Weddings are getting more and more personalized these days, as fun couples, like Alexa & Sam demonstrated for their Midwest September wedding.  As they demonstrated, there are wedding traditions worth breaking. By thinking outside the box and including things that are most meaningful to them,  rather than following the traditional rules, they created a unique beautiful day that was a reflection of them.  Some wedding traditions are worth breaking, as they so beautifully demonstrated!

Non-Traditional Wedding Venue

From the very beginning, this couple’s story was unique. They met while hiking the Appalachian Trail. They walked & talked and ended up finishing the journey together over the next few months. Their journey took them through quite a few hostels, so when it came time to find a wedding a venue it was only fitting to get married at the Indy Hostel.  The backyard tent was adorned with Edison lights & a handmade paper crane backdrop.

Mismatched Bridal Party

Look at this gorgeous fall colored palette! The bridal party had free reign to choose attire that suited them best and showed their individual personalities. Together they created a mismatch of beautiful autumn colors & textures.

Personalized Attire

Sam’s unique beautiful tie was knitted, yes hand knitted, by his bride-to-be. How cool is that? Literally, Alexa was weaving bits & pieces of their personality into every detail of their wedding day.

Wedding day might feel like it goes by in the blink of an eye, but in reality, it’s hours upon hours of standing on your feet. If you’re not into the idea of being in agony by the end of the night, you might want to pick sneakers instead of stilettos to complete your bridal look. And why stop there?  Alexa sported a custom pair of wedding Toms adorned with script detailing her newest title as Mrs.! This might be one of my ultimate favorite trends!

Ring Warming Ceremony

Rather than the traditional ring bearer, the couple incorporated a ring warming into their wedding as a special way to involve all of their guests in your ceremony. The ring warming allowed loved ones the opportunity to hold and imbue their wedding bands with a wish, blessing or prayer for their marriage. By the time their rings made it on to their fingers they were saturated with the love of friends and family.

Fur Babies – Yes Please!

Let me preface by saying if you plan on having a family pet in your wedding, I’m your biggest cheerleader. So, as the couple & I were reviewing the wedding processional, I noticed a flower girl named Moose. Moose, as I learned, was the couple’s adorable pouch. This flower girl was on her best behavior while sporting her leash corsage – and stealing the show!

When planning your special day, remember it’s your day. There are no rules – some wedding traditions are worth breaking to customize your day to reflect your personality.

Vendors who made this day happen:

Photo: Rainstorm Photo
Coordinator: Lisa VanHorton Weddings
Venue: Indy Hostel
Florals: Harvest Moon Florals
Beauty: Salon 1|4
DJ: DJ Futon John
Photo Booth: Luna Photo Booth
Rentals: Party Time Rentals
Cake: Classic Cake
Catering: The Eagle