Any alternative brides/grooms out there?

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Thanks!! I will definitely check out that podcast. Thank you for sharing your ideas - it is so helpful to hear other things people are doing. Congratulations to you both!

I’d like to think of myself as more “non-conventional” than “alternative”

We’re not having a lot of the regular traditions and are hoping for a small guest count of 50.

We’re having a destination wedding in weekend in Victoria, BC (we’re based in Toronto), and our focus is to just have folks come and celebrate with us if they can.

I’m not spending a lot of money on my dress, we won’t have a wedding party, and we’re not having a wedding cake.

In addition to Offbeat Bride and A Practical Wedding, I love listening to the Bridechilla podcasts (listen to the FIB episode).

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Sounds nice and relaxing! Congrats to you!

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That sounds lovely! Congratulations to you and your family

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That sounds really fun!! Glad you're able to focus on the elements that really matter to you. Good for you, and congrats

We are doing a camping wedding (or plan to right now anyways) - looking for an island spot for everyone to either tent or cabin overnight for the weekend. It would be best with a smaller guest list but we decided we want everyone there/involved Looking at even some Scout camps that offer weekends for weddings. We want to keep it relaxed and fun, doing a real quick ceremony officiated by my cousin then probably a BBQ dinner then lawn games/swimming/exploring the next day. We decided we want to spend time with everyone having fun rather than do a lot of the traditional wedding things (nixing the traditional cake, flower girls/ring bearer, bouquet/garter toss and things like that). We are going with homemade pies and maybe some donuts? The toasts however stay as I always found those fun and I want dancing outside under the moon

The biggest regret I have been told from past brides is overdoing it, find some ways to cut the budget and use that $$ for a trip! Figure out what you both absolutely want and what you can do without.

Good luck!

We're doing something a bit alternative, I guess? We are going to Canmore (we are from Winnipeg) and there will be apx 45 guests coming to join us. Small, outdoor ceremony with my son walking me down the aisle and he and my daughter standing up with me, my fh will have his best friend and daughter stand up with him, and it's entirely up to each of them what they wear - I don't feel the need for them to match. Afterwards, we have a private room in a restaurant booked for us the rest of the night. We're also going to plan some stuff for anyone interested to do while in Canmore - golfing, hiking, kayaking, etc. Pretty low key, but very us.

We are doing a surprise wedding! I consider that to be quite "alternative".

We are having the wedding at the end of September under the guise of a "Pre-Wedding Dinner and Drinks" as a way for family and friends to meet before the wedding. Nobody knows (except two close friends, and two others who are traveling from ON to perform at our wedding as a gift from the first two close friends.).

Makes it low key, small (we only have 16 people total!), quirky, and a ton of fun!

We're not really doing traditional but I wouldn't say were going completely alternative either. We're having a very small wedding ceremony of family only then will have dinner afterwards. It's all taking place in a pub bc were pretty laid back and like beer lol. I'm still having a wedding dress and hiring a professional photographer but there won't be a dj/dance and traditional reception. We basically just want to have fun and keep it as simple as possible.

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Haha it's so tempting!!

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Yeah - it's tough to narrow down what you want vs. what your famjam tells you to have. I feel you on the family drama front... and some friend drama too for my FH...

I booked a venue in my hometown (london, ontario) because Toronto prices were just not gonna happen for us. The venue is beautiful, and while it certainly isn't cheap, it offers more bang for my bucks than I was finding in Toronto. Even though I really like it, I'm sort of second guessing the whole traditional route, and considering cutting my losses with the deposit to plan something smaller.

Thanks for including the alternative weddings you've been to--I've only ever been to big, traditional ones so it's nice to hear different ideas in case I decide to scrap the whole thing and start over!

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Thanks - that's a cool website. I've been on A Practical Wedding a whole bunch, but hadn't seen Offbeat Bride yet

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That sounds really lovely, and relaxed. All the best to you

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Thanks Brittany - Mexico sounds lovely right about now! I wish you all the best for your wedding plans

I had a friend do a traditional church ceremony and just dinner for everyone at a restaurant afterwards. It was still very nice, but MUCH less expensive for her and her family.

My fiance and I are doing everything we can to keep costs down while still going the mostly traditional route. I'm DIY-ing my centerpieces and most of the other decorations and we're getting silk flowers. We're skipping the cake, and a few other smaller details that start to add up. We're also getting married out of the city. We'll have a Buck and Doe next summer to help raise some money, too.

Good luck!

Alternative can relate to going smaller and undercutting the cost. If you have started yet not sent the invitations, you can consider to cut down your guest list and everything else before going overboard.

Take the money and do something better. I wishhhh I could of done that. I tried but I already put a non refundable deposit. If I could I would opt out the big wedding plan something small and use the rest of money wisely or on a lavish trip for you an hubby.

I feel you, I'm totally starting to reconsider the big thing. I'm still getting venue prices so not locked into anything yet but I had started planning the whole traditional wedding. Now my cousin is getting married in a week and a half and my family is all fighting and causing such drama it makes me think maybe I don't want to do this. Plus the price tag for a traditional wedding in Toronto Now we're talking different options so I want to hear what other brides have to say here.

Alternative weddings I've been to, one they did the all inclusive thing with parents and siblings only then had a small reception for the rest of the family at a hall (Sunday brunch) a few months later and played a video made of the ceremony during the meal. Second, the couple eloped just them 2 on a beach then had a reception for family about a month after they got back where they rented out a room at a restaurant that does small weddings and put up some photos of the ceremony.

Overall, I wouldn't say our wedding will be 'alternative', but we are skipping a whole lot of traditions that we don't care about. I would have skipped a lot more if it wasn't for my fiancé's opinions (and to a lesser extent, our families' opinions).

When I first started looking for less traditional options (like not having flowers), I found a lot of good ideas on Offbeat Bride. They have great tools and are a wonderful source of inspiration for anything alternative.

Sort of alternative. We're focused on keeping things simply. Getting married at city hall. Then having a reception with 24 people in our home. Skipping excess and frills. Just having a nice dinner

Ooooh, if you have nothing tying you to doing a "traditional wedding"... look into everything!!! I've always dreamed of the white dress, and dad walking me down the aisle, and the reception... So traditional wedding it was for us... However, we're at least doing it more personal, more DIY, and about 100 people (cutting quite a few extended family/friends)...

But unique venues that maybe only hold 50 people... or ones that don't look like, or just aren't, wedding venues, but it would be really unique... Not worrying about a sit down dinner, or bridal parties...

Maybe even going away, and doing something destination, so that a small group of your closest friends and family get a vacation, and you get to party for a whole week instead of one night!

My cousin got married in Mexico, and she didn't have to worry about vendors, decor, etc... She just got a booklet, checked her choice out of their options, and ta-da! A week of fun and sun with a wedding in the middle. 42 people went too, so it was quite the group!

If you're finding that the thought of something more simple, or unique, makes you and your fiance happier... go with it! Just do what you want. I wanted the traditions... I knew there were things that if I didn't do it, I'd regret it... but those are personal choices, and I haven't included anything because someone else thinks I should.