101 book - Lorna Lovecraft

101 Unique Ideas for
Wedding Rebels
Lorna Lovecraft
Introduction
Welcome. I wrote this guide for wedding rebels: it's an attitude, a philosophy. It's
for couples who want an awesome wedding day of their own but can't stand
weddings. Rejoice! It's time to shun pretentious bridal magazines and tired
traditions. Your time has come. Use this guide and the ideas herein as a way to
inspire you to carve your very own, unforgettable day that is unapologetically
awesome. Or just nick the ideas. I won't tell (pinky promise).
Lorna x
Before The Big Day...
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Consider a weekday or Sunday wedding
Why? Because it's different, guests get to take a day off work (with enough
notice it won't be a problem, fear not!) and sometimes a venue may even give
you a lower rate.
Help your guests save the date by
sending them 'save the date' stickers to
mark their calendars!
Image Credit: http://somethingturquoise.com
Decide if you want to be married at
home or away
And if you do decide on a destination wedding,
tease the location with personalized
save-the-date luggage tags. Image Credit:FEEDLY
Have an engagement shoot and use the photos for your
'Save the Date' cards
You can have LOADS of fun with them too – how about a zombie apocalypse
style engagement shoot, or a water gun fight or bake a cake together?
Ring Pop Bridesmaid Proposals
A ring pop in a box is an easy, adorable way to 'pop the question' to your
bridesmaids. Plus sweets.
Image Credit:http://www.juliehanandesign.com/bridesmaids-love
6
Engrave the title of your
first dance song inside
your ring
Photo Credit: Blink of an Eye
Photography
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Ditch the dress, wear a
jumpsuit
For the modern bride who's not afraid
to make a statement.
Image Credit: THE BEAUTY BRIDAL
Wear your mum or gran's
wedding dress
It saves you money too!
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Or use it on your bouquet
Did your mum or gran keep her
wedding dress? If there's no chance
in hell that you or a sibling would
ever wear it ask if you can wrap it
around your bouquet instead.
Photo Credit: Nadia D. Photography
Or make a keepsake
garter with said dress
Getting Ready...
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Wedding Day Emergency Kit
Having one (or a few!) of these prepared
is always a good idea.
Image Credit:Via the Knot Blog
12
Hang your dress on a pretty
hanger (it makes for better
photos than those crappy
plastic things)
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Image Credit:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/22072
9018/crystal-wedding-dress-hanger-vin
tage?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_searc
h_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_se
arch_query=&ref=sr_gallery_12
Have bridesmaids sign their names/
leave a message on the bottom of the
brides shoes.
It’s said that whoever’s name does not wear off
by the end of the night is the next to get married,
so be warned!
Image Credit:http://www.ericsonphoto.com/
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Grooms can get in on the shoe
action too!
Image Credit: Soul Echo Studios
Buy a wedding gown in your
favourite colour and put the
bridesmaids in white
Image Credit:
http://www.brideofcolour.co.uk/2011/0
8/pretty-in-pink-and-purple-wedding-in
spiration/
Instead of wedding rings, get
wedding tattoos
Bonus Points for getting tattooed on
the day of your wedding!
Image Credit:
https://instagram.com/p/6pYUfUm5fA/
Have a “first look”
Because why shouldn't you see each
other before anyone else? You can walk
(or jog or dance) down the aisle
together too!
Image credit: www.lornalovecraft.co.uk
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Or have a "first look"
with your dad
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A sweet "something
blue" using one of
your dad's old shirts
Photo Credit: Bend the
Light Photography
cut out a heart and sew it
onto your dress. Photo
Credit: Sequins and Candy
Photography
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Lollipops in candy colours,
clusters of berries, autumn leaves
— get bold with your buttonholes!
Photo Credit: lornalovecraft.co.uk
Button hole available from
http://www.iheartbuttons.co.uk/
The Ceremony...
Turn the wedding day on its head
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For example, meet and greet all your guests with cocktails before the ceremony, that way
you won't be nervous walking down the aisle! Or have the ceremony at night. Or first
thing in the morning, so you can have a “proper” wedding breakfast of bacon and eggs
after. The possibilities are endless: tear up the traditional wedding day timeline and play
with it as you please.
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Elope
And save all the stress!
Have a surprise wedding!
Sometimes, the best weddings
are those that the guests had no
idea was coming. Turn a casual
get-together like a birthday party
or a summer barbecue into a
wedding, and bypass all that
wedding day stress and chaos.
