Lifestyle

Your Day, Your Rules: 8 Ways To Break the Norm at Your Wedding

Published by
Sonja Henrikssen
Shop the Look: Enamored With You White Lace Wide-Leg Jumpsuit; Image via Elisa L.

We love a traditional wedding, complete with the white wedding dress, coordinated bridesmaid dresses, and all the trimmings! That said, we love a unique wedding just as much and get super excited to see couples break the norm on their wedding day. Are you an anti bride? Here, see a few of our favorite unconventional wedding ideas and touches you can add to make your wedding uniquely and unforgettably your own!

1. Ditch the Dress, Wear a Jumpsuit!

Shop the Look: Love You for a Lifetime White Ruffled Wide-Leg Jumpsuit

Not a dress-wearer? Tie the knot in a fabulous wedding jumpsuit instead! Combining the comfort and flexibility of pants with elegant silhouettes and chic fabrics, bridal jumpsuits are the ultimate alternative to the white dress. Choose a classic white shade, or break even more norms with a colorful jumpsuit or romper. If you plan to have bridesmaids, you can give them the option to wear a jumpsuit, too!

Shop the Look: All About Tonight White Lace Wide-Leg Lace-Up Jumpsuit

If you want the best of both worlds, wear a wedding dress to your ceremony, then change into a jumpsuit for the reception. Changing into a second outfit is a fun way to change up the vibes, and a jumpsuit offers plenty of comfort for socializing, dancing, and eating without worrying about staining a formal gown. 

2. Wear Mixed Material Separates

Shop the Look: Alma Cream Tie-Waist Blazer, Belle de Jour Blush Pink Floral Jacquard Cropped Cami Top, Alma Cream Ankle-Tie Trouser Pants, Harlee Pink Patent Feather High Heel Sandals, Vacation Moment Beige Beaded Raffia Clutch; Image via @iamstherfaned

If you want to step even further out of the box than just wearing a jumpsuit, try mixing and matching bridal separates featuring different materials. Separates are a fun way to add detail to your wedding fit and can offer you more flexibility in terms of styling than a solid jumpsuit or dress. Try combining fabrics with different textures and finishes, unique patterns, or even pieces with different shades of white. 

3. Let Your Bridesmaids Choose Their Dresses

Shop the Look: HEAVENLY HUES LIGHT BLUE MAXI DRESS, ELEGANTLY INCLINED CREAM AND BLUE FLORAL PRINT WRAP MAXI DRESS, EASY LISTENING SLATE BLUE COLD-SHOULDER WRAP MAXI DRESS, I’M ALL YOURS CREAM RUFFLED MAXI DRESS, SLATE BLUE FLORAL PRINT TIE-BACK MAXI DRESS

Speaking of bridesmaids: why not let them choose their own dresses? Some brides give their bridesmaids free reign, letting them choose literally any style, color, or material. Others ask that their bridesmaids choose a specific color or material to tie the group together without going full matchy-matchy. Letting your bridesmaids choose their own dresses is a nice way to ensure everyone will feel beautiful and comfortable, and can add more dynamism to the look of your wedding party. 

4. Get Married In the Snow

Shop the Look: In My Life White Lace Off-the-Shoulder Mermaid Maxi Dress; Image via @tiffaniwithaneye_

Spring and summer weddings are beautiful, but hear me out: More people should get married in the snow! Wow your wedding guests with a vibe they’ve never seen before by throwing a winter-wonderland wedding! Wear a long-sleeved wedding dress and maybe a faux fur stole, choose cool colors for your wedding party, and try decorating your venue with ice and glass!

5. Get Matching Sneakers for the Whole Wedding Party

Shop the Look: Danie White Chunky Sneakers

Wearing sneakers on your wedding day is already a creative way to break the norm, but what if you got matching sneakers for everyone at your wedding party? Make sure everyone is comfortable and looking stylish by choosing matching sneakers for you, your spouse, and your best people–not only will you all look fly wearing the same sneakers, but you’ll also be able to dance all night with no risk of twisted ankles or blisters. 

6. Have a Themed Wedding

Shop the Look: Love All of Me Champagne Satin Maxi Dress, Exquisite Evenings Off White Satin Blazer

Get your wedding guests involved in the festivities by throwing a themed wedding! Ask your guests to dress in a specific color, wear costumes, or choose outfits from a specific era. Some popular themes include asking everyone to wear white, holiday themes, and Halloween weddings that combine spooky fun with wedding glamour. Not only will throwing a themed wedding get you incredible photos and memories, but you’ll also make all of your guests feel like they’re truly a part of your love story. 

7. Throw a Surprise Wedding at a Courthouse

Shop the Look: Always Celebrating Ivory Satin Off-the-Shoulder Mini Dress; Image via @sheenaoliveraphotography

Not into the idea of a big, expensive wedding? Get married at your local courthouse, but with a twist! Rather than inviting your close friends and family to your wedding, send out invitations to an engagement party. Host the party at a restaurant, park, or venue near the courthouse, then surprise your guests by making a trip to the courthouse for your actual wedding! Everyone will be shocked to realize you’re about to tie the knot, and feel extra-special for being invited in the first place. 

If you don’t want anyone to catch on to your secret plan, wear a less formal white dress, and try not to give too many hints away before the big day!

8. Throw a Surprise Wedding in Vegas

Shop the Look: Haute Spot White Embroidered Lace Maxi Romper; Image via @heyitsbecks

Who hasn’t fantasized about getting married by an Elvis impersonator in Vegas? While a Las Vegas wedding already breaks the norm, take the whole thing up a notch by making it a surprise Vegas wedding! Like the courthouse idea, invite a few close friends and family to join you in Vegas for a joint bachelorx party, then surprise them by taking them to one of the city’s many little wedding chapels. 

How are you breaking the norm on your big day? Show us your unconventional wedding ideas on Instagram @lulus using #lovelulus and shop wedding outfits in our Bridal Shop!

This post was originally published in March 2022.

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