Making it your Own

Yes, it’s supposed to be a magical day and all but haven’t we all seen enough of the same flower patterns, the same cheesy music and the same outdated traditions?

As you all know by now, my wedding is but a couple of months away, and I don’t want it to end up being yet another event on someone’s calendar that they can happily check off once it’s done.

I want my day to be memorable, not just for my future groom and I, but for everyone else who’s taking part.

I can see you all rolling your eyes and murmuring an accusatory ‘diva’ under your breath, but this is not just for me, I promise. I’m hoping that all future brides and grooms follow suit and truly invest in putting their own personal touch on their special day so that it’s unique to who they are (and more interesting for everyone around them.)

So, here’s my guide on planning a wedding that can only be yours.

First of all, I don’t see why planning out the details of the wedding has been dubbed as the ‘woman’s job.’ Yes, there is a lot of talk about flowers and color schemes, but I wholeheartedly believe that having input from both the bride and groom helps in shaping  a night that speaks of the identity of the couple rather than representing the bride’s taste alone.

But then again, maybe I’m just lucky to have a groom who’s actually interested in that stuff.

When Rami and I first sat down with our wedding planner, Eman, she sensed our fun nature and suggested that we go with a theme inspired by the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Being the sugar junkies that we are, our eyes lit up and we both excitedly nodded in agreement.

However, after looking over some picture samples of what the wedding reception would look like, we were a little hesitant. We were worried that this particular theme might make it look like a four-year-old’s birthday party rather than a wedding ceremony for two 24-year-olds (who admittedly sometimes do act like they were four).

While a theme does give the wedding a unique vibe, and makes it more entertaining for the guests, sometimes it can overpower the wedding itself and turn it more into a costume party. After all, a wedding still does need to maintain some level of elegance and simple beauty.

But instead of giving up on the idea as a whole, we just toned it down and turned it into a few accents here and there rather than a giant, full-blown jolly rancher standing at the entrance.

Another thing to keep in mind when deciding on your decorations is not to shy away from creating your own pieces. Even though the brochures all have pictures of pretty centerpieces, mix and match those flowers with these vases to come up with something that people won’t find anywhere else.

And finally, the most important thing of all is to have fun. Make sure your wedding is a good time, for you especially.

Pick out all your favorite songs, and threaten the DJ that if he doesn’t play that Beyoncé track, there will be hell to pay. Let your parents know that while you’re very happy their cousin’s daughter’s husband is here, you don’t want to be pulled away from the dance floor every five minutes to stand awkwardly for another family picture. Don’t be afraid to do something crazy like performing a choreographed routine with your friends.

Be true to yourself, personalize your wedding accordingly and let loose.