Have a Sand Ceremony
The sand ceremony is a great ceremony alternative. The bride and groom
mix two different colours of sand into one container (a vase, jar or even a
specialist photo frame) thus symbolising their lives and hearts entwined. It
is also a nice idea if one or both of you have children from previous
relationships: let them put their own sand into the mix and join your
families together! After the ceremony, you are left with a decorative item
you can put on display in your home.
Image:http://www.sfbakedlove.com/wedding-sand-ceremony-for-your-we
dding-day/
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Have a Unity Candle Ceremony
The bride and groom each has a candle,
and there is a third, main one between
them. There are a few ways of doing this
– you might want your parents or
children to light your separate candles
and then you both can light the main,
third candle for example.
Image: www.lornalovecraft.co.uk
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Handfasting and Tying the Knot Ceremony
Particularly known in Pagan wedding ceremonies, handfasting is the
joining of the bride and groom’s hands and wrists using vines, cord, rope or
ribbon tied into a knot. It’s often said that this is where we get the
expression “tying the knot” from, and it takes place often at the end of the
wedding ceremony as a final promise from one person to the other to bind
their lives together. The material should probably be significant to you, like
a strip of cloth from the dress you wore for your first date with your
husband-to-be. And there’s nothing to stop you incorporating jewellery or
chains of flowers either. Use your imagination to get stunning uniqueness.
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Print the program on the
outside of a paper bag
and then fill it with confetti or glitter
for guests to throw at the bride and
groom. Image
Credit:http://www.underconsideratio
n.com/fpo/archives/2012/01/lunch-s
ack-wedding-program.php
Hand out a brilliant,
boredom-reducing
wedding program
Image Credit:
http://www.jennemerlingweddings
.com/
Or these programs that
fold into paper aeroplanes
Which your guests will (obviously)
throw at you as you exit the
ceremony. Image Credit:
http://www.jennemerlingweddings
.com/
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Or provide big colourful confetti
in orbs, tied to each chair
Image Credit: www.lornalovecraft.co.uk
Have a pet ring bearer
Image Credit:http://spoilurpets.com/
Arrange ceremony seats in a
circular pattern so that
everyone can see
Image Credit:
http://sarawightphotography.com/
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Or opt for an eclectic mix of
seating
In lieu of the traditional side chair.
Stick to complementary shades to
keep the look cohesive or go
rainbow and pattern mad – it;s your
day and your call. Photo Credit:
photography by LOGAN COLE
Decorate the chairs!
Image Credit:
http://greenweddingshoes.com/
a-colorful-greenhouse-weddingjenny-jamison/
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In lieu of bridesmaid bouquets, get giant balloons from a
local party store and add brightly coloured paper tassels
to the strings
Image Credit:https://www.flickr.com/photos/emilysnuffer/8935874861
Or give all your guests a balloon, and have a release
instead of confetti!
Image Credit: www.lornalovecraft.co.uk
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Audience cue cards
during the ceremony
Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1
2570180@N03/1584592298/
Write your own vows,
keeping it relevant to
your life together
Much more personal!
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Ribbon-Tied Backdrops
...are perfect for the ceremony, speeches or
photobooth!
Image Credit:
http://www.weddingchicks.com/2011/12/16
/how-to-make-a-ribbon-backdrop/
Have live music at the ceremony
You could have a band, choir or even ask the
music department at local colleges or
universities to see if their students play
events to save you money.
Image Credit: www.lornalovecraft.co.uk
Your aisle runner is an opportunity to amaze
Show off your love story! Or dress it up in a way that reflects your venue or
theme. Photo Credit: The Other Sister Photography
For a romantic atmosphere, project slow-moving images
onto the floor, ceiling or walls
Photo Credit: Rhee Bevere
Beach brides: Bury vases in the sand so it looks as if your
flowers are growing there!
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If you don't like the idea of
getting birdseed or rice in your
hair, give guests beach balls,
sparklers, pinwheels, or
mini-flags for the big send-off
Photo Credit: Meg Baisden Photography
Reception Ideas...
Decorate your venue with hundreds of
paper lanterns
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They're cheap and cheerful, and you can always
sell them on after your wedding. If you tie in tiny
LED lights, they'll even glow after dark. Photo Credit: http://www.hanginglanterns.co.uk/
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With a little bit of elbow
grease, jars can be turned into
vases and hung throughout
the reception
photo credit:
http://www.17apart.com/2013/04/diyweddings-how-to-make-hanging-mas
on.htm
Gather photos of your
guests who can't be
with you on your
wedding day, and
display them inside jars
for a unique twist on a
photo table
Photo Credit: Joshua McCoy
Photography
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Use an eclectic collection of vintage tins as flower vases
Photo Credit:
http://www.intimateweddings.com/blog/vintage-tea-tins-for-your-wedding/
Bouncy Ball Vase
Bags of bouncy balls are inexpensive, and full of colour and pattern.
