By Rhetta Akamatsu
Lots of people get married in chapels and churches, gardens and parks, beaches, hotels and country clubs. But what if what you want is something more memorable? A bit (or a lot) unusual? Here are some ideas for you, based on things that other people have done:
Mystery Tours
In England, “mystery tours” have long been a cultural phenomenon. A group of planners there help couples plan mystery weddings. People are told a place and time to meet. Then, they’re taken by bus to another location for the wedding ceremony. Afterward, they’re loaded on the bus again and whisked away to the reception location. After the fun — and sometimes even fireworks — they’re returned to the original location.
Enthusiast Weddings
People often incorporate their hobbies into their weddings. Scuba divers have tied the knot underwater. Amusement park enthusiasts have wed on roller coasters. Movie lovers have even rented movie theaters for their nuptials. Skydivers have married in mid-air. Hikers and campers often turn to National Forest shelters.
Work Weddings
Those people lucky enough to love their jobs sometimes marry at the workplace. 7-Eleven employees, people who work at grocery stores, medical personnel: all have gotten married “on the job.” Think how much the person who works in a garden shop could save on flowers!
Surprise Weddings
Celebrities are well known for inviting friends to a “party” which turns out to be a wedding. This works equally well for non-celebrities! For instance, have a masquerade party. Everyone comes in costume. The couple comes, of course, as a bride and groom. Have the officiant come in full clerical regalia, if desired.
Announce at the right time that a real wedding is about to take place. Have your ceremony, bring out the cake and champagne, and party on! Or, for very informal fun, sneak your wedding into the middle of a barbeque or picnic. (Of course, you’d want to let immediate family, and anyone else whose attendance you wanted to insure, in on the secret.)
Old-World Weddings
Have your own “Renaissance Festival,” with strolling minstrels, flower sellers, face painting, and whatever suits your fancy.
Say “I Do” to More Fresh Ideas
Other unique venues and ideas could include baseball fields or basketball courts, lighthouses, tops of tall buildings, or a myriad other places. Think of places that are significant to you, or activities you love, and weave them into your wedding to make something fun, unique, and completely your own!