Here's how to make your day feel more personal.
Your wedding is a reflection of you and your partner’s life together and all of the excitement that’s yet to come. What better way to tell your love story than with a few personalized touches?
Here are 9 ways to customize your wedding day to create a unique, one-of-a-kind event.
Location and venue
Hosting your wedding in a sentimental setting is a great way to personalize your wedding day.
As the saying goes, there’s no place like home, and if you’re looking for an intimate outdoor wedding venue, your answer may be where you grew up. Not only will using your personal or childhood home save you money on venue costs, but it’s also a very comforting and private place to host your wedding. You’ll also get to create deeply personal memories. What was once a porch is now the place where you said “I do” to the love of your life.
If a homestyle backyard wedding isn’t your vibe, you can still choose a special location to have your big day. Think of where you were in the big moments of your life whether that be where you first met your partner, went on your first date, or where your proposal took place. Many Cornman Farms couples met while attending the University of Michigan, so they plan a destination wedding to show their friends and family an alumni experience!
Craft a signature drink
Whether it be a cocktail or a mocktail, create a drink that either you and your partner love to share together or have two options. It’s your day—you can have as many signature drinks as you please! Take them to the next level with an herbal simple syrup that we make right here in our farm kitchen, a flavorful touch that you can’t get anywhere else.
If you want to elevate your signature drink, accompany it with a beautiful custom sign and a unique name. You can take a “Tequila Sunrise” and name it “A Day On The Beach” or a “Shirley Temple” and name it “Never Goes Out Of Style”. The options are endless, so have fun with it!
Create a one-of-a-kind seating chart
Your seating chart can be so much more than just a list of names with table numbers on a piece of paper. If your wedding style is more boho or rustic, use wood elements in your seating chart or have the names and numbers etched onto a wine bottle.
If you and your partner love reading or writing, bring that passion to your seating chart! Use a bookcase as the centerpiece and custom books with the names of your guests.
Offer unique wedding favors
If you’re planning on offering wedding favors to your guests, consider adding a personal touch. Traditional wedding favors, like sugared almonds, are always appreciated, but this is an area that you can have a lot of fun with. Some examples of unique wedding favors are:
- Homemade baked goods
- Candles
- Honey pots and dippers
- Cocktail kits
- “Hangover relief” packets
- Coffee mugs
- Bottle openers
- Matches
You can incorporate your hobbies, interests, and favorite treats into your wedding favors to customize your wedding day. If you have a favorite candy from Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory, why not offer your guests a sweet treat to end the night, right?
Incorporate handwritten vows
Handwritten vows are a beautiful way to ring in your marriage, and what’s more, you can keep them forever. Frame your handwritten vows or store them in a safe place to revisit later on your anniversaries. Handwritten vows are a great way to keep your love story front and center on your wedding day.
Include your favorite foods and treats
No wedding day is complete without your favorite foods! And, of course, that includes dessert.
When you think of dessert at weddings, the first thing that comes to mind is likely cake (which is why our wedding packages all include a wedding cake from Zingerman’s Bakehouse!). But if you’re not a cake person, there are so many different avenues you can explore. You can serve donuts on a donut wall, cupcakes in various flavors, or have a gelato cart instead of cake.
Want to incorporate family recipes into your wedding menu? We can do that too! We love incorporating longtime favorites into our farm-fresh meals.
Include your pet
Having your furry friend with you on your wedding day isn’t out of the question. Whether it be in person or not, there are many ways you can include your pet on your big day.
If you want your pet present the day of, you can have them walk you down the aisle, pose for pictures with the bridal party, or dress up for the occasion (who doesn’t love a dog in a bow tie?). No matter which option you choose, be sure to notify all of your guests and vendors to ensure a smooth day.
However, handling a live animal on your wedding day could cause some stress, so if you don’t want to go that route, you have other options:
- Feature them on your stationery
- Include pictures of your pet in the centerpieces
- Have dog bone-shaped cookies as wedding favors
- Print your favorite picture of your pet on the napkins at cocktail hour
The options are truly endless. But if it’s not possible to include your pet on the day of, you can schedule an engagement or bridal shoot beforehand and include them in those moments.
Honor loved ones
It can be difficult to celebrate your wedding when your loved ones have passed on, but you can still celebrate their life on your wedding day. Whether it’s a simple toast, a note in the program, or an item you carry with you to remember them by.
Hire a live painter
Live painting is a treasured art form that can keep memories alive for years to come. Paired with photography, a painted portrait of you and your partner is a unique way to remember and reflect on your wedding day.
A live painter can also be a great way to entertain your guests! Most people have never seen a painting come to life right before their eyes. It’s certainly something they will talk about for years to come.
Decide what’s most important to you as a couple
Wedding planning can be overwhelming when you think about all the items you have to check off your list. So much so that the idea of customization can feel impossible—but it doesn’t have to be complicated! Discuss with your partner what’s most important to you both in a wedding and find one or two ways to add a personal touch.
Our team at Cornman Farms will work with you and your partner to create an unforgettable, personalized wedding day in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Send us a note to tour our beautiful Michigan wedding venue today.