Weddings are packed full of traditions, many of which have become cherished among couples planning their nuptials. However, here at Calluna we believe that every couple should have the wedding of their dreams, whether that be the ultimate traditional wedding, or an alternative soiree. While etiquette and traditions are important, we love when we see our couples bend the rules to fit their flavor and style.
Enjoy! xx, Calluna
The Dress: Many brides still rock a fabulous white wedding dress on their big day, but don’t be afraid to do something different if this isn’t your desired look. Not ready to take the full colored wedding dress plunge? Add a pop of color to your dress by adding a sash or fabulous coat. We fell in love with Page’s blush gown and Emma’s gorgeous dress.
Photo Credit: Kate Holstein (top) || James Christianson (bottom)
The Bill: If we’re chatting with Emily Post (the queen of everything etiquette), tradition delegates the responsibility of the wedding to the Bride’s parents and Rehearsal Dinner to the Groom’s. If your parents or future in laws are so gracious to sign the bill, that is wonderful! As with all things, as we progress we see versatility when it comes to managing the budget. Maybe you and your future hubby have a budget set and want to split it evenly. Maybe you set up a honeymoon fund instead of a registry. Maybe both sets of parents split equally. Whatever the way, we recommend setting expectations up front to avoid any tricky and tense conversations.
Photo Credit:Jenna Walker Photography
The Bridesmaids: Gone are the days where everything has to be perfectly matched. Though we love the look of the traditional matching maids, we are seeing some amazing bridesmaids trends that we simply adore. Some brides choose completely different dresses for each bridesmaid that accentuates the style and individuality of each bridesmaid. Not ready to give your girls completely different styles? Try choosing a color scheme but alternate the style of dress!
Photo Credit: Jessica Christie Photography (top) || Rachel Havel Photography (bottom)
The First Look: Traditionally, Brides aren’t supposed to see their future hubby until the moment they walk down the aisle. This one is a total personal choice for the couple, some brides like to see the surprise on their grooms face as they walk down the aisle, but other brides want to see their groom before and share special moments before your ceremony. If your style is the latter, than first look photos can definitely have their perks!
Photo Credit: James Christianson (top) || Manzanita (bottom)
The Walk: Many brides choose to have their fathers walk them down the aisle on their big day. However, this is another tradition that we’ve seen open to interpretation. Whether you want both your parents to walk you down, a step parent, siblings, a loved one, or maybe you want to walk down solo… don’t be afraid to do it your way. Each bride has different family dynamics, and we think its great to embrace that!
Photo Credit: Tess Pace Photography (top) || Rachel Havel (bottom)
The Bouquet Toss: Some couples love the traditional bouquet toss but others would rather mix up the tradition with other alternatives. If you don’t want to single out the singles at your wedding, try highlighting the couples that have been married the longest! We have seen anniversary dances that leave the longest married couple dancing till they are the last ones standing!
Photo Credit: Laura Murray Photography (top) || Tess Pace Photography (bottom)
The Cake: In the dessert department, some couples go for the traditional wedding cake that feeds all of the guests. While this is definitely an option, we love seeing the ways that some couples are coming up with alternatives. Some couples choose to get a small cake for cutting and feed the guests a variety of other fun sweet treats!
Photo Credit: Tess Pace Photography (top) || Dawn Sparks (middle) || James Christianson (bottom)
Featured Image:: Laura Murray Photography
