So, you wish to have all the trappings of a traditional wedding like your parents or grandparents, but prefer to spruce it up with some uniqueness and individuality? Well, thirty or so years ago it might have been thought of as mixing the tradition of *Queen Victoria with the debauchery of rock and roll. But, today's wedding styles allow couples to have their cake and eat it too with regard to tradition and creativity. Take the example a few years back of a Hollywood wedding and the mother who labored over a finely designed traditional style, only to have it personalized by an interruption of a rock and roll song during the ceremony. It was kept secret by the couple up to the surprise and became the couple's stamp of individuality. Score one for rock and roll. So, in the spirit of romance, what's your style, passion, or interest? I'm always asked, "How can we make our wedding different"? My response is "Personalize it". I ask them to sit back and think about who they are, their passions and their own personal styles. From there we come up with a host of ideas to ignite the creative juices and the empowerment of creativity. In my research on the east coast, I find couples are also looking for a new twist to an area known for tradition. One couple interviewed there had a great passion for baseball, and are including custom baseball themed wedding invitations, professional baseball team named tables and engraved baseballs as favors. Another couple is planning a New Year's Eve Wedding with travel size alarm clocks as favors that will all sound off at the stroke of midnight. I've had many requests for couples wishing a friend to perform the ceremony like they saw on the TV show Friends. This procedure of becoming ordained is simply done on-line in five minutes and it's legal with no charge. Another great idea that I recommend as a great keepsake is to send your wedding invitation to President and Mrs. Bush at the White House. The address is:

The President & Mrs. Bush
The White House
Greetings Office, Room 39
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20502

You will receive back a nice memento. If you're catholic, you can even have your invitation blessed by the Pope. Check with your local priest for information. Why not address your guests yourself through a custom CD as an invitation or favor? Words spoken and recorded from the bride and groom are memorialized digitally along with their selection of songs. You can even have a custom song written and recorded for something extra special.

The creative choices are endless for today's couples. Why not integrate you and your fiancés love of baseball, juggling or medieval archeology into your wedding path. Weddings are steeped in tradition, but are sculpted in creativity and when blended together, can be a wonderful, memory-filled experience to create that magic of happily ever after.
*Queen Victoria is credited for being the first bride to wear a white wedding gown.