African American Weddings

Your unique spin on things.

So an earlier post (too much cake?) got me to thinking.  What personal touches have you put into your wedding?  What is your one unique spin that you have added?  How will you make your wedding stand out from the rest? 

(I know some folks can be touchy about sharing this type of info but come on ya'll we damn near family now. LOL)

I will go first.  (I just copied what I typed earlier into the other post)
So here is what I am doing because a lot of my family doesn't like cake.  Also his family and my family have not met each other.  I needed something to get people to get up and mingle after dinner.  FI and I are having a small wedding cake. Two tiers or three tops.  1 to take home and 1 to cut. 

Instead of doing numbers on the tables there will be a different dessert at each table.  I have 14 tables so instead of table 1 it will be red velvet cake table, chocolate chip cookie table, peanut patties table (FI favorite), chocolate covered strawberries table, peach cobbler table and so on and so on.  You could easily do this with different flavor cakes. 

The bonus is It will also make people get up to go get the dessert they want from another table.  This will cause folks to mingle as they get the dessert they want.  Since I am doing the seating chart the older people who have a hard time getting around will be seated at the table with the dessert I know they like.  I for sure will have to go cartons available so nothing is left behind.  I know it sounds like a lot of desserts but I know my people and it will all be gone.  Everyone that I have told I am doing this is so excited about the idea and has told me what table they want to sit at.
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Re: Your unique spin on things.

  • edited December 2011
    That is awesome!  I'm not sure what I am doing different.  I stole some one's idea to use the word love in different languages as the table names. I guess I did make my own guestbook.  I made one on Mixbook with pics of the FI and I and places for people to write special messages.  I love the book!  I know some other woman have done that as well.  I'm still trying to figure out what else I can do to make it more specialized with a touch of FI and I.
    Until the first full year of being one! Anniversary
  • edited December 2011

    With it being a vow renewal; We wanted more of a family friendly type of atmosphere.

    1) the reception will be more like a "family reunion" type party with the few wedding things done before dinner ex. cake cutting, mothers dance, toast.

    2) Instead of a buffet or plated dinner we will have a family style buffet -dinner of chinese food (one of our favorite meals) this way we know everybody will eat and won't think we having fancy foods, plus we're so against the usual "black people food" lol. Ohh I forgot we will walk through like everybody else. 

    3) Our receiving line will take place at the photo booth (family style and this pic will be inserted into the thank you cards) prior to everyone being seated. Imagine you come in with your family take your pic then escorted to your table. No waiting for the B& G to arrive because we're there already.

    4) Instead of bouquet & garter toss we will play a game with all married couples. Longest & shortest  married will receive a his & her watch set.

    5) Our first dance will get the actual party started. Bar opens, dessert table opens,
    photo booth opens

    Then it's just have fun & enjoy yourself from there.

    Don't know if that's different but that's what we're striving for!!!

  • edited December 2011
    The music is going to be the main attraction for us I think. We love ALLLLLL music in my house and wanna share it with our guests. Plus we found the best DJ to mix old head and new head (FI's words, not mine lol, guess which one he is!!!) Haven't done my table names yet, thinking of naming them after a solo artist or band.
  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_unique-spin-things?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:0548798f-ac14-4447-b0e1-071c714309a4Post:86ab6faa-cc31-499e-8746-d0a3bd33f0c7">Re: Your unique spin on things.</a>:
    [QUOTE]The music is going to be the main attraction for us I think. We love ALLLLLL music in my house and wanna share it with our guests. Plus we found the best DJ to mix old head and new head (FI's words, not mine lol, guess which one he is!!!)<strong>aven't done my table names yet, thinking of naming them after a solo artist or band.</strong><strong> H
    Posted by ThunderKitten2011[/QUOTE]
    </strong>


    That is a great idea!  Just promise me you will have a Stevie Wonder table. I love me some Stevie. lol You could also do love song titles. Such as Tender love, Reasons, Love and happiness. 
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  • edited December 2011
    so I am sure our idea has been done but we are naming our tables something about us and then people have to guess why that name (or thing) is important to us. The winner gets the centerpiece. I know people love to take those home anyway.

    Also, my cousin played name that tune at her wedding as a way for people to get up and go to the buffet and we were thinking of doing that. My family loves name that tune. I have to think more about it because we arent having a buffet so I have to see if it will still work.
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  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_unique-spin-things?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:0548798f-ac14-4447-b0e1-071c714309a4Post:2a6786ea-83f1-4b9a-896f-ba7c8d35968f">Re: Your unique spin on things.</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Your unique spin on things. : That is a great idea!  Just promise me you will have a Stevie Wonder table. I love me some Stevie. lol You could also do love song titles. Such as Tender love, Reasons, Love and happiness. 
    Posted by djscat[/QUOTE]

