We all know that it's traditional to light a unity candle at the wedding but have you ever thought of encouraging a different tradition? Start a wedding tradition among your friends and family by opting to create a mixed sand arrangement instead.

My family recently gathered in Fort Wayne, Indiana for my cousin's wedding. Though I was absent, this story made it all the way down to me and surprisingly fast. Instead of lighting a unity candle, Jason and Dana instead poured sand into a tall glass vase. Since her wedding colors were turquoise and white, they chose two shades of blue and poured the sand in at the same time. The result was beautiful.

A unity candle flickers like an eternal flame representing the love of the bride and groom. Something like a sand candle (wicks can be inserted) or sand arrangement is a unique symbol of unity stronger than most others. The crystal of sand, like tiny pieces of their hearts and lives, come together and form something beautiful and respectful. Each crystal of sand resides beside a crystal of sand that represents their new husband or wife. Lives converge. Feelings, thoughts, emotions, and daily life all become one precious thing now. Such is the representation in a sand filled vase.

If you're looking to truly personalize your wedding, try something unique like this as an alternative to lighting the unity candle. When you view the sand in the vase every day in your home it will be a constant reminder of the precious, wonderful things you cherish together.

Personalized weddings are the way to go it seems, at least that was the case for my cousin and his new bride. Jason and Dana's wedding in Fort Wayne Indiana was everything that I would expect from them and more. They chose a lot of unique twists on older wedding traditions and it came together beautifully in the biggest family event in over a decade.

Jason and Dana decided to have their wedding officiant turn his back to the wedding guests and face only the bride and groom. This way, everyone in the church was looking at them–their special day. I'd never seen it before and was very surprised when I heard that it had been done this way. Kudos to Jason and Dana though because this was just the first thing they did to personalize their wedding.

I wonder at which point during the wedding planning that my cousins decided to shake things up a bit. Knowing Jason, that much wasn't surprising. Knowing the kind of woman it would take to make the other half of a happy couple, it wasn't that surprising of Dana. Still, I was taken aback by it in the best of ways.

Personalized weddings are huge now and this is just one way that modern brides can put a unique spin on their weddings, truly turning the wedding into a day all about the couple.

When you're planning your wedding, consider asking your wedding officiant to face you instead with his back to the guests. It's a bit out of the ordinary but that's precisely what makes it so cool.

Common Interest Creates A Wedding Theme

I know a great couple who both absolutely love Mickey Mouse. He was an illustrator and she was a school teacher. They both were very young at heart, so when it came time to decorate for their wedding, they couldn’t resist including their favorite character in the decorations.

Their arch was decorated with flowers and in the center, the flowers were in the shape of Mickey Mouse. They had theme stickers subtly hidden on candelabras, in flower arrangements and other decorations. Their bridesmaids and groomsmen had Mickey Mouse stickers included in their bouquets and boutonnieres.  Mickey was every where. It worked for this couple’s wedding. I think it’s an idea that would work for others, who share a love of the same hobby, sports team, etc.

Making Your Common Interest Theme Work For Your Wedding

Let’s say you and your hubby-to-be are St. Louis Cardinal fans. You could incorporate a small red cardinal bird (that you can find at craft stores) in flower arrangements, pew bows, arches, on candelabras, on the flower girl’s basket—anywhere! It can be done in a very tasteful way. Being subtle is the key.

If you wanted to have some fun with it, you could tell your guests (maybe through the wedding program) how many birds representing your love of the Cardinals are in the decorations. See who can find the most. At the wedding reception, you could poll everyone to see who found the most and give a nice gift to that guest. No matter what the common interest, you can use it to reflect your unique style through your wedding decorations.

I have a lot of family near Chicago, Illinois. It's always fun to visit them because they know how to throw a rock solid party. The last time I visited was actually for a wedding of a distant cousin. Her wedding, much to my surprise, was held outdoors in a tent. Little did I know that tent rentals are kind of the thing for Chi-town!

Now I grant you that she lives in a suburb of Chicago so it was much easier to imagine a wedding held under a tent. The air was breezy and beautiful which is common in Chicago during the summer and spring. We stood out under this tent that she had rented and had a fabulous time! We danced during the reception and enjoyed some of the finest food I'd ever eaten. Her entire wedding was like a huge party only held under a tent!

She knows how involved I am with Wedding and Party Network so it seemed only natural that our conversation turned to where she got her wedding rentals (the chairs, tables, and chair covers were rented also). I was amazed by how beautiful her wedding was. When asked what her secret was, she listed off the name of a local Chicago wedding rental store. She then said that the clerks at that store, on top of hours and hours of planning, helped tremendously with her wedding planning.

"I'd never considered wedding rentals," she told me. "I'd always thought that you just bought everything but we found out that renting is much more economical and worked perfectly for us. We rented the chairs, their covers, all of the dinnerware and stuff on the table, and even the tables! As far as wedding rentals go, it may not have been the first thing on my mind but it'll be what I recommend for my friends. So when is your wedding again?"

