Wedding traditions are a fun combination of so many cultures and communities throughout history. Today, most couples choose traditions more for the sentiment than the origin of the tradition itself. Some traditions may have even been passed down from one family to the next.

The best thing about any of these traditions, is that for YOUR wedding, you can choose to keep any, all, or none of them! I am always a fan of only keeping the wedding traditions that speak to you as a couple. Your love story is unique, why shouldn’t your wedding be!

First on the list, is wedding cake! Wedding cake is a classic staple in wedding traditions. As trends change, wedding cakes continue to reflect the wedding style in general. From ornate and elaborate formal multi-tier wedding cakes, to rustic “naked” cakes, and everything in between, cakes can morph to fit the feeling of any event. More and more we are seeing less cakes and more flourished dessert tables. Some couples even opt out of the wedding cake entirely, and instead serve pies, cakes, donuts, or even a signature dessert! Whatever cures your sweet tooth, you can never go wrong with dessert at your wedding.

Next is customized bridal gear. This is one of the most fun trends to pop up in recent wedding history, and it’s one that might become a long standing tradition for brides across the country. Whether it’s a customized bridal jacket, unique gifts from your wedding party, or specialized bridal robes to make for adorable getting ready pictures, this tradition can add an extra touch of personalization to your wedding day.

Speaking of wedding parties, the traditional wedding party is something that a lot of couples are considering when planning for their big day. Some couples opt for large parties including all of their closest friends and/or family member, while other stick to a simple maid of honor and best man, and others choose to not have a wedding party at all! One reason to considered keeping this tradition, is the photos like these ones, with your incredible group clearly rooting you on in this next chapter of your love story. Not to mention the cute little flower girls and ring bearers that usually come along with this tradition!

This next one is something that people either love or hate. It’s the garter and bouquet toss! A lot of couples love the fun competition and flirty show that goes along with these traditions. It’s a chance to get all of your single girlfriends out on the dance floor and see their feisty side! It’s definitely a high energy point of the night. Those that don’t love the tradition usually aren’t fans of the origins of the tradition itself (I’ll let you Google that one on your own!) This tradition has also led way to a new fun game to get the newlyweds into the center ring. You may have seen it on Pinterest, but the shoes game is frequently taking the garter and bouquet toss slot in your wedding timeline, or even just added in as a fun way to get to know the couple even better. Whatever side of this argument you land on, you can’t argue that these couples are having a great time!

Last but not least, this next tradition tugs at my heart strings every single time. It’s the unity celebration. I love seeing how couples decide to physically signify their unity. I have seen this tradition celebrated by lighting unity candles, combining sand, the tying of a unity rope, and even the mixing of drinks. There are so many unique way to celebrate your new union.

No matter what traditions you decide to include on your wedding day, I hope you take a second to consider including things that will help you to create memories that you cherish for a lifetime.

Wedding Traditions - 5 traditions to consider including in your day.