{Calgary wedding photographers} unique weddings

10 ideas to make your wedding unique

Some of my very favourite wedding ideas I’ve seen over the years are usually small touches that a couple has implemented into their big day. I’ve photographed about 100 weddings over the last several years and I have the amazing opportunity to see some pretty cool things. I wish I was a bride AFTER I became a wedding photographer instead of before. I’m always inspired and awed by some of the ideas people come up with.

I wanted to share a few of these ideas with you. They don’t often end up on Pinterest, or if they do, they get lost in a sea cheesy goodness mixed in with crafts that you will never do.  Enjoy 10 ideas to make your wedding unique.

1. An alternative to signing a framed photo? Purchase (or if you are the handy type, make one) a coffee table. Leave it at the guest signing area and have your friends and family sign it with words of advice.

2. Food trucks. Food trucks are all sorts of awesome. I saw the coolest one at Bridal Fantasy in Calgary this year. It’s called the Sugar Cube. I’ve also had couples have hot dog stands outside of their dances for guests to grab a snack.

3. Caesar bars. For couples that love a good caesar, offer a smorgasbord of mixes, toppings and all sorts of savoury goodness for this Canadian cocktail.

4. Any type of unique appy. I ran into this amazing nibbly at a corporate event I photographed this year. It was salmon and cream cheese served up in a bed of grass. Both tasty to look at and to eat.

5. For the ceremony, have a special friend or family member do the service and have the marriage commissioner step in to do the legal bits. This is a wonderful way to have that amazing figure in your life play a big role in your wedding.

6. Live bands. If you can, find a live band to play.I always love that they provide both entertainment for your ears and for your sight. Great bands are entertaining just to watch!

7. Incorporate your careers or hobbies into your wedding day. I loved Lindsay and Erik’s wedding where they had a vintage fire truck take them around for photos. Erik is a Calgary firefighter, so this was the perfect touch.

8. Find items and trinkets that mean something to you for the tables. At Chris and Amanda’s wedding, they had deer antlers collected from pastures to incorporate into their floral centrepieces. Julianne Young Weddings did an amazing job at making this vision come to life. Find things that are all about you for the tables and for guests to enjoy.

9. Have a potluck dessert. Guests can bring their favourite sweet treat and supply you with the recipe. You can then make this available to all your guests either by printing several out before the wedding and having them in front of the dish for people to take, or upload them to your wedding website or email them out.

10. For wedding favours, make a CD of both of your favourite songs. This is great way to share a gift that says something about you.

I love all sorts of cool ideas at weddings and I love to photograph them. If you are still looking for your wedding photographer, I’d love to hear more about your plans.