After the laughter subsided, I knew she was right. Wedding rentals in Chicago, especially tent rentals, are GOLD. Renting is the way to go and comes highly recommended by other Chicago area brides.

I know destination weddings are a big trend these days, but with the economy in the shape it’s in, it may not be affordable to have your wedding in a tropical location. So, I was thinking: why not stay at home and create your own destination wedding? With enough creativity and helpful wedding vendors, you could “design” your own tropical wedding without actually going there.

Whether it’s Hawaii, Jamaica, or the Bahamas, you could create the feel of a tropical paradise for your wedding day. For a more casual fell wear the same strapless wedding gown you would wear on the beach and let your groom wear an easy, open collar shirt and lightweight slacks. Even go barefoot for a beach-y feel.

Your wedding decorations could be large tropical plants and flower arrangements with birds of paradise, orchids, any flower you would find in a tropical locale. If a Hawaiian wedding is your dream, you could wear leis instead of carrying bouquets and wearing boutonnieres. Instead of traditional candelabras, use candles covered by glass lanterns or hurricane lamps. I think you could really come up with some great ways to decorate for your wedding using this idea, and save a lot of money, too.

Carry the tropical destination wedding theme over into your wedding reception.  Have your caterer serving tropical fruit platters, pulled pork, Hawaiian Chicken with rice, and pina coladas. Who says you have to spend a small fortune to get married on an island when you can create your own paradise right at home?

A special thanks goes to:

Blue Pagoda & Evolution Orchids LLC, an Englewood FL wedding bouquet florist, for their lovely Cymbidium orchid bouquet picture.

Ann's Bridal & Etcetera, a wedding caterer from Searcy AR, for their scrumptious looking fruit platter photo.

You might not think "rustic" and "wedding reception" go together, but getting back to nature is especially trendy—and beautiful—when it comes to wedding reception decorations and venues. Whether you live in Boston, Seattle or Dallas, having your wedding reception outdoors in a rustic barn, pavilion or just a spacious backyard can be an especially festive setting.

Functional Outdoor Wedding Reception Decorations

Bring out the galvanized steel tubs to use for everything from iced-down beverages to party favors. Tin buckets and planters look revived as centerpiece containers with fresh cut flowers from the garden. Checkered and vintage tablecloths and napkins set a beautiful table and lend an air of casual elegance to the reception. Old, weathered pieces of wood can be used as signage to direct guests, while outdoor string lights and mismatched candleholders light their way. Decorating can be as simple as draping sheer white fabric along the walls and ceiling and accenting with dried grapevine for a lovely, rustic touch.

Rustic Reception Food With Elegance
Just because your reception may be outdoors doesn’t mean you have to fire up the grill and serve burgers and hot dogs. Beef tenderloin, in-season roasted garden vegetables and a spring mix salad with nuts, fresh fruit and a fresh herb vinaigrette served on mismatched china only reinforces the feel of casual elegance. You can also serve locally made wine with the meal. Use your imagination to transform any rustic outdoor setting into an elegant reception venue that you’ll always remember.

It's about that time to throw a bachelorette party. All of your girls are lining up dates and times so that you can enjoy a fun night together. This is one of the most fun occasions before the wedding. It is also one of the most memorable.

A really good way to celebrate the chicas in your life is to give them gifts at the bachelorette party. If you want that night to be all about you, consider throwing a bridesmaids party. Not only does this say "thank you" for all the times that they've stuck by you, it gives you a chance to remind them that you'll always be there for them also.

Need some gift ideas for the ladies in your life? Consider the type of woman that she is. This will help tremendously when purchasing bridesmaids gifts. Here are some examples:

The Night Owl: Rarely in bed early, loves going out, seems to watch a lot of infomercials.

Something flashy is probably a safe bet for this woman. A set of colorful cosmetics makes the clubbing makeup more fun. This may be your bridesmaid who is very sedate but likes staying up late at night. If this is the case, try something fun like her favorite movie that no one will watch with her. This time, opt in for the popcorn and film noir.

The Working Mom: Bounces between children and career, the ultimate soccer mom.

A bath set of to calm and relax this busy lady will be appreciated more than words can express. There isn't much left for self after a long day of juggling children, work and husband. Give this mom a reason to put the kids in bed early by giving her a bath kit complete with luxurious bath oils, a loofah, balt salts and perhaps a CD of calming music.

The Girly Girl: Loves shopping, beauty, and is often particular about appearance.

This is the girl for whom manicures and pedicures were invented. Why stray from the tried and true? A girls-day-out at the beauty salon would do this woman's heart good. Join her for a fun getaway after the married life begins. Also consider jewelry or a cute purse that she can carry during the wedding. If your favorite ladies are carrying bridesmaids purses instead of bouquets, give hers some extra attention. This is especially beneficial if she's the maid or matron of honor.

The Contemporary: She would make the perfect city girl, if she isn't already.

The contemporary bridesmaid is familiar with modern styles of decor, fashion, art, cooking and similar things. Technology serves this woman well. She probably has a pda and other gadgets so go one step further with a new mp3 player, digital camera, or earrings that match the color of the ear buds that she rarely removes.

