38 Ways to Personalize Your Wedding (PART 2)

You probably already know the easiest way of personalizing your wedding is to comb the internet for details and ideas that capture your attention.. Maybe you’d rather visit a local wedding center store in person in Morris County or anywhere in northern New Jersey and see what’s out there that feels like, you. On the other hand, many Brooklake brides and grooms have found if you start thinking early, and are open to the details of your life around you, the ideas will present themselves often simply and easily and actually be the most personal of all.

Here are 20 more special ideas how you can personalize your wedding – in both indoor and outdoor wedding venues. From flowers and favors to music and signs that highlight who you are – these suggestions will help you create lasting memories without complicating your already challenging load of details, with ideas for both indoor and outdoor wedding venues.

19. Create a wedding arch for your ceremony and move it to the reception later for even more photo backdrops of you the couple as well as your guests! Flowers, balloons, natural leaves and vines, even sparklers, can all frame a rustic to a glamorous look.
20. If you find a “mom and pop” shop with personal attention, you can tap their knowledge how to source more unique favors. Gift boutiques abound in the New York metro area, especially in the many quaint towns surrounding Brooklake, such as Florham Park, Madison, Morristown, Chatham, and Livingston.
21. Have you found something ultra special and fun on Goldbelly, or is your hometown or reception venue town famous for something that will add great vibes for your guests? Coffee, craft brews, donuts, ice cream, cheese, pork roll (“Taylor Ham” in New Jersey!)… All can be incorporated into even the most elegant wedding… Bring in a surprise for your guests and have them share your hometown experience!
22. Reuse your flowers. Contact a local hospital, senior citizen center, place of worship, the local school, rehab center… what’s special where you live or work, or special to someone you care about that could use a visual uplift?
23. If your venue allows pets – Brooklake is a pet-friendly wedding venue – include your pet in your wedding day. You may want to designate someone other than the bridal couple to be the pet sitter for the days’ events. Consider a custom collar or leash for your dog, with wedding congratulations and your names and date, or a bandana or a hat that coincides with your wedding day wardrobes.

Thank you Brooklake for making our 12/11/21 wedding such a success! My family has belonged to Brooklake for many years, and as a kid, I used to watch all of the summer weddings from the pool. Little did I know all of the thoughtful work that went into each of those events. Peter and his team do not miss a beat. Our guests could not stop raving about how gorgeous the event space is and how delicious the food was. Deciding to have our wedding at Brooklake was the best decision we made!
– Victoria G., on The Knot

24. Bring your “get ready” time into a new level with bridal party gifts such as matching pajamas or fleece pant suits, robes and slippers or toasting glasses. Having some uniformity creates a simpler backdrop for these “behind the scenes” photos, while also giving your closest friends something reusable to remember the day. Pops of decor that feature your name, or married name, keep reminding you that this day celebrates the day two of you joined together into one new life!
25. Step out of the ordinary and change up the music throughout your wedding events. You may want to be sure your officiant is comfortable with the music selections at a religious ceremony before going off standards. Discover new moments for music, too — such as a lullaby version of a popular song as you walk down the aisle, or preview your first dance by softly playing the song in the background during your first look. You can put a twist on a favorite song by playing several different artists’ versions of it, such as various covers of a Beatles love song.
26. You can’t be everywhere on your wedding day. If you want to try and catch some of the action and emotion that happens away from you, put out disposable cameras for guests to shoot spontaneous moments. If you’d rather not wait to develop film after the big day, ask a few guests if they’ll bring their instant cameras to your wedding and let others snap some photos. All you have to provide is the instant print paper cartridges.
27. Ask your photographer or AV vendor if they have the ability to project photos from the events as a slide show during the day. Many guests will get to see closeups that they may have missed from their seats, and seeing each other on the big screen will help show different perspectives and people in all their wedding day emotions.
28. Are you having a ring bearer in your wedding party? How will he or she carry a ring, even if only symbolically? You can grab a little box or pillow off the internet for sure. Why not bring something from your family into the tradition? Do you have some special fabric that can be made into a pillow, then embroidered with your names and date? Does someone in your family have a special keepsake box that could be borrowed to carry the ring? Or a vintage platter that is a family heirloom? You can think creatively in even the smallest details.
29. By using technology and social media for some of your wedding information you may be able to save costs and do things not feasible with printing, such as creating the dance playlist. Invite your guests to respond to an online survey with their song requests for your music vendor. Then, read the nominated songs on the dance floor and try to guess who submitted which song for a little added fun and games. Use a custom hash tag for your wedding and have guests use it when sharing photos on social media: #thefuturemrandmrsjones #mikeandbenswedding #preschoolsweethearts #celebrateryanandamber
30. Create a QR code that brings your guests directly to your wedding web site or blog for all the pertinent details they need to know. You can share more on your digital invitations and post messages in real time and have a repository for all your information for guests reference and convenience.
    Tap into the talents of each other and your family and friends and incorporate something unusual into your wedding. Does the groom play saxophone?
31. Have him serenade the bride as they enter the reception. Does one of the brides tap dance? A little improv to the tune of the first dance will make a personal statement and create a lasting memory for everyone. Maybe a relative is a whiz at Photoshop and has made a photo of the two of you into a watercolor and framed it as gift to your parents?
32. Incorporate some party activities into the day’s flow, depending on your reception. At Brooklake, many couples have S’mores fun around the fireplaces in our outdoor wedding space. You can have a friend who loves trivia write a short quiz about the newlyweds for the crowd and play game show host with the microphone.

33. Give new life to old family jewelry, or a piece from your childhoods. With some love and hands-on craftsmanship, an old pin, a single earring, loose beads or crystals, or even a broken watch can be turned into a charm on someone’s shoes, used as a dangler for hand-held flowers, converted into cufflinks, or designed as the focal point of a headpiece or hair accessory.
34. Keep something, or someone, special close to your hearts. Have your dressmaker or a seamstress embroider lyrics or your special phrase on the inside panel of your wedding dress, along with your names and date or your new monogram. Or, pin a small photo charm of a missing relative inside a suit pocket.
35. As the mood of your day changes you may feel like showing your different fashion styles as well by changing into a reception gown or a “get-away” outfits. Clothes that are more dance friendly could free you up to move around and relax as you party.
36. Write each other short love letters, and share them at your first look. From stone bridges, to rolling green hills, to beautiful autumn palettes, Brooklake boasts endless intimate locations on our property right here in Florham Park, New Jersey, where you can share your sentiments together and remember them with beautiful photos.
37. Have your bartender create a “signature drink” for your wedding guests to enjoy. See our blog for inspiration.
38. Invite a music-loving family or friend to curate a custom playlist for your wedding and move away from the traditional songs list. Share the playlist electronically in popular music apps, and maybe try to burn a few audio CDs for guests who aren’t quite digital yet

Bonus Tip! Have a favorite celebrity wedding, or enjoy reading about them? Find just one aspect of a real wedding story and make it your own.

An afternoon reading real wedding stories will bring many special ideas into your possibilities. Making them a reality without a lot of stress comes from an open partnership with your wedding venue event planner. Contact a Brooklake Event Specialist to tap into our years of experience and caring approach and create your most special day.