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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that there's no such thing as an original wedding since Pinterest etc?

60 replies

OurDayWillCome · 28/02/2015 15:18

Have finally got round to getting married. Want a low key, low budget affair. Never really been too bothered about weddings, so certainly no bridezilla tendencies. Have found a venue in the seaside town DP is from which is where the annual fete is held so thought, oh could have a bit of a seaside/fete theme going on, then looked on the internet and realised this has been done one million times before. As has the fish and chip van. And bunting. And anything I thought would be a goer. I'm not wanting a full on theme, but would like something with a bit of personality, but it seems like trying to do something 'quirky' or 'personalised' or 'vintage' is actually a bit naff. Have recent weddