Unconventional wedding reception ideas for non traditional couples

Creating a wedding reception that ditches wedding industry traditions & expectations

Imagine stepping into your wedding reception space and it looks and feels like it was perfectly crafted just for the both of you. This would be amazing wouldn't it? It would be like walking onto your own movie set where your love story is being told through all the design aesthetics. All the clues are included which best express your personalities, showcase your relationship together, weave your interests into the design, align with your personal style and tell your one of a kind story to your guests. If this gives you goosebumps just thinking about it, then you need to trust your instincts, as your gut is leading you towards an authentic expression of your love, something that feels real, rather than the expected path of wedding industry norms & traditions. This is how planning your wedding design should feel, it should make you feel really excited, like you simply can't wait to see all the ideas come together in real life. Once you have decided on your vibe, style and aesthetics you won't be constantly changing your mind like other couples, because your decor choices feel true to you, they are fully connected to you, so you won't be swayed by new trends popping up or what you think you should be including. You've decided to do it your way, to get the day you dream about!

How to leave a lasting impression on your wedding guests

If you have recently attended your friends wedding that made you feel under whelmed because it lacked any excitement and personality, and you really don't want the same to happen to you, I totally get it because this is exactly how I felt. Many of our friends got married before us, at the same hotel, with the same stereo typical decor and boy were they dull! Don't get me wrong I love my friends and we still had a lovely time with them, but the aesthetics lacked any personality, it was so uninspiring and felt as flat as a pancake! There was nothing personal about it, it was just perfectly polished, so frankly we felt like we could of been at anyone's wedding. I walked away knowing our day was going to be so different, I knew I wanted it to be full of character, choosing a venue and decor that told our story and showcased who we are. It wasn't about impressing anyone, or doing it better, or how much money we spent, it was about making sure our guests got a real sense of who we are, what we are all about, and what's important to us, so they had an amazing time, so the celebration was a memorable one. Something that felt and looked like us. It was no brainer to make this the focus! The best comment a guest made months after our day, was "your wedding was the second best wedding we have been to" They're favourite was of course their own wedding day, understandable so!! But that's quite an epic comment to receive from a guest isn't it? And I really think it all comes down to making our day different, which obviously left a lasting impression on our guests. 

Throw out the rule book and embrace new ideas

I know you want to do the same and create something different for your own wedding, so that it feels intentional, meaningful & authentic, instead of it feeling like you need to put on a performance. While following traditions are important to some couples, you are perhaps more interested in throwing a unique celebration that stands apart from the rest and actually captures your love story. You're happy to throw out the dusty old rule book full of out dated expectations, because you're open to new ideas, concepts and experiences, because you have a strong desire to make your day your own. The magic really does happen when you dare to dream beyond what's expected of you.

Choosing a non traditional wedding allows you to create an alternative wedding style

You're after what they call a non traditional wedding aesthetic or an alternative wedding style which ensures you can put your own stamp on your wedding design, one that reflects your personal style. If you're at the start of planning you've properly been on the hunt for a venue with a difference, that helps you set the scene with the perfect setting. Either a rustic barn or a tipi in a garden, a farm, a field or an empty warehouse, something with character, but will also allow you let your creativity soar, with a blank canvas to work with. You want to be a little adventurous! This excites you so much, but like many couples I work with, you may of realised you lack the time and creative flair that's required to bring your whole vision to life in the best possible way. 

Why working with a wedding stylist will elevate your tablescape design

The couples that I work with have lots of ideas on how they want their wedding reception to look, but what happens is they feel like the ideas don't make sense together, they can't imagine what it will look all like together, as they feel worried all the ideas they have will look over crowded on the tables. They are also really keen to express more of their story and personalities through the design details, but they are not sure how to add these details, so that it's done tastefully. They just lack a little creative flair that's needed to come up with ideas for that. Sometimes you're too close to yourselves to see it. This is why working with a wedding stylist like me is so beneficial, because I can turn imaginative ideas into reality for them. I can help them choose the best ideas that mean something, and balance everything so it works together. I also make, out of box creative suggestions that the couple haven't perhaps thought about. I aim to take away the pressure and elevate what you already have. I do this with my table styling service and offer wedding tablescape packages to couples that really want to simplify the planning process. 

But if you want to go it alone, I have some ideas for you below that will help get you thinking about your design in a non traditional way.  

Use yourselves as the inspiration to your wedding design

When couples look for ideas to inspire their design choices, they tend to look for wedding related inspiration that aligns with a colour scheme they are drawn to, or a vibe they like, or decor they like the look of, but what if you took a different approach, which makes deciding on table decorations more personal.

"Because whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal" - I stole this from one of my favourite rom coms - You've got Mail.