This is the woman that would also benefit from a home decor piece such as bookends, unique candles and candleholders. If this seems like a boring gift, try something like tickets to the theater or the opening of an art show. A very special treat is if you make plans to spend this evening with her.

The Intellectual: Spends time reading, seems to know a little bit about everything.

Go a little bit more in depth than books on tape for this bridesmaid. Gifts for the intellectual bridesmaid should reflect her love of learning and culture. Consider a bottle of wine and a set of barware accessories. If she's not a drinker consider a book with a compilation of photographs by a talented digital photographer such as Margaret Bourke-White. MP3 players and techy gizmos are also perfect for this woman.

Having guests sign a guest book upon arriving at your ceremony or reception is a traditional way of recording who attended your wedding. But even the best tradition deserves some updating. Consider these ideas for a fresh way to record who attends your wedding while making it part of your wedding decorations:

Purchase a picture frame mat and several good quality black ink pens. A 16’ x 20’ mat is a good size and will hold an 11’ x 14’ photograph. Consider using an engagement photo or any photo of the bride and groom. Display the matted photo on an easel with a sign directing guests to sign their names and include a brief note, if they wish. Using the picture mat as a wedding decoration that welcomes your guests and as a guest book is a great way to set the tone for your wedding.

Purchase or make 3’ x 5’ cards on white or colored cardstock. Lay stacks of cards out on a table, along with an empty container that coordinates with your wedding decorations—a basket, a crystal bowl, etc.—along with good quality black ink pens. Have your guest table attendant (or a simple sign) encourage guests to write a brief wish and sign their names to a piece of cardstock. When they finish, they drop the card in the empty container. You can decorate the table along the theme of your wedding for a cohesive wedding decoration. You can arrange these cards in your wedding album as special reminders of those who attended and their well wishes.

Every week I read several wedding blogs, look at several wedding pictures and discuss a multitude of wedding ideas with anyone willing to talk to me. This week I came upon two unique wedding decoration ideas. Both of these decorations involved wedding flowers.

I love flowers, especially unique wedding flowers that give you a glimpse into the personality of the bride. I think that is why these two approaches caught my interest. The first came from a discussion I had with Scott Darhower, a florist from Tampa Florida (he owns Apple Blossoms Floral Design). Scott and I were discussing creative container ideas for floral arrangements when he mentioned vintage glass containers.

Wedding Flowers Using Decor From Past Generations
Not long ago, he created some lovely flower arrangements for one of his brides. Scott really pays attention to the personalities of the brides he works with. This bride was particularly fond of the her grandmother's antique china. In fact, she uses it often when entertaining.

So when time came for Scott to design floral arrangements for her cocktail reception, he knew exactly what the bride needed. He and the bride canvassed second-hand stores and flea markets until they found a few vintage glass pieces.

Scott then created soft romantic flower arrangements using the vintage glass and an array of creamy white flowers. Later the bride displayed these vintage glass pieces in her china cabinet along side her grandmothers antique china. What a fabulous idea! Using vintage or sentimental containers as part of your wedding flower decorations is a fantastic way to honor the romance of the past generations. The best part is you will forever have an elegant wedding keepsake.

***Just a little hint for grooms – take a piece of the vintage glass used in your wedding to your florist before your anniversary. Have the florist recreate your wedding flowers and deliver it to your wife.***

Pictures And Perfect Wedding Flowers

The second cool wedding flower decoration involved photos. No, not picture taking. Rather a display of pictures of the bride and groom. This awesome wedding decoration came from Markita Brewster, a Fort Campbell KY wedding consultant. She owns Beautiful Weddings On a Budget. At the wedding reception of one of her brides, the wedding flowers were arranged in a photo cube.

What a clever idea! The Casablanca lilies gave the photo cubes an elegant look and the photos were a great way for guests to recall memories of the bride and groom. You could even include pictures of the guests with the bride or groom and place them on the table where they will be seated. This is also a creative way to have a unique flower arrangement and still stay within your budget.

Now that I've shared my unique wedding flower decoration ideas, I hope you will share yours. I can't wait to see them.

Wedding receptions typically end with the bride and groom leaving under a shower of rice, birdseed or bubbles. But why not do something over-the-top that you and your guests will never forget? Imagine the feeling of running hand-in-hand with your new husband through hundreds or thousands of butterflies in flight. Imagine the delight of your guests as they watch them rise in the air and flutter all around.

While a butterfly release may be a little more costly than birdseed or bubbles, the impact is definitely bigger and unforgettable. Keep the butterfly release a surprise—even from your bridal party—and watch the surprised looks on their faces as the surprise unfolds. You could even "tease" your guests by using the symbolic butterfly on your wedding program, invitations, wedding cake, and reception flowers as a hint of what is to come.

Many brides and grooms put so much focus on their entrances to the ceremony and reception, but spend little effort thinking about their exit from the reception. A butterfly release is a surprising way to leave you and your guests feeling uplifted, encouraged and hopeful about the future. As a butterfly in flight symbolizes new beginnings, so do weddings and this is a great way to add an exclamation point to your wedding day.