34 Unique Ideas + Alternatives to Make Your Wedding Different (2024)

Wondering how to make your wedding different? Try these unique wedding ideas and alternatives! They’ll steer you in the right direction to make your wedding different and memorable. Subscribe for more fun to your inbox, FREE!

You’ve been to weddings. You’ve seen weddings on tv. You don’t want the same old thing, right? If you are wondering how to make your wedding different and unique, you’ve come to the right place. We’re rounding up thirty of the fun, memorable details we’re seeing couples implementing into weddings to make them unique. These unforgettable and special details will set yours apart so it’s different and tells your unique story.

Let’s get started: you have a wedding to plan! :)

How do you make a wedding different? By choosing non-traditional alternatives to things you don’t want, like, or need. Just because everyone has served wedding cake for decades doesn’t mean you have to do the same thing. If everyone else is doing a garter toss, that doesn’t mean you have to do one. And if people are going simple on table numbers, what if you take it one step further and assign people to fun table names instead? These are just a few ways to make weddings different and we’ll tell you an easy way to put a twist on every little thing you can think of.

Keep in mind, you don’t need to implement all of these ideas. The best way to make your wedding memorable is to pick and choose the ideas that really resonate with you best and go with those. Otherwise, you’ll be adding so much more to your plate just to try to accomplish all of these twists and you’ll lose sight of what’s important: telling the story of you and your partner in a way that is memorable and one-of-a-kind.

1. Add a personalized touch to your cake.

Figurines are out! This year, couples are putting their personal touch on the cake itself with a simple yet impactful cake topper. These cake toppers are affordable yet add a unique look to your cake by personalizing it with your names in laser-engraved wood (cake toppers by InEditPrint).

Here are some ways to add your names to the cake instantly.

Or go with just your first names for a fun twist, too:

To make your wedding different, add a fun one-liner instead. One example we’re seeing is, “And so the adventure begins”.

2. Have a fiber wand exit.

Not able to do a sparkler exit? Want to make your wedding memorable with something different? Try fiber optic wands, the latest and greatest thing! Guests love these. By ExGlow. You can get them in bulk here.

3. Pick a different wedding venue.

One of the easiest ways to make your wedding different is by choosing a unique venue. Consider a museum, aquarium, library, or even zoo in your hometown. You’d be surprised how many places host weddings regularly… you just don’t hear about it very often! It requires more work but the result can be a truly unique wedding setting.

4. Tell your unique story on napkins.

These fun fact napkins are always a huge hit at weddings! It’s one way to tell your story with interesting facts of how you met, what you like to do for fun, and more. Get them at Rubi and Lib.

5. Add a personal touch to wedding table numbers.

Add a photo to your numbers, a great way to add a personalized twist! Include photos of people, places, things… pets! Love this by ZCreateDesign.

6. + 7. Carry a clutch purse instead of a bouquet.

No sneezing here! If a traditional bouquet isn’t your thing, swap it out for a stylish clutch purse you can carry in one hand instead. Skip the bouquet and splurge on that bag. You need one anyway, so it really makes sense! You can even choose one with a floral motif to make it a definitive bouquet alternative. By Eclu.

And also, consider doing the same for your bridesmaids! Give them cute clutches to carry instead of traditional flower bouquets. At least purses won’t wilt!

7. Make your reception glow with neon signage.

Light up the night and have a memorable keepsake from your wedding with a personalized neon sign. Not only do they add warmth and romantic lighting to your space, but they look awesome in photos, too! This fun “Til Death” sign is by CustomNeonSignCA.

8. Greet guests with a statement sign.

Make sure your guests know they’re in the right place AND add your personal touch to the festivities with a sign. These large welcome signs really add a nice decor piece to the entryway of your ceremony and/or reception and are easy to customize. This is by InEditPrint.

9. Do a photo dash at your reception.

Get candid photos with your guests at your wedding by planning a Photo Dash, where you run around with your partner to each table during dinner and snap photos with your guests. Add to the fun by livestreaming the photos on a screen at the reception so guests can see the images in real time and download them (so they have a photo with you to take home!) For more on how to make this happen, read: How to Get Photos with Everyone at Your Wedding in 3 Minutes.

10. Play non-traditional ceremony music.

Put a spin on the traditional tunes and play alternative music at your ceremony vs. the classics. You can even hire a guitarist to play an acoustic song as you walk down the aisle to add make your wedding more memorable.

11. Offer a shuttle to your wedding guests.

Add a bit of luxury to your guests’ experience by renting a shuttle to pick up guests and transport them back to the hotel after the celebration. It makes the wedding more relaxing and gives your guests VIP treatment without worrying about parking, driving, and navigating around town. Plus, it often means guests stay and dance longer… and added bonus!

12. Do a lavender toss after the ceremony.

Encourage something other than rice or messy bubbles outdoors and do a lavender toss instead! It is a fragrant alternative your guests will remember. By Mavora.

13. Give welcome bags to guests at the hotel.

Make your wedding different by offering little gifts at the hotel when your guests arrive. These niceties are a great way to welcome guests to a wedding weekend and can be pre-made and waiting at the lobby for the concierge to hand them as they check-in. For tips on making yours perfect, read 10 Things Your Wedding Welcome Bags Need.

