Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, how will they play a part in the wedding for you? Many wedding traditions are a part of the expectations your family or friends will have for your big day, but they might not be in line with the modern wedding you had in mind. Here are some tips and tricks for how to incorporate tried and true wedding traditions with your modern day celebration.

  • A Diamond Engagement Ring – There is a long-standing tradition that an engagement ring should be a diamond, but it certainly doesn’t have to be! If you have a different style or a lower budget for a ring, think outside the (ring) box. Many rings these days are pearl, garnet, ruby, emerald or other precious stones. Remember, not even Kate Middleton’s engagement ring is based on a diamond!
  • Something Blue – Blue is traditionally worn by the bride in some capacity and is usually a hidden part of the dress or in the form of a garter. A new take on this could be getting ready for your big day while dressed in blue! An elegant custom robe can be used the day of and during your happily married days to come after.
  • The Rice Toss – Traditionally, the bride and groom are showered with rice as they walk down the aisle after they’ve said their “I do”. But who says it has to be rice? Add some flair and colorful fun with your type of toss! Guests can grab bags of confetti, glitter, sprinkles or flower petals to toss at the happy couple, packaged conveniently in favor bags. Pro tip: Before going down this alternative route, make sure your venue is ok with the option you’ve chosen! Some are strict with what they do and do not allow, and you don’t want to be surprised by the cleanup charge after the fact.
  • Smooshing the Cake – Sure, this tradition can make for a funny photo or two. But, many brides (and some grooms even!) aren’t thrilled at the prospect of having their face smeared with cake for the rest of the evening. Instead of putting the cake on each other’s faces, take a bite “lady and the tramp” style and leave the cake smashing for a baby’s birthday party.
  • The Bride’s Family Paying – While in some families the bride’s side is comfortable taking on the financial burden of the wedding day, that arrangement certainly doesn’t work for everyone. Before you start planning, sit down with your fiance and decide who might be contributing. Then, approach those parties and decide on a budget together. Remember, your wedding day is only a short experience compared to a lifetime of marriage. Don’t risk ruining relationships because of money.
  • The White Dress – The traditional white dress is, of course, a symbol of innocence and purity. However, ladies these days can wear any color they please! Look into other shades of white for your bridal outfit, or go bold and pick a color of your choosing. We in the USA are used to white for a bride, but in China, she wears red, in Morocco it’s usually yellow or green, and in Spain, they even wear black to represent a devotion to their new partner until death.
  • Not Seeing Each Other Before the Ceremony – Back in the days when arranged marriages were common, brides and grooms didn’t see each other before the ceremony for fear of one of them backing out based on appearances. Harsh, right? That tradition has morphed into the couple being “surprised” at seeing each other when they walk down the aisle, but many people are nixing that tradition in favor of a first-look. If you still want the allure of not seeing each other before the ceremony, consider having a chat through a cracked door or a moment of prayer together before the ceremony.
  • Matching Bridesmaid Dresses – This tradition is an especially weird one, and is actually rooted in the desire to confuse evil spirits that might try to disturb the wedding. Whether you believe in that or not, there’s no law that says your ladies have to all be matching! Consider mismatched colors, styles or patterns of dresses to let each one standout on the big day.

From the ring to a rice toss, there are many wedding traditions that are still in place today. However, if you’re a more modern couple you don’t have to abandon them completely! Consider these new takes on old traditions for a wedding that is the perfect combination of old and new. Have you seen any unique modern takes on traditions at weddings? Let us know in the comments below!