South Bend Wedding Venue | How to Personalize Your Wedding

There are traditional weddings and alternative weddings—even anti-brides and anti-weddings!—but what if you fall somewhere in the middle? You’re excited about celebrating your marriage with time-honored traditions, yet you want to infuse extra personality into your big day. Summer and Brian found themselves in the same boat, and they did a phenomenal job of making their special day reflect their personalities and sense of style. They looked forward to exchanging sacred vows at St. Pius X Catholic Church and dancing the night away at St. Joe Farm, a South Bend wedding venue. However, this gorgeous Barbie girl wanted to add some glitz and glam to their big day. So, she did just that with Barbie-pink bridesmaid dresses, heart-shaped glasses, and bright florals. It was too cute for words! We love their balance of dramatic portraiture with fun and flirty images that rock Summer’s glam style.

Don’t let the thought of a traditional wedding put you in a box. You can embrace the traditions that mean so much to you and your family while adding personal touches and pops of color. We’ve got a few ideas to spark your creativity (and maybe knock a few items off your wedding planning list, too!)

How to Personalize Your Wedding Day

Wedding Attire…with a Twist!

Express your creativity through your attire. If you want to stick with the white gown and make heads turn, select a dress style that’s a little unexpected. Two-piece dresses, off-white tones, beautiful ruffles, and whimsical appliqués are just a few ideas to show off your bridal style. Your other half can do the same with a personal touch. Try playful socks, a subtly patterned or colored suit like forest green or burgundy, or a floral tie (not all together, of course!)

Or, you could do what Summer and Brian did by having the bridal party wear a fun pop of color with a few accents to match, such as bright boutonnieres, ties, or socks.

All that to say, choose unique colors, patterns, and fabrics to reflect your personality. You can include personalized details in the wedding party’s attire to make it more memorable.

Prop it Up

Consider incorporating props in your wedding portraits. Props can help make the portraits more interesting and evoke candid shots as everyone plays along and gets into the festive mood. Use items related to your wedding theme or that have a special meaning. Make sure the props match your style and color scheme. We love Summer’s pink sunnies that she chose for her crew. Even the guys got in on the glam vibe and wore sunglasses for a few photos.

If you love editorial images, props are a great way to create that look. Some other ideas include:

hats
umbrellas
champagne glasses
a large picture frame
a picnic set up
balloons
wreaths or florals
eco-friendly confetti

Unforgettable Experiences for an Extraordinary Day

Depending on your style and the venue, you could go the adventurous route with a bicycle ride or boat tour. We’ve also found a few venues that offer equestrian experiences and carriage rides, which provide beautiful portrait opportunities. Summer and Brian decided to do their offsite photos on the beautiful Notre Dame campus as a sentimental part of their day.

Unique wedding experiences make unforgettable memories. From personalized vows and unique locations to creative catering and entertainment, there are endless ways to make your wedding stand out while honoring tradition.

Bespoke Weddings in South Bend, Indiana

We found our way to this beautiful South Bend wedding venue again, and we’re so glad we did! St. Joe Farm is so accommodating toward couples and vendors, and their skilled team is dedicated to making each wedding truly exceptional. As Indy wedding vendors, we absolutely love working with them, and our couples do, too! The farm offers a picturesque backdrop to explore and infuse personal touches and experiences into the day as Summer and Brian did. Cheers to this happy couple!