Today’s wedding culture is all about breaking the mold. Instead of playing it safe with traditional wedding customs, couples are starting to come up with new wedding traditions or twists on the classics that stand out above the rest.

We’re a huge fan of this because we always encourage our couples to only incorporate what feels the most genuine to them. A wedding day is all about your preferences and personalities! So if you’ve been thinking about replacing some of the “normal” wedding traditions with some of your own, we say, why not!

Today we’re sharing three new wedding traditions we’ve been loving lately. Let these unique concepts spark some inspiration for your own big day or help you see the value in incorporating something new into your celebration of love. Keep reading for three new traditions that might be worth bringing to your wedding day.

Alternative first looks

First looks have taken the wedding tradition world by storm, and despite it being a relatively new tradition, couples are already finding creative ways to shake up the first look. For couples who want to do something a little bit different with their first look, an alternative first look may be right up your alley!

An alternative first look is similar to a “normal” first look in that you’ll surprise your partner with your final wedding look, but you can also do this with other people who are special to you. We’ve seen first looks be done with bridesmaids, parents, the father of the bride, and the couple’s children.

If you really want to get clever, we’ve also seen the best man dress up in a wedding dress and surprise the groom! Since the groom is under the impression that he’s about to see his partner or bride for the first time, you can imagine how shocking this can be! It also makes for great photos. (P.S. Carolyn and Alec pulled this off perfectly at their wedding at Bella Collina! Check that out by clicking here.)

The anniversary dance

The anniversary dance is when all couples are called to the dance floor. First, the newlyweds are asked to step off the dance floor since they’ve been married for the shortest amount of time. Then, the  DJ will count down the number of years couples have been together. They might start with asking couples who have been together for one year to step off the floor, then two to five years, then 10 years, 15 years, and so on. The end result is to have the longest married couple on the dance floor!

Guests and couples love this because it’s truly inspiring to see a couple who has been together for a long time, still dancing together and sharing their love.

Party hour (or hora loca)

You may have heard of cocktail hour, but have you heard of party hour? Party hour (or hora loca) is the next big trend in weddings! It’s all about rocking out with your friends, family, and loved ones. It’s usually the last hour of the night and involves fun party props like glow sticks, party hats, light glasses, and more. We’ve even had couples take it to the next level by bringing out LED robots, Samba dancers, or CO2 cannons!

No matter how you set it up though, party hour is a short n’ sweet, but energetic time where everyone can party together. If you’re a couple who loves to have a good time, this is a great way to have a ton of fun with your guests and celebrate your love in your own unique way.

For inspiration, check out this recent wedding we worked on at Bella Collina that had a fun and lively party hour!

Ready to start planning your own new wedding traditions?

No two weddings are ever the same, and that’s what makes them so special. If you’ve been thinking about changing up some of the traditional wedding customs, we say go for it! Your wedding day is all about you and your partner, so there’s no reason why you can’t come up with new wedding traditions or give old ones a unique twist. From alternative first looks to anniversary dances, there are lots of ways to be creative with your wedding customs.

If you’re ready to get starting planning your own new wedding traditions, we would love to keep the ideas flowing and help you plan it all! Get in touch with us to start planning today. We can’t wait to work with you!