Informal and casual weddings don’t really need a seating arrangement. According to Bridal Guide magazine, guests at small weddings should be able to seat themselves. If you’re holding the ceremony in a small place with seating options that are limited, you might want to add extra chairs or at least padded cushions on the floor.

Certain religions, namely those of Christian or Jewish faiths, request that the bride’s family sit on one side of the church/synagogue, while the groom’s family sits on the other side. Today, that choice is completely optional. The Knot recommends that older guests should sit in the front so they can hear and see the ceremony better, and that disabled guests should sit at the ends of the benches or pews for easier access. They also suggest that family members are given priority for the first rows with the mothers of the bride and groom seated last.

If you plan on having a large ceremony with a lot of people, it might be a prudent idea to create a seating chart and to go over it with your ushers before the big day. Try not to stress about the ceremony seating arrangements.

Have Several Flower Girls and Ring Bearers

If you have more than just one special little girl and one special little boy in your life, why not have several kids share the roles? You could have two or three little girls play the flower girl roles and have two or three boys (including the ring bearer) escort them down the aisle.

Ask Relatives or Friends Read Special Passages

A wedding ceremony is really all about the couple, but there really is no reason not to ask loved ones to be involved. You could have your friends take turns reading select passages from religious texts (like from a Bible, Torah, or Koran), poetry, or whatever else you’d like.  If you want, you could also have your parents or siblings get involved with the reading festivities as well!

Keep it in the Family

If you want, you could ask select family members or close friends if they would want to be involved in key parts of the ceremony. For instance, if you know someone who is ordained as a minister, you could ask them if they want to officiate. If you have a talented friend, you might ask them to sing a special song as you walk down the aisle. This not only makes the wedding even more special and intimate, it will also save you some extra money. Just remember to ask for the right reasons and not just because you want to save money.

Photo Mat

What could possibly be more personal than a guest book? A small photo mat that’s surrounded by an engravable surface that allows guests to sign. You can purchase a photo mat at I Do Engravables Signature Keepsakes starting at $109.00.

Memory Box

If a few well-wishes aren’t enough, perhaps a memory box filled with individual sheets of stationary will do the job. This provides each guest with the opportunity to write messages or full-length letters to the couple. It’s a nice way to encourage your guests to get more creative with their notes. You can make the memory box even more special by decorating it with a small collage of personal photos of the two of you.

Video Guestbook

Let your guests give you a little face time with a video guestbook booth. A video booth or kiosk will enable all your guests at the wedding to communicate their feelings and well-wishes to you. The best thing about this option is the DVD that lets you relive your wedding all over again.

A Wedding Quilt and Other Options

Not impressed with the choices above? You might consider making a handmade quilt or buying one, and have people sign it for you. You could also purchase a porcelain or ceramic platter, a scrapbook, a large puzzle, or whatever you want. You can pretty much use anything easy for the guests to sign.

You and your fiancé don’t have to be associated with a specific religion to have a spiritual ceremony; you can still bring a sense of spiritual piece to your day. Here are some ideas.

1- Keep the Faith Rituals Traditional
Traditonal rituals are mostly outdated, but in the case of the ceremony, it’s not a bad idea to incorporate the traditions of your faith into your wedding. For example, couples of the Jewish faith may want to circle each other to represent each of the seven blessings. Couples from the Catholic faith might want to have guests throw rice at them after the ceremony to energize the fertility of the couple. Find out what your religion’s wedding ceremony rituals are, and choose one or two of them for your wedding.

2- Invite Participation in the Ceremony

Outside of tradtion, almost anything goes. You could have a close relative (like your father or sister) read a passage or two as part of the ceremony readings. If you’re merging two families to create a blended family, you could have everyone light a candle to show unity. A wedding doesn’t have to be just about the bride and groom, you can invite other people to participate in the ceremony.

3- Show Your Unity in Spirit

The exchange of wedding rings is one way to show unity in spirit, but it’s not the only way. Other creative ideas include holding a champagne toast after the vow exchange or recite passages from love poems to each other.

1 – Figure out what you want to say.

Traditional is out, so many couples opt to write their own vows or decide to add something extra special. As you’re planning your ceremony, make sure that you take the time to sit down and think about the vows, and what you might want to add. Take your time if you feel its necessary, and be sure to rewrite anything you deem important. Make sure your fiancé is on the same page.

2 – Consult with your officiant.

An officiant will let you know if your ideas will blend into the ceremony. Some religions may have requirements and limits on personalized vows or readings, so be sure to ask beforehand.

3 – Read samples of literature and poetry.

Start your search for inspirational quotes and readings by perusing literature. It could be anything from classic tomes to modern works, the only requirement is that it needs to resonate something that’s important to both your and your fiancé. Remember that poetry, sonnets, song lyrics, and movie quotes are all fair game.

4 – Bring it all together.

Once you know where you’re going with the passages and/or vows, it’s time to put it all on paper. You could write it by hand in a notebook, but it would be better to type it on a computer and print out several copies. If you’re brave enough, or you would like a little feedback from others, feel free to show people you’re closest to, as they might provide insight or ideas you might have otherwise over looked.

