10 Alternative Wedding Ideas for Your BIG Day!
If you’re anything like me and you’ve been keeping up with the LOVE LOCKED IN blog, you already know—cookie-cutter weddings just aren’t it anymore. That’s not to say traditional weddings don’t matter. They totally can, if they feel right to you. But let’s be honest—you didn’t say “I do” just to go viral or build a Pinterest board worthy of a million repins. Your wedding isn’t a trend. It’s real. It’s yours.
This generation isn’t racing to copy what our parents did. A brewery wedding might’ve seemed wild back in the day, but now? That’s practically normal—and honestly, kinda genius.
Today’s couples are craving something different. Something true. That ballroom-and-buffet vibe isn’t cutting it anymore, and honestly? Good riddance. I’m all in on bold, creative, offbeat celebrations that feel like you, not someone else's idea of what a wedding “should” be. That’s what makes modern weddings badass.
Here are 10 fresh ideas you can share to inspire your couples and speak directly to those looking to break the mold:
1. Ditch the white dress
Wear a black gown, a red jumpsuit, something metallic—hell, wear a custom suit covered in florals if that’s your jam. This day is about you, not bridal magazine traditions.
2. Have a first look with your guests
Instead of a private moment, gather everyone and walk in together with your partner, hand-in-hand, soaking in all that love right from the start.
3. Get married somewhere unexpected
Think: art galleries, local bookstores, industrial warehouses, mountaintops, record stores, or even your favorite dive bar.
4. Throw out the wedding party rulebook
No matching dresses. No forced gender roles. Just your ride-or-dies standing beside you in whatever the hell they want.
5. Curate a ceremony that actually means something
Write your own vows. Involve friends in storytelling. Skip religious or traditional scripts if they don’t feel right. Make it raw and real.
6. Serve what you actually love
Pizza truck? All-day brunch? Tacos and tequila? Screw the plated lemon chicken dinner—feed people like they’re at your house party.
7. Make it a weekend-long celebration
Book out a cabin, campgrounds, or Airbnb for an entire weekend. Think bonfires, karaoke, hikes, and zero pressure.
8. Let your guests dress for themselves
Forget the formalwear. Encourage guests to show up in bold colors, sneakers, sequins—whatever makes them feel like themselves.
9. Incorporate your hobbies or fandoms
Gamer? Music nerd? Fantasy lovers? Add little nods to what makes your relationship tick. Think D&D cake toppers, Guitar Hero competitions, or (what we did) the Bride’s entrance to the Kingdom Hearts theme song!
10. Skip the traditions that don’t speak to you
No bouquet toss? No cake cutting? Cool. You’re not required to do anything that doesn’t feel aligned. Build your own damn rules.
So if you're planning your wedding and thinking, “Do we really have to do it that way?”—the answer is hell no. This day is about celebrating your love, your way. Whether you're saying your vows barefoot in the woods, partying in a tattoo shop, or skipping half the traditions altogether, just make sure it feels right to you. Forget the rules, forget the pressure. Your wedding doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s—it just needs to feel like yours. That’s the magic. That’s love locked in.
And if you’re looking for a photographer who gets that—who won’t force fake poses or try to fit you into a box—I’m your person. I’m here for the real stuff, the wild stuff, the perfectly imperfect moments that actually matter. Let’s make some damn art together. Hit that contact button and let’s talk.