My wedding and my friend's are just one month and one week apart!?

Question

I'm getting married by the end of May and one of my friends in July. We will use the same church and the same decorators. Even the people we have invited are largely the same. Receptions will be held at different salons, though. The point is: comparations between the 2 weddings will be inevitable. Since I go first, I think I have the upper hand in some aspects. But I'm still trying to figure out how to make MY wedding memorable. I'm not talking about competition, because I believe every wedding has its own charm. But I do want my wedding to stand out.
Do you guys have any ideas of what can I do to have a very unique wedding? I'm talking about ideas for the ceremony, the reception, even decorations! I've found some neat ideas on the Internet that I'm planning to use, but I could use some more to choose from. Every advice will be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Take a lot of pictures. Have a video made. Do not worry. Weddings are about the love and binding promise made between a bride and groom. What else matters?

Answer 2

I'm using the Rose Ceremony in my wedding instead of the unity candle. I like the symbolism behind the unity candle, but it's soooooooo overdone, and I think it interrupts the whole ceremony, so we decided to go with this:

The Rose Ceremony

The Rose Ceremony is simple yet profoundly
moving. The bride and groom exchange two
red roses, symbolizing the giving and receiving
of their love for each other throughout their
entire married life. The Rose Ceremony also
conveys how to use the rose and its symbolism
in difficult times in order to forgive each other.

(after exchange of rings)
"Your gift to each other for your wedding today
has been your wedding rings - which shall always
be an outward demonstration of your vows of
love and respect; and a public showing of your
commitment to each other.

You now have what remains the most honorable
title which may exist between a man and a
woman - the title of "husband" and "wife." For
your first gift as husband and wife, that gift will
be a single rose. (or you have chosen a single rose)
(Take roses from best man and maid of honor)

In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of
love and a single rose always meant only one
thing - it meant the words "I love you." So it is
appropriate that for your first gift - as husband
and wife - that gift would be a single rose.
(or you would choose a single rose)

Please exchange your first gift as husband and
wife. (Exchange roses) In some ways it seems like
you have not done anything at all. Just a moment
ago you were holding one small rose - and now
you are holding one small rose. In some ways, a
marriage is like this. In some ways,
tomorrow is going to seem no different than
yesterday. But in fact today, just now, you
both have given and received one of the most
valuable and precious gifts of life - one I hope
you always remember - the gift of true and
abiding love within the devotion of marriage.

_________ and _____________, I would ask
that whereever you make your home in the
future - whether it be a large and elegant home
- or a small and graceful one - that you both
pick one very special location for roses; so that
on each anniversary of this truly wonderful
occasion you both may take a rose to that spot
both as a recommitment to your marriage – and
a recommitment that THIS will be a marriage
based upon love.

In every marriage there are times when it is
difficult to find the right words. It is easiest
to hurt who we most love. It is easiest to be
most hurt by who we most love. It might be
difficult sometimes to say the words "I am sorry"
or "I forgive you"; "I need you" or "I am
hurting". If this should happen, if you simply
can not find these words, leave a rose at that
spot which both of you have selected - for that
rose then says what matters most of all and
should overpower all other things and all other
words.

That rose says the words: "I still love you."
The other should accept this rose for the
words which cannot be found, and remember
the love and hope that you both share today.

__________ and ________, if there is anything
you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is
that it was love that brought you here today, it
is only love which can make it a glorious union,
and it is by love which your marriage
shall endure."

Answer 3

Here is something for you, you and your friend go out to lunch, share the similarities and see what you two can do to switch it up. Lord knows the ceremony is for the family and bride and groom, it is long and sometimes boring for guests. I only say this since I am from a large family and we seem to have a wedding 2-5 times a year. Nothing is really memorable for the guest, like a blooper during the wedding, a child doing something off the wall or unless something unpleasant happens during the reception.