When I work with couples I use the couple as my inspiration, drawing on their interests, personalities, and proposal story, anything they decide to share with me, that I can work with. Of course I look at what they have saved to get a feel of what they are imagining in their head, but my job is to make those ideas even better, and I can't do that by looking at other weddings. I need to research what they have told me about themselves, so that I can choose decor that tells this story. If I randomly add something they like based only on what they like the look of, this is where it could lack any meaning. Being intentional is the key to creating something super special and personal to them. So my advice is to start with yourselves first and build a design on top of that. 

How to create an authentic wedding design

Being authentic with your wedding reception means embracing all your quirks, no matter how cringe you might feel they are to someone else. You are who you are, and your guests are there to celebrate you both, so I strongly encourage you to lean into your quirks, as this is where the true magic happens. Your design deserves to radiate with personality through your bold design choices, and unexpected features that will make your guests smile with delight. When you let go of what a wedding 'is expected to look like' and instead blend yourselves into it, you will create something unique and more personal.  If you are thoughtful with your selection of decor you will create an atmosphere that sparks joy and captures your guests imagination, so that you have the best time whilst in the space that is a true representation of yourselves. Creating something that fully embraces you. The best part of this is that, you will feel 100 percent yourselves on the day, making you feel more confident, relaxed & comfortable in your surroundings. 

Intimate family style dining for connection

To achieve the non traditional vibes, opting for a family style dining experience is the way to go. This encourages conversation and connection between guests which makes for a more relaxed evening. Choose long banquet style tables that join together over round tables dotted separately so it creates a feeling of togetherness. Focus your budget on high quality food that's local and in season and which is a visual feast for your guests eyes, this will all add to the experience. My couples tend to be real foodies, so see this  as a top priority to create a memorable experience.

Choose thrifty wedding decor for a personal story

When it comes to creating a unique dining experience for your guests that's more personal, you will need to avoid the temptation of choosing the production of mass decorations that feel sterile, rented and the same as what everyone else choose's, and embrace a more thrifted approach that allows you to create tablescapes that actually tell a story. Run in the opposite direction and avoid crisp white tablecloths, matching crockery sets, structured napkins, and unifying centrepieces which create a perfectly polished look. Instead build a look that feels real, warm and lived in, so that guests feel relaxed and comfortable in the setting. Instead of everything looking the same on repeat, you can have a eclectic mix of table decorations that will look way more interesting to the eye. Think one of kind vintage bottles from antique or junk shops, old worn books that add charm & character, and mix and match plates and napkins for a homely feel. This is not just table decor we are adding to set the scene, we are adding the heart & soul to the design, to create a personal atmosphere and style. You still want it to look cohesive but that doesn't mean everything needs to be a exact copy. Your design will look far more textured and layered if decorations are mixed and matched, creating a unique look.

Encouraging you to be yourselves and tell your love story

To sum up what we have talked about, I want you to see this as your permission slip to do what you want for your day. If you hear yourselves saying, this idea would be so cool for the wedding, just do it, you won't regret being yourselves! A fun little story to end on, that I wanted to share with you, that will encourage you to embrace being yourselves, is that when me and my husband were planning our wedding reception, we wanted to create our own playlist of music. We didn't want a dj, so we had the idea to build a disco booth, and my husband cut out a wooden man shape, so we could stick the face of the singer 'Chris Rea' on it. Our names are Chris & Rea by the way! If you don't know who he is, he's the guy who sings 'Driving home for Christmas'  This fun addition added our story, it added our humour and was memorable, as the guests still mention it today. I love helping couples add little nods to their decor that tell their story, while I won't be suggesting anything this cheesy, I do have this playful approach to my work, because I don't think weddings need to be so serious.

Need some help creating a personal dining area

I hope you're starting to feel really excited by now, as I feel really excited writing all this for you. You really do have the power to create something truly personal, it's the work I literally leap out of bed for. Nothing is more rewarding then helping couples to achieve this for themselves. If you would love some help and you are getting married in Lincolnshire UK, I am waiting in the wings for my cue to help you set the scene to tell your very own love story. To get your wedding design rolling, you can send an enquiry here and I will get in back in touch with you asap. I can't wait to hear what you're planning! Rea x

If you would love to get to know me more, you can head here for an introduction. I share little snippets about myself, why I love tablescaping so much, and no, it's not just because I'm obsessed with tableware! I share what I love working on and who I love working with, so if you fancy a little read to get to know me, I'll look forward to seeing you over there!

Other places you might like to visit

My Portfolio 

A collection of work showcasing my alternative botanical signature style, to inspire couples to create something different.

The Table Decor Checklist you didn't know you needed

How to personalise your wedding reception