    OOOOOO LOVE it! LOL and of course there is gonna be a Stevie table!!! I love the love song title tables, I have to get up on the good foot lol, and get this done.
  • edited December 2011
    You all have some wonderful ideas! I'd like to have my programs double as favors and be hardcover books.  (FI and I are book lovers) The first few pages would be the program, the rest of the book will be love poems and stories. Now here is my semi-dilemma: I've only found one website that allows you to create your own book and it's EXPENSIVE...any ideas on how to accomplish this?
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  • FabbiegirlFabbiegirl member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We are basically performing the marriage ceremony ourselves.  We will have an officiant to pronounce us, but we are symbolically going through the vows, the pledge, and the two become one ourselves.
  • FabbiegirlFabbiegirl member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_unique-spin-things?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:0548798f-ac14-4447-b0e1-071c714309a4Post:10e13153-e9c9-4326-b71e-e199d4a4c1e5">Re: Your unique spin on things.</a>:
    [QUOTE]With it being a vow renewal; We wanted more of a family friendly type of atmosphere. 1) the reception will be more like a "family reunion" type party with the few wedding things done before dinner ex. cake cutting, mothers dance, toast. 2) Instead of a buffet or plated dinner we will have a family style buffet -dinner of chinese food (one of our favorite meals) this way we know everybody will eat and won't think we having fancy foods, plus we're so against the usual "black people food" lol. Ohh I forgot we will walk through like everybody else.  3) Our receiving line will take place at the photo booth (family style and this pic will be inserted into the thank you cards) prior to everyone being seated. Imagine you come in with your family take your pic then escorted to your table. No waiting for the B& G to arrive because we're there already. 4) Instead of bouquet & garter toss we will play a game with all married couples. Longest & shortest  married will receive a his & her watch set. 5) Our first dance will get the actual party started. Bar opens, dessert table opens, photo booth opens Then it's just have fun & enjoy yourself from there. Don't know if that's different but that's what we're striving for!!!
    Posted by tcjames[/QUOTE]


    I love your ideas.  That sounds so cool.
  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_unique-spin-things?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:0548798f-ac14-4447-b0e1-071c714309a4Post:4122d0ef-0609-43d9-953c-8e93b483bdc5">Re: Your unique spin on things.</a>:
    [QUOTE]so I am sure our idea has been done but we are naming our tables something about us and then people have to guess why that name (or thing) is important to us. The winner gets the centerpiece. I know people love to take those home anyway. <strong>Also, my cousin played name that tune at her wedding as a way for people to get up and go to the buffet </strong>and we were thinking of doing that. My family loves name that tune. I have to think more about it because we arent having a buffet so I have to see if it will still work.
    Posted by Ksk2012[/QUOTE]

    I love this idea.  We are having a buffet so this would work great for us. 

    <font color="#FF0000"><strong>Thanks ladies for sharing your ideas they all sound great!!!!!</strong></font>
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  • edited December 2011
    This is so strange. I have planned a bunch of weddings for others and have gone out of my way to help them customize their special day.  However, I feel like I don't want to make my wedding a production, so my goal has been to make the wedding as simple as possible.  No DIY projects, no favors, no frills, etc.  I know, I'm being bunk but don't judge me. LOL Although I did get talked into DIY program fans by my real MOH. (that is a LONG story.....)

    Our wedding is small, 68 total guests invited. Praying that everyone doesn't come.  :)  We are doing a Friday afternoon ceremony where our Congresswoman (my former Boss) is officiating. She knows me well and I met my FI while I was working for her and she has watched our relationship grow. I guess that might count as unique.

    Since I want a really simple wedding, I only have 1 MOH and my FI has a best man.  My BFF is going to serve as my event manager/lady in waiting so that she can be my eyes and ears on the wedding day since I can't.  She knows my event management style and has been an assistant to me before so I am happy that she is willing to do this for me.  

    I am letting my florist and caterer basically surprise me with their final food and flower selections.  They have some budget parameters, but they have total creative control over their projects.  We are serving food family style as well.  

    Our signature drink is going to be non alcoholic since my FI does not drink.  We will serve pineapple juice and ginger ale as our signature drink.  

    We are arranging our tables for the reception in a U shape on each side of the room.  The open portion of the U will face each other with a sweetheart table in the center for us and the dancefloor will frame itself in the center of the dinner tables.  

    Otherwise, I just want good food, nice flowers, great photos and to dance the night away at the reception.    
    Anniversary
  • DancerppfDancerppf member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Okay, we've done a few things:

    1. We have a comic book wedding program, designed with superhero versions of ourselves.

    2. My FH is British so I'm walking down the aisle with a Cathedral veil and attendents holding it.

    3. We're getting married in a circular formation with guest surrounding us.

    4. We're saying vows to our parents.

    5. We're having an interactive ceremony where our guest are going to pronounce us husband and wife along with the minister.

    6. We're playing the newlywed game at the reception.

    To name a few
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