Photo Credit: http://cheerfulevents.blogspot.com/
Gumballs
Gumballs are an unexpected and surprisingly beautiful table accessory.
Photo Credit:http://diybride.com/sara-joey/
The open-air reception
Take the indoors outside!
photography by INTIMATE WEDDINGS
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Paper Lantern Columns
Creating cool lighting for your venue of choice can be an expensive
endeavour. Try this DIY that involves stacking paper lanterns on a dowel
to make giant light columns.
Photo Credit: http://www.marthastewart.com/267668/light-columns
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Bowtie Napkins
How dapper.
Photo Credit:
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/230
981/ribbon-and-bow-projects#/258645
Use A Planter Box As A Cooler For
Your Drinks
Photo Credit:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/10491986629
1762219/
Paper Doilies and Twine Table
Settings
Photo Credit:
http://daneesey.tumblr.com/post/26206
453880/paper-doilies-and-twine-a-swee
t-simple-way-to
Don't want Wedding Day Gifts?
Have a honeymoon fund jar
instead
Photo Credit:
http://simplykellydesigns.com/blog/201
5/06/17/foiled-honeymoon-fund-jar
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Use curtains as
table runners
Photo Credit:Christie
Graham Photography /
Via
http://www.weddingchic
ks.com/2014/05/15/crea
te-a-darling-wedding-for
-under-5k/
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Add some flair by
adorning name plates
to mini disco balls
stuffed with plants
photo credit:
http://ohsobeautifulpaper.co
m/2014/07/diy-tutorial-minidisco-ball-place-cards/
If plants aren’t your
thing, turn drawer
knobs into place
holders
photo credit:
http://www.100layercake.co
m/blog/2011/04/20/recycler
euse-diy-drawer-knob-placecards/
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Cotton Reel Place Cards
Photo Credit:
http://www.weddingchicks.com/2011/09/29/do-it
-yourself-thread-place-cards/
Neon-Dipped Pine Cone Place Card
Holder
Photo Credit:
http://camillestyles.com/thanksgiving/diy-neonpine-cone-placecard-holder/
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Glitter Animal Place Card Holder
Spray-paint small plastic figurines – you could use
animals, dinosaurs, army men! The possibilities are
endless and they’ll keep kids entertained while you
eat. Photo Credit:
http://blog.westelm.com/2012/12/25/sweet-littlepeanut-christmas-party/
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Create personalized 'Guess Who' sets with
pics of your guests
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It's a super fun way to break the ice and help table mates
get to know each other.
Photo Credit: http://scarlettcurtis.com/
Or keep them entertained with an 'I Spy'
wedding photo game
Perfect for if you are leaving disposable cameras
on your tables.Photo Credit:
http://www.foto-29.com/
Have a Photo Booth
What's better than seeing your gran in a cowboy
hat? Nothing. photo credit:
www.lornalovecraft.co.uk
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Include a space on the
RSVP where guests can
request songs to play at
the reception
photo credit:
http://www.lovevsdesign.com/re
sponse-cards/le-jardinier-respon
se-cards
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..and then award the guest
who picked the cheesiest
song with a medal
Photo credit: www.lornalovecraft.co.uk
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A special colouring book just for the
kids
photo credit:
http://lovelyindeed.com/diy-activity-book-free
-printable/
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Kid-friendly,
wedding-themed
place-mats work
well too
photo credit:
https://www.etsy.com/listin
g/125400645/kids-wedding
-activity-page-pdf-custom
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PIÑATAS. Enough said.
photo credit: https://flic.kr/p/3nMPQ
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Word search napkins
photo credit:
http://myweddingreceptionideas.com/word-sear
ch-puzzle-personalized-cocktail-napkins.asp
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Set up a video
game station
photo credit:
http://leahreneephot
ography.com/
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Stock one table with classic
board games
photo credit:
http://www.ruby-weddings.co.uk/20
14/11/25/14-cute-wedding-message
-boards-ideas/
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A temporary tattoo
booth
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Go glowstick crazy!