Here are a few inspirational ideas you could really use.

1- Start with the pews.

Add a little something extra to classic wooden pews. You could attach round bouquets of fresh flowers, then wrap a large ribbon around the base. You could also cover the pews with silk fabric to transform the church into something more modern.

2- Make the most with flowers.

Flowers enhance the ambience of any place, so make sure that you’ve got room in your budget to add them to your ceremony venue. If you cannot afford flowers, try adding greenery to the scene instead. You could bring a few potted plants into the church or other venue. A few small potted trees can really liven up a place.

3- Decorate or customize the chuppah.

Most Jewish couples opt for a traditional chuppah, which is essentially a canopy the couple stands under when they exchange their wedding vows. If your synagogue doesn’t provide one, you can create your own. You can make one by assembling four poles, and then covering up the poles with a large all-white canopy or piece of fabric.  Secure the fabric around each pole.You can customized your chuppah by wrapping flower garlands around the poles, or by sewing a few glittery pieces of jewelry onto the fabric for a little shine.

1- Bring in your culture.

Whether or not you and your fiancé share the same heritage and background, your wedding is the perfect time to share your culture with the guests. If you have African-American heritage, celebrate your roots by literally “tying the knot.” Have your minister or officiant use a piece of cloth to loosely tie your wrists together as a symbol of unity. If you’re Irish in heritage, why not carry a small horseshoe inside your flower bouquet, just like your ancestors have for ages? Pay homage, but don’t forget to get a little creative.

2- Select passages with meaning.

You can add special passages to your ceremony vows to create something that you and your fiancé can really resonate to. Ideas include poetry, story readings, or even songs. These passages can be related to your culture, religion, or otherwise have another important meaning.

3- Walk down the aisle to your song.

Instead of walking down the aisle to the traditional wedding march, why not walk down to your favorite popular love song instead. You could hire a professional piano player, an orchestra, or a live band to perform the song. If you really want to make an impression, you could hire a local choir to sing the song instead! On the other hand, a simple acoustic rendition might be just the thing for your ceremony.

Here are three amazing places that are worth considering for a magical destination wedding.

1- Jamaica

Who doesn’t dream of getting hitched on a beautiful island that’s surrounding by surf, sand, and palm trees? Jamaica is pure paradise, and it’s full of wedding friendly resort hotels, like the Ritz Carlton or  Breezes Resorts. Make your big day even more special by having a live reggae band play at your reception. You can also serve Jamaican delicacies like spiced jerk chicken and plantains.

2- Paris, France

France’s most magical city conjures up images of romance, so if you’re looking for a European destination wedding, Paris could be the perfect choice.  With incredible sites, museums, shopping, and restaurants, your guests will also enjoy the destination. To help them take full advantage of it, you can give them maps and a list of cool things to check out. You can walk down the aisle in one of the city’s many churches, like the American Cathedral or the American Church, then you can host the wedding reception at a grand hotel in the city.

3- Aspen, Colorado

The Rocky mountains create the perfect setting for a wedding, regardless of the season. Your guests will love to ski the slopes during the winter, or they can explore the gorgeous views during the summer. Book your wedding at the luxurious Vicerory Snowmass, a fabulous resort that gives you a choice of four venues to hold the ceremony and reception. The entire Aspen area is great place for nature lovers to celebrate their union.

Shop for Deals

As soon as you start planning the wedding, you should start shopping for deals. Check out deal websites that are geared towards weddings and brides, as they have the most finds. Some examples of savings include 10-20% off flowers, photography, or wedding accessories. Wedding Wire is a great site that specializes in city specific deals and free offers.  Best of all, you don’t need to give out your email address to access the deals.

Visit a Wedding Show

A wedding show is essentially a convention that connects wedding vendors to potential customers. Since most companies are always looking for new ways to recruit customers, chances are you will find great offers and the occasional freebie. Don’t forget to be on the lookout for sweepstakes and giveaways. You may feel that entering such contests are a waste of time considering the odds of winning, but you just never know!

Search for Package Offers

Many hotels and resorts offer special package offers for a great price. The package offers may vary by company and location, but most include the basics: ceremony, reception, cake, cocktail hour, and dinner. The only downside to these packages is that you are not allowed to bring in most outside vendors and services. To get the most for your money, it’s a good idea to research several options and to thoroughly read the contract before signing.

Choosing the Flower Girl and Ring Bearer – Your favorite niece and nephew could serve as the flower girl and ring bearer respectively. If you or your fiance have really young children or toddlers, you might want to consider having them involved in the wedding. When you ask the children to become involved with the festivities, there is little doubt that they will be delighted to help, but you should make sure that they understand their part and what they have to do. You can also have the bridesmaids and groomsmen help the young attendants practice their duties at the rehearsal dinner.

Giving Gifts – This is certainly not mandatory, but it is a nice gesture. Kids love gifts, and even though you may be tempted to buy them their favorite toy, it’s better to give them something that can serve as a keepsake. A plush teddy bear or an engraved piggy bank are great ideas. As with all attendant gifts, you should not feel compelled to spend more than you originally planned for. Your wedding is a gift, as it is because it brings all the families together to share one priceless moment.