14. Offer an alternative to wedding cake.

Not a cake person? No problem: guests just want something to satisfy their sweet tooth anyway! Offer a twist, like donuts or cookies, cupcakes, macarons, or even cookie shot glasses filled with milk. Yep, it’s all entirely possible!

Donuts? Offer them on a wall! Love this via Z Create Design.

15. Dress your flower girl or ring bearer as your Something Blue.

Instead of something blue on you, have your flower girl wear a light blue dress or have the ring bearer don a blue suit. This dress is handmade by CutiedressDesign as one example.

16. + 17. Forego a traditional guest book.

A typical guest book is nice, but what about decor you can use again at home? For instance, a large acrylic monogram becomes a keepsake when guests add their monikers to it! You can get this sign by ZCreateDesign.

If you’re into vinyl records, consider this fun twist: a record guest book! Guests sign on a real vinyl record and you have an incredible work of art. By WhimsicalWhiteFox.

18. Write your own vows and put them on acrylic.

Fun, quirky, and memorable is the name of the game with wedding vows. If you want to add a spin to the nuptials, prepare your own vows to recite, and don’t be afraid to have a little fun with them to make them very personalized. Instead of writing them on a sheet of paper or in a book, put them on acrylic for a modern twist. (See this in a Real Wedding here!)

19. + 20. Carry a different ring pillow.

This ring pouch will come in handy for travel! It’s a fun and personalized memento you’ll enjoy after the wedding. By CreateGiftLove.

Another idea: a ring box. This one is filled with moss and is perfect for a garden wedding. By MUUJEE.

21. Add a memorable touch to your wedding with an In Loving Memory Of sign.

Honor those who cannot be with you at the wedding with this sign, placed at the ceremony and the reception. Get it here.

22. Add a signature co*cktail.

Give guests a fun twist at the bar and make your wedding memorable! In addition to the traditional beverages, offer a signature co*cktail you and your partner enjoy. Put it on a sign, like this, so guests can order it by name. Sign by ZCreateDesign.

23. Crowdsource your wedding photos.

In addition to your professional photographer, invite your guests to get in on the fun and snap as many photos as they can. As a result, you’ll get candid photos of things you may have missed, or guest photos that would otherwise be stuck on a digital device. Your guests can easily access and download the photos, which adds to the fun! Get it here.

24. Opt for plants instead of flowers.

If you’re more of a plant person, opt for potted plants as centerpiece decor instead of flowers. As a bonus, you can offer the plants as take-home gifts to a few guests. Add a small table number to tie the look together (via ZCreateDesign).

25. Add escort cards to champagne toasts.

Greet guests with a champagne wall as they enter the co*cktail hour and help them find their seats with an attached name tag. Cute idea by ZCreateDesign.

26. Make your wedding toss different.

Not tossing a garter? Many couples aren’t! Instead, they’re opting to skip it altogether or do this unique wedding alternative: toss a football instead!

27. Offer a wedding newspaper instead of a program.

Distribute the wedding news on the big day instead of a traditional ceremony program. It’s an easy way to make your wedding unique! By SLCreativeDesigns.

28. Include song requests in your wedding RSVPs.

Take one thing off of your plate and let guests help craft the perfect wedding reception playlist. Invite your guests to submit a song request that will get them out on the dance floor and add these song picks to your playlist for the DJ. It guarantees guests will get out and dance and makes the playlist more personalized. You can get these cards by YoungAtHeartParties.

29. Include your pet in the celebration.

Your furry friend can’t be with you in person, but you can add them to the details — like these adorable cups by Rubi and Lib! They’ll make your wedding bar different + unique.

30. Carry book page bouquets instead.

If you’re an avid reader, you’ll appreciate this unique handmade twist! It is a bouquet made entirely of recylced book pages and colorful paper. By StarkeyandCo.

31. Plan a unique wedding menu.

If an elegant sit-down dinner isn’t your thing, think outside the box: offer burgers and wings, a lobster bake, or plan a BBQ instead so guests can roll up their sleeves and enjoy themselves. Guests expect a good meal, so make sure it’s something unforgettable. Guests always remember the food!

32. Pop up some fun for a late-night snack.

Keep guests moving and grooving with a late-night snack. Pizza is a popular choice, and we’re also hearing of ice cream or food trucks near the end of the evening! We’re also loving snacks, like popping up some popcorn! These bags are available at Mavora.

33. Plan a wedding reception that offers different entertainment.

Give your guests a wedding alternative that is different than dancing: lawn games! Read: Best Wedding Lawn Games of All Time (PHOTOS). You can also offer these non-dancing activities for guests to enjoy.

34. Skip the favors and dontate the money.

And last but not least, make your wedding favors memorable by donating to a charity of your choice instead. Who needs another trinket? You can give guests these donation cards in lieu of favors that explains it all for you. By Kelligraphy Co.

And that’s not all! There are plenty of other ways to make your wedding different. Just think outside the box, add your personalized touch, and go with it. It’s your wedding day and you should make it as unique as possible. I hope these ideas helped you answer how to make your wedding different! :)

What would YOU add to the list? Tell me in the comment box below!