Wedding Traditions to Break!

Recently I discovered some blogs through getmarried.com. A recent post by SummerK got me thinking about the role of traditions in modern weddings. As I've mentioned before, I don't really consider myself a traditional bride. I like to do things just a little differently and more memorable. My mother will officiate our wedding and my dad will walk me down the aisle, but that's pretty much where the traditions stop when it comes to our wedding. On her blog, SummerK lists 10 classic wedding traditions that "were made to be broken," and based on my current plans, I seem to already be breaking quite a few of them. Below is eight breakable traditions from SummerK's list, and my reactions to each one.


My engagement ring



1. Diamonds Aren’t Every Girl’s Best Friend — I have mixed feelings about this one. My engagement ring is all diamonds, and I think the diamond will always have a firm place in the realm of engagement rings. However, I've been entertaining less traditional ideas for my wedding band. My birthstone is garnet and Alex's stone is amethyst, so I've been thinking about customizing a wedding band with these two alternating stones separated by diamonds. In the future, an anniversary ring could be added with the birthstone(s) of your child(ren).


2. Wedding March — I absolutely will not walk down the aisle to "Here Comes the Bride." No way. Among the most recent weddings I have been to, this seems like the most common tradition to break. Even Pachelbel's Canon has been overdone. I haven't decided what song would suit me best, but I'm not against playing a song with lyrics. The JK Wedding Entrance Dance went viral on the internet and even sent the wedding party to do a reenactment on the Today Show.

3. The Big “Unveiling” — Ever since I was a little girl, I've told my mom that I will never wear a veil on my wedding day. What's the point? I may wear a headpiece or something similar in my hair, but brides spend a lot of money on hair and make-up so they shouldn't have to cover it up.

4. “Obey” is SO Not OK — I have been absolutely appalled when I've attended modern weddings that have not made the necessary updates to the vows. Traditional vows that say "obey" and announce the couple as "Man and Wife" don’t reflect the modern state of women. Have a chat with your officiant and see what kind of options you have for vows if you are choosing not to write your own. Typically, an officiant will have a handful of different version the couple can choose from and make minor changes to reflect them as a couple.

5. Crossing the (Receiving) Line – I absolutely hate waiting in line after the ceremony to give the bride and groom a hug. This tradition is particularly awkward for the guests of guests who have been dragged along as a date to the ceremony. I'd rather chat with the couple briefly at the reception and offer more personalized congratulations.

6. Dance, Dance Revolution – Yeah, I want to do most of the traditional dances -- one with Alex, one with my dad, and perhaps a "dollar dance," but I also like the idea of doing a moderately choreographed dance with my husband and/or bridal party.

7. Skip the Hokey Music — For the most part, I like to skip classic songs like "Celebrate" and the chicken dance, but there are just some songs you have to play at the reception, like "The Cupid Shuffle" and the "Cha Cha Slide." And, for my family, no dance is complete without a little AC/DC.

8. Let Them Eat Cake (At Someone Else’s Wedding) — In a previous post, I mentioned that cupcakes will replace the traditional tiered wedding cake at our reception, but pie or a dessert bar are just as much fun. Plus, these modern options are easier to package and send along with guests after the reception.


Cupcakes from Scratch Cupcakery (Cedar Falls, IA)