One of my favorite things to do is watch “wedding shows” on TLC. Say Yes To The Dress and Four Weddings are at the top of my list and I can’t help but stop and watch every time I see them on the TV guide. I attend weddings six months out the year and spend hours upon hours editing wedding pictures and I STILL have the need to soak more in. I love weddings. 🙂

On a recent episode of Four Weddings, where four brides compete for a dream honeymoon, one bride found it inappropriate when another bride decided to wear tennis shoes on her wedding day. Even though the tennis shoes were sparkly and very fitting for the bride’s personality, the other bride felt as though she should be in something more typical, like heels or some kind of formal wear.

But you know what I have to say to that!? Pish posh! If that bride wants to be different and do something that is unique to her on her wedding day, LET HER DO IT! She CAN wear tennis shoes on her wedding day! 

As a person and a creative who loves “different” and “unique”, I’m encouraging couples to not be afraid to be different on your wedding day. When Brian and I got married almost nine years ago, “barn weddings” weren’t a thing yet, and even though some people questioned whether or not there would be hay and animals in our barn, we decided to be different and go with what fit us. (We also had cupcakes instead of a cake before that was a thing, too!) Our wedding day was beautiful and we loved how it all turned out…and so did our guests!

If you want to wear tennis shoes on your wedding day because you’re a bit of a tomboy or because you want to be extra comfortable, then do it! If you want to elope because the idea of 200 people staring at you while you say your vows makes you nervous, then do it! If you want to wear a blue dress, get married in the middle of nowhere and invite your guests to camp out for the night, then do it! (Click that link to see one of the most DIFFERENT weddings I’ve ever had the adventure and thrill of photographing! 🙂 ) Whatever it is, explore that idea, your personalities and what would make you most comfortable, no matter how different it all might be. You don’t need to fit into a wedding mold. And you certainly don’t need to wear fancy heels on your wedding day.

Here’s some more couples being different on their wedding day…and they turned out just fine. 🙂

 

An elopement in the forest for just the bride and groom. 

A small family wedding in the mountains that happens on a Friday afternoon. 

Bridesmaids wearing t-shirts and holding flowers made of paper.

A wedding at a getaway mountain lodge with seven guests and no big time constraints. 

A barefoot bride running through the grass of her childhood home.

A wedding in a pavilion with a bluegrass band playing music and the crisp colors of fall surrounding.

 A wedding in the middle of the forest where guests wear jeans and rain boots, and set up camp for the evening. (And yes, they used “Johnny Houses”, too!)

A table of various pies for the reception dessert.

A bride and groom wearing their hiking sandals and exchanging vows with 15 of their closest family and friends (and dog!) while standing on top of a mountain with a breathtaking view of the world around them. 

 

Don’t be afraid to be different, friends. 🙂

Day 27 of Starting Something New.