Barn Weddings and Other Strange Trips Down the Aisle
Trendy weddings are all the rage, with every couple wanting theirs to be the most unique. We're looking at the top 5 that take the cake!
With the wedding-obsessed website Pinterest and bride blogs wreaking wedding havoc online, brides today are getting some spectacular ideas that they may not have ever heard of 20 years ago. While every bride and groom wants to make their weddings an experience their guests will never forget, just how far will they go?
Some couples have flung themselves off of bridges, out of airplanes, had bizarre island resort and alternative weddings, all with the goal of being shocking and unique with their nuptials. While some say that using a wedding to showcase how unique you are as a couple is tricky, others embrace the change, as the guest experience seems to have been bumped up quite a few notches in importance in the last couple of years.
Unique wedding ideas for the eccentric couples
Want to know some of the unique ways some couples want to celebrate their wedding day? Here are 5 of them in no particular order.
#1 Barn weddings.
How to pull it off: Many venues are catering more and more to the needs of the rustic bride. Many wedding companies now go out of their way to refinish a barn, in order to make the big bucks renting it out. Going the route of the barn wedding means you'll likely want to put your fancy tablecloths aside, and opt for vintage doilies and lace.
Instead of regular pillar candles, opt for mason jars filled with tea light candles. Use greenery as a part of your décor and embrace the rustic charm of the outdoorsy wedding, by having your guests wear cowboy boots.
Why your guests will love it: The relaxed, fun atmosphere allows your guests to get a little wild in style. The rustic charm of a barn also allows for unforgettable food, such as a picnic buffet that serves burgers and fries, a host of salads, corn on the cob, hotdogs, and potato salad, and you're in for a feast your guests will never forget. Throwing a barn ceremony and/or reception will be the least stuffy experience your guests will likely have at a wedding, ever.
#2 Wine cellar weddings.
How to pull it off: Head to your local winery and ask if they host weddings or receptions in their basement. This is the perfect venue for a small wedding of 50 and under. Imagine the romance of getting married in a wine cellar, complete with walls of old rustic barrels and the aroma of wood. This is the classier route of a barn wedding.
Why your guests will love it: Not only are wine cellar weddings chic, rustic, and classy as hell, they also boast some of the best free flowing wine you'll ever receive. The catering is hands-on and personable, since your party is likely to be small. This intimate gathering is unique and classy, all wrapped up in one big bow.
#3 Underwater weddings.
How to pull it off: That's right, some couples have totally gone there and said their vows through a wetsuit, amidst blue waters and a rainbow of tropical fish. What's more, some have even jumped into a shark tank while exchanging their promises of forever!
The couple suits up to go under water with their minister, while their friends and family watch from monitors above. This is the perfect way to get married on location in a warm, tropical island. In fact, this ceremony has become so popular that some hotels offer honeymoon and underwater ceremonies in the same package together!
Why your guests will love it: While not many guests opt to go under water with the newlyweds, it certainly makes for an unforgettable experience. And hey, who's going to bat their eyes at a wedding where you can wear a bikini to the reception?
Pro tip: Another great, yet nerve-wracking version of this ceremony is to get married in a shark tank, amidst some great whites! Just don't be offended if your wedding party doesn't suit up and come down there with you.
#4 Themed weddings.
How to pull it off: Themed weddings are hilarious and altogether representational of the couple in question, because they can shape their theme to their needs. Some examples of themed weddings are: all of the men in the wedding party wearing superhero shirts underneath their button ups, and “unsuiting” at the reception. Other great ideas are vintage 1950s or 1920s weddings, Great Gatsby themes, Star Wars, zombies, Game of Thrones or steampunk-themed weddings.
Why your guests will love it: Your guests will love being a part of something that's familiar. Doing a theme also means that they get to join in on the fun, dressing the part for your awesome exchange of vows.
#5 Carnival weddings
How to pull it off: As long as it's public property, you can get married anywhere you like. Simply have your minister come and perform the ceremony, and then get to the playing. Not only will you have an awesome post-wedding experience, but you'll probably be the talk of the carnival, and have plenty of strangers win lovely carnival prizes for you to help you celebrate your big day.
Why your guests will love it: Rides, candy, funnel cakes, carnie games, awesome food, AND getting to watch their good friends tie the knot? There isn't anything your guests won't love about this wedding idea. Just make sure you treat them to a proper dinner at the reception, and see that nobody starts drinking before they get on the rides!
Other great ideas that didn't make the cut are library, forest, Grand Canyon, cave, treehouse and mountaintop weddings. And just remember, your wedding doesn't have to be out of the box to be wonderful. No matter what your choice of venue, as long as your wedding is representational of who you are as a couple, then you're going to have a wonderful wedding!