Photo credit:
www.lornalovecraft.co.uk
Bonus points for
personalised wedding
temporary tattoos!
photo credit:
www.lornalovecraft.co.uk
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NERF guns
Will keep the groomsmen
happy!
photo credit:
http://paynephotographystudi
o.com/
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Create personalized cards with five fun
facts about him for the bride's guests and
five fun facts about her for the groom's
guests
Photo Credit: Seahorse Bend Press/Etsy
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A truly personal touch for a small wedding? Write an
introductory one-liner for each guest — "outrageously funny,"
"impeccable style" — on his or her place card so everyone
can see
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Want to spread the good luck?
Fortune cookies or spicy wontons
with fortunes tucked inside the
crispy wrappers should do the trick
Photo Credit: Libertadleal/Etsy
Provide coasters that help people keep
their drinks while dancing
photo credit:
http://www.evermine.com/all_coasters/COMO21/
Food Trucks
People love options and people LOVE good food.
Hire a couple of food trucks to set up shop outside
of your venue and watch guests go crazy over the
late night snacks. This will instantly refuel your
friends and family and prompt a ton of foodie
Instagram pics.
Winter wedding = hot chocolate bar
photo credit:
http://makeitluxe.blogspot.com/search?updated-m
ax=2012-02-24T18:35:00-08:00&max-results=7&re
verse-paginate=true
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For an outdoor
reception, instead
of having tables,
set up picnic
blankets
photo credit:
http://www.fresnoweddi
ngs.net/
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After the dancing, have an
outdoor cinema to watch your
favourite movie – complete with
popcorn bar!
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DIY Jack & Coke
kits make the
perfect wedding
favour
Choose a signature cocktail and
give it a memorable name
Photo Credit: AkaPertyfultings/Etsy
photo credit:
http://www.homelife.com.au/how+to/how+
to+create+an+outdoor+cinema+,22192
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Give guests to-go boxes so that
they can take cake home
photo credit:
http://www.blissweddingsandevents.com/
gallery/weddings/ivy-room.html
Favour guests with something
special: home made mini cookies
tied up in clear bags, with a
recipe card, printed on bright
paper, tucked in, too
Photo courtesy of The Cravory
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Personalised wedding
m&m's!
Photo Credit:
http://www.mymms.co.uk/occasions
/marriage
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Have a jigsaw wedding guestbook
Photo Credit:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/178162273/150-piece-custom-weddingguest-book
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Have Guests make a bucket list for
you!
photo credit:http://www.visphotography.com/
Ask your guests to circle words in a
dictionary to remind you of their
wedding day
Then ask them to write a message on a bookmark
to explain why they picked each word. You'll
always need a dictionary in your home, and you'll
cherish this one forever.
When you can't decide on a traditional
or wacky cake theme...have both!
Photo Credit:
http://www.tierbytier.co.uk/double-take-cakes/4
590315324
Incorporate the lyrics of your first
dance song on your cake
Photo Credit: Millimeter Photography/Courtesy of Tantawan Bloom
Not keen on cake? Have a tower of
doughnuts instead
Photo Credit:Shannon Elizabeth Photography
After The Big Day...
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Scent is one of the most powerful memory triggers.
Choose new fragrances just for your wedding day, and
when you wear that perfume or cologne afterwards, you'll
immediately be transported back
Photo Credit: Pickerell Creative
Give guests hangover helper kits
filled with pain killers, energy drink and coupons for a McDonald's
breakfast. Photo Credit:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/97413732/hangover-helper-kits
Give each of your bridesmaids a cool handbag with
a sewn-in message inside. After the wedding, they'll
think of you every time they use it
Photo Credit: MlleBagatelles/Etsy
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Guests pick out such beautiful cards and write such
sweet messages inside — you won't want to throw them
out! But instead of shoving them in a drawer, never to
be seen again, turn them into a beautiful keepsake by creating a mini album
Photo Credit: Something Turquoise
http://www.bridalguide.com/blogs/the-budget-guru/diy-wedding-cardalbum
100
Write each other love letters on the day of your wedding
and seal them closed in a box with a bottle of wine.
Open the box on an anniversary
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Write a series of notes to be
tucked into envelopes along
with prints of your favourite
wedding photos, to be
opened at particular times
Photo Credit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/103984979/custom-wedding-wine-boxmemory-box-time
For example, on an anniversary, after your first fight, or
when your first child is born. It's a wonderful way to
memorialise how you're feeling at a time when you can't
imagine being more in love with someone.
Photo Credit: Simply Kierste Blog
I hope you’ve enjoyed this e-book! For even more ideas, read my blog at
www.lornalovecraft/blog or join the Alternative Brides Up North group
on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/altbridesupnorth/