You can change up your meals, your wedding march song, your music you play at the wedding reception, different wedding pamphlets, ask the wedding guest to wear certain colors. Putting cameras on the tables, balloons for the kids, silly table gifts for guests. I am not sure about what you can do for your wedding party and what not since there is no major details, you can change color schemes a bit, add more or less flowers, offer music for guest while they wait for church, or ask them to stand during service to say something nice about the two of you.

That is all I got for now, I pray that you both will find a level ground. Dont try to one up your friend, she might get bitter at you if you do something that makes others think of your wedding over hers, and it can also cause problems within your church. May God bless your union.

Answer 4

I faced this same issue with some friends of mine, and actually felt weird at their wedding because it was so similar to mine (they had the same songs we did, too). Here are couple of suggestions, 1. have a candle lit wedding with small votive candles placed all around (on the banisters, along stairs, in jars at the end of each row). 2. Have each person in the wedding party say a scripture or a poem as they come up to the platform. 3. See if you can find someone to play bells at your wedding. It's just beautiful. 4. As people arrive for the reception have their picture taken with a polaroid and put them into a book. Then each guest can write a message next to their photo. 5. Have your attendants grouped groomsman with bridesmaide (two on each side) verses having guys on one side and girls on the other. 6. write your own vows

I'd also recommend you talk with your friend so that you can share with her how you want HER day (since it comes second) to be special and unique and perhaps give her some ideas for making her wedding different from yours.

Answer 5

I am not sure what you are up for but I will tell you that the most memorable wedding that I ever attended was one where the bride and groom DANCED, and I MEAN actually danced - they had been taking dance lessons for months before the wedding - the bride didn't want the same old hum-drum first dance like everyone else she had ever seen ( 2 steps right, 2 steps left....very high school type stuff...) When it was time for them to dance they started off in the typical fashion and ended up with the entire assembly of guests clapping and cheering because we were all amazed!! It was so much fun to watch them really perform for us and for themselves - what a great way to start your lives together - with a well rehearsed, joyful display of dancing!

I realize that may not be what you are looking for but I will always remember how Victoria and Shaun danced...it was amazing and FUN!

Answer 6

I hate to break this to you......
All weddings are somewhat the same, especially if you have it in a church. So unless you're planning something really over the top, then your wedding will be similar to hundreds of thousands of others, including your friend's.

What makes yours different is it's you! People won't forget who you are during the event. So just do whatever is in your reach, and don't worry about the uniqueness of it all. Because whatever you think of, chances are that someone has done it before.

Answer 7

Your wedding is unique because it's about YOU!! Those people aren't there to care about the dress or how cute the flower girl was or how good the chicken at the reception is. They are there to celebrate you and your happiness, so don't worry about the rest. The most memorable part will be the HUGE smiles on yours & your hubby's faces as you leave the church...

Answer 8

To be honest, I think that as long as you two have very different personalities, and likes, your weddings will be plenty different and memorable. You say you're not trying to compete, but I can't help but think you kind of are... Just focus on the most important thing: you and your man are getting married! It will be memorable to you and him no matter what you do. Who cares if other people remember it vividly, you know? But if you still want creative ideas, try theknot.com or just googleing "Creative wedding ideas". There is so much out there! Good Luck!

Answer 9

My biggest suggestion is to make the reception FUN! Make sure your family members and wedding party are ready to celebrate. The biggest compliment we got on our wedding was how fun it was. Everyone just really let loose and was so happy for us that is made all the difference in the world. Decorations and all that usually go unnoticed by guests...unless you spend a million dollars on them. So just HAVE fun and your guests will too!! And you do have the upperhand since yours is first.... Congrats and good luck!

Answer 10

Wow, Congradulations! Well, there are alot of sites that have different, 'do it yourself" ideas about weddings, which would make your wedding more, personal, and if people know, they will look more at the thigns you desgined, and think that it was unique you did it yourself, plus that could save you alot of money, and your weddings will totally be different, because you are a totally different person marrying someone totally different than your friend, so in that regard your weddings are different, and depending on the people you are closer to, that will be memory in itself!