The times, they are a-changing. Weddings are becoming more personalized and are breaking away from tradition, and that’s okay. Your wedding is your special day, and you should not feel obligated to include things that you don’t want just because every other wedding usually has them. Here are ten things you can feel free to skip without feeling guilty:

1. A Local Venue

You don't need to have your wedding in the same town where you live or where your family lives. Though the convenience for your most important guests would be nice, if your dream wedding takes place somewhere else, by all means have it there! The biggest concern will be the added cost for the people you definitely want to attend, so be sure to talk to them first and talk to them early so that everyone can get on board and have time to prepare.

2. Everyone and their Plus One

Many engaged couples stress over their guest list as it can lead to some tough decisions. A common question is whether or not to give a plus one. The general etiquette is if the guest is married, engaged or living with their significant other you include the plus one, but there can be exceptions.

For example, each member of your bridal party should be offered a plus one. They are committing their time to support you, and they will appreciate the gesture of offering them a guest, even if they don’t intend to bring one. If you are unsure about offering a plus one, don’t be afraid to simply ask.

What if you want a small wedding and need to cut the guest list down? Our best advice here is to try not to worry about offending anyone. It is easier said than done, but there are plenty of reasons to not feel guilty.

Maybe your venue is small and only has a certain capacity, or you are sticking to a low budget to save money for other things. Both of these are perfectly valid reasons to give someone who didn’t make the cut. If you are struggling to decide who makes the list and who doesn’t, try calculating your cost per person. That might help you figure out whose presence is worth that cost.

3. A Traditional Registry

It is becoming more common for couples to live together before getting married. If you are one of those couples, you probably don’t need a bunch of new housewares. That said, it is helpful to register for something. You will inevitably have guests who still want to give something, and those people will appreciate some direction.

There are plenty of non-traditional options for registries today. Some couples will register for a “honeyfund”, enabling guests to contribute money, experiences or both to the honeymoon. Another idea is to register for one or a few big-ticket items that multiple people can contribute to like a new couch, a pool table or snowboards. We know a few couples who chose to register for experiences in their hometown that they plan to use for future date nights.

There are even registry websites that let you register for a combination of all those things. Our personal favorite is Zola.com. You can add any item from any website, and it will even import registries from other stores if you have them (if you are interested in creating a registry with Zola, click here to receive $50).

4. First Look (or No First Look)

First look photos are increasingly popular, but there is still something to be said for that moment when the groom first sees the bride coming toward him at the ceremony. It can really add to the emotion of your ceremony and will resonate with your guests. Not to mention the superstition that it’s bad luck to see each other before the wedding!

On the other hand, the first time you see each other is a very personal and intimate moment that you might prefer to share with just the two of you (and your photographer). It can also really help you get those jitters out before the ceremony. Your entrance will still be special, and your family and friends can see the first look pictures afterward.

*Photo from Purple Tree Wedding Photography*

5. Ceremony Programs

Programs can be nice but are not necessary. Most people will likely browse through them while they are waiting for the ceremony to start and then leave them behind. You can use your wedding website to highlight your story, your amazing bridal party and any other information you want people to know ahead of time.

If you want to save some money and trees but still want to make the information present at the wedding, you could create one large sign to display your program or include the information on something you already plan to have guests use like hand fans if it’s hot out or the bags holding the confetti/flower petals/rice for tossing as you leave the ceremony.

6. A Traditional Wedding Party

It is becoming more in vogue to switch up the wedding party. Why would you leave out someone important just because you won’t have the same number of girls and guys? It is totally acceptable to have an uneven number or even guys on the bride’s side and girls on the groom’s side. You could also go another direction and choose to not have a bridal party at all!

7. An Identically Dressed Wedding Party

Similar to not needing the same number of guys and girls, you also don’t need them to all look exactly the same. Your girls will love you as a bride if you give them some control over the dress that they wear. That said, you will have a cleaner look if there is some element of cohesion. Maybe you select dresses that are all the same color but each bridesmaid chooses her own style, or you could have the same style dress each in a different hue of the same color family.

8. A Receiving Line

This has become a pretty outdated tradition and can take a lot of time out of your day. While the receiving line is no longer necessary, what is important is that you find the time to greet all of your guests. You can do that by visiting each table during dinner (but make sure you give yourself time to eat), join them in the photo booth or even say hello to guests as you pull them onto the dance floor!

9. Bouquet and/or Garter Toss

More and more couples are opting to skip this one. It often makes single friends uncomfortable and just leads to general awkwardness. If you want some extra entertainment during your reception, there are lots of other options out there.

One that we have seen quite a bit is the anniversary dance. Invite all the couples onto the dance floor and as the song goes along, the DJ or MC will count up the number of years couples have been married. The couple who has been together the longest is the last couple on the floor and gets the bouquet. It’s also a great way to get experienced marriage advice!

10. Favors

While favors are a nice gesture, you have already spent a good amount on your guests. In fact, many people will be having such a lovely evening that they probably won’t even notice. If you do still want to provide a little something, a good idea is to choose something edible. They are usually pretty cheap, and you will avoid the issue of guests needing to take an additional something home that they may never use.

Wedding traditions are great and certainly have their place, but there is no rule that says you have to follow every single one. You will undoubtedly hear many opinions from several different people, but at the end of the day your wedding should portray your vision, no one else's. You do you and don’t feel guilty about it!

*Photo from La Selva Giardino del Belvedere*

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