Unusual Weddings, Unique Settings

Lots of people get married in chapels and churches, gardens and parks, beaches, hotels and country clubs.

But what if what you want is something more memorable? A bit (or a lot) unusual?

Here are some ideas for you, based on things that other people have done:

In England, “mystery tours” have long been a cultural phenomenon. A group of planners there help couples plan mystery weddings. People are told a place and time to meet; they are then taken by bus to another location for the wedding ceremony. Afterward, they are loaded on the bus again and whisked away to the reception located. After the fun and even ending fireworks, they are returned to the original location.

People often incorporate their hobbies into their weddings. Scuba divers have been married underwater. Amusement park enthusiasts have been wed on roller coasters. Movie lovers have even rented movie theatres for their nuptials. Skydivers have been married in mid-air. Hikers can utilize National Forest shelters.

Those people lucky enough to love their jobs sometimes marry at their place of business. 7-Eleven employees, people who work at grocery stores, medical personnel..they all have got married “on the job.” Think how much the person who works in a garden shop could save on flowers!

Celebrities are well known for inviting friends to a “party” which turns out to be a wedding. This could be a great fun idea for non-celebrities, as well. For instance, have a masquerade party. Everyone comes in costume. The couple comes, of course, as a bride and groom. The officiant could come in full clerical regalia, if desired. Announce at the right time that a real wedding is about to take place. Have your ceremony, bring out the cake and champagne, and party on! Or, for real, informal fun, insert your wedding into the middle of a barbeque! (Of course, you would want to let immediate family and anyone else whose attendance you wanted to insure into the secret.)

Have your own “Rennaissance Festival,” with strolling minstrels, flower “sellers,” face painting, and whatever suits your fancy.

Other unique venues and ideas could include baseball fields or basketball courts, lighthouses, tops of tall buildings, or a myriad other places. Think of places that are significant to you, or activities you love, and incorporate them into your wedding to make something fun, unique, and completely your own.

Rhetta Akamatsu is a wedding planner, ordained wedding officiant, and independent travel agent in Marietta, GA. She owns Rose and Star Wedding Planning, and you are invited to visit www.roseandstar.com for more information as well as articles, tips, vows, freebies, and more.

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5 Comments

  1. Dawn P. Says:

    Oh, I just had another camo-style decorating idea! Check out ebay for naturally-shed mule or whitetail deer antlers … no deer harmed, you know, the kind found in the woods. They’re not too expensive … like right now I see a group of 13 nice antlers for $80 which is quite a lot of antlers.

    Then google image for deer antler centerpieces and you’ll find some amazing decorating ideas. People make beautiful candle holders, chandeliers, frames, centerpieces … you can fasten them in a ring and lay a glass panel on top for an amazing little table (like a cake stand or a pastry stand) … lots of ideas that could make your cake or head table POP!

  2. Dawn P. Says:

    Momma, some ideas for you — definitely check out flickr, you’ll find some camo weddings and touches on there!

    Here are just a few cute inspiration pics for you to start: a camo kilt (I love this!), a "shotgun wedding," a cake with camo bands around the layers and a personalized camo topper, and of course the obligatory camo garter … all these are from flickr.

    But the wedding you really have to see is this one, Misty’s Wedding. This couple totally had fun! The ceremony was pretty traditional, but after that, gloves off! The bride changed into some personalized camo during the reception. And the decor was great!

    Basically I think you can start most camo weddings with traditional, natural fall decor: autumn leaves, raffia, moss, natural fabrics like burlap. I’ve seen centerpieces and even bouquets bring in things like bare branches, turkey feathers, pussy willow branches.

    Misty’s wedding uses most of those things. They even managed to find camo overlays for their key tables (like the head table) which they tied at the corners with raffia bows and placed over palomino linens — it looks great. Check out the head table: camo overlay, taper candles tucked in beer bottles (ha ha!), and a really nice moss table runner with a few small rose arrangements tucked in. The cake is quite sweet with ivory hydrangeas, autumn leaves and raffia. Next to it, they’ve got camo plates and cocktail napkins and a fishing theme groom’s cake.

    Then there’s the more outrageous stuff: don’t miss the beer can towers and the beer can chandeliers! Or the eleven cans of cheez whiz and ritz crackers at the snack table … this wedding is great for ideas, no matter how crazy (or not) you want to get. Hope that gets you started! Look at some of the fall/autumn theme pages and that should also give you more ideas.

  3. momma8281 Says:

    ok my wedding is going to be in camo colors my dress is a cream color and the guys are wearing camo of course . we are geting married outside but i need help with creative or unique decorations for the wedding and reception. plas i am stuck….

  4. Anne Says:

    How about some little army men with parachutes and tying something to their body? Like candle of another small favor. I know if you shop around they come in different colors, too. Just spread out their little chutes and put them on the table holding their “air delivery!”

  5. mandi Says:

    we are looking to have a skydiving wedding with a normal reception to follow, but I am having the hardest time with favors…any ideas?

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