Throw the creative, nontraditional wedding of your dreams.
A “nontraditional wedding” means something different to different people, but mostly it means having the wedding that you want to have — not the wedding that you feel obligated to have.
Whether you want your wedding to be just a little bit different or so nontraditional it doesn’t feel like a wedding, this book will give you ideas and tips to get your creativity flowing. Through a discussion of wedding traditions and common variations on those traditions, this book will help each couple decide for themselves which traditions they care about and which to throw out. It also gives creative ideas to inspire you to think about how to incorporate your personality and interests into your wedding.
With an eye on budget, Something Old, Something New will give you valuable information, tips, ideas and suggestions about:
Setting a wedding budget — and sticking to itThe pros and cons of destination weddings, and tips for success if you have oneUnique ideas for your wedding registryIdeas for personalizing your invitationsDetailed tips for involving each of the five senses in your wedding ceremony and receptionThe pros and cons of holding an outdoor wedding, and how to deal with unpredictable weatherHow to incorporate wedding traditions from more than one culture, and tips for talking with your families about not having a fully traditional eventHow to make your wedding more eco-friendlyTips for choosing a wedding mealHow to deal with guests’ food preferences and allergies, including who to accommodate and who not toTips for choosing the right flowers for your eventIdeas for personalizing your reception for exactly the wedding you’ve always wantedThings to keep in mind when choosing a signature cocktail or cocktail menu (it’s not as easy as it seems!), plus three crowd-pleasing recipes that are perfect for weddingsTips for making your out-of-town guests feel at homeInformation on who you’ll want to get gifts for, and ideas for choosing gifts your wedding party will love (without driving yourself crazy)Information on some of the pre-wedding events many couples choose to holdTips for bachelorette (or bachelor) party planning to pass on to your maid of honorIdeas for creative wedding favors that won’t end up in the trashTips for choosing a honeymoon destination and activities, even if you and your partner have very different tastes36 ideas for unique locations for shooting your wedding portraits — and why you might prefer to wait until after the actual weddingAnd nine photos and first-person accounts by couples or wedding vendors of real nontraditional weddings that perfectly fit the couples involved — from getting married in a tattoo parlor, to exchanging vows on an underwater shipwreck, to eloping on a sailboat, to hosting a cooking class during the wedding reception, and more.The chapters in this book were originally published as articles in Austin WeddingDay, Long Island Bride and Groom, San Antonio Weddings, and Nebraska WeddingDay magazines. They have been revised, re-edited and updated for this book, and the real weddings stories are published here for the first time.
Nontraditional doesn’t mean breaking from all wedding traditions. It doesn’t mean being different simply for the sake of being different. It means having a wedding your way, and doing what is meaningful to you. This book aims to help you figure out how to do just that.
About the author
Leila Kalmbach has published 128 wedding-related articles in print magazines around the United States, and a total of over 400 articles for magazines and businesses around the world, primarily in the area of health and wellness. She lives in Austin, Texas, and is a graduate of Reed Coll
