate a gay marriage or just like shaking things up, think about having a drag queen perform for your ceremony! Drag queen shows are outrageously exciting as the performers are experts in getting guests hyped for the day. Not to mention the fabulous hair they wear for the show!

15. Switch up the adult and children’s roles

Every wedding has to have a flower girl…Says who?! Let your son throw the flowers if he wants – or even have grandma rolled down the aisle, spreading blossoms! Men can throw confetti and the ring bearer can be your dog – it’s your wedding and you make the rules.

16. Let everyone blow bubbles at the end

Looking for a non-traditional wedding idea that will make for spectacular photography to look back on later? Ditch the sparklers and hand out bottles with bubble mixture instead! After a brief countdown, have your guests fill the walkway with thousands of rainbow-hued bubbles for you to walk through. It’s whimsical, beautiful, and guaranteed to have you smiling and laughing even harder than you already will be.

17. Decorate with something other than flowers

Flower bouquets here, floral printed tablecloths there…If you’ve been browsing wedding catalogs then you must be tired of all of the flowers! How about something a little more non-traditional? Seashells and glass bottles for a beach wedding, insect-printed tablecloths for a forest wedding, cowboy-themed decor for a rustic Western wedding, autumn leaves for an October wedding…You have far more choices to work with than simply flowers!

Non-traditional wedding ideas: conclusion

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Weddings are a traditional way to celebrate your union but that does not mean you have to follow the same script as everyone else. Celebrate the uniqueness of your relationship with a few of our non-traditional wedding ideas! We hope Peerspace has been a resource for your event planning needs. If so, think about browsing some of our event venues near you for weddings and other special occasions!

Find unique wedding venues for your non-traditional celebration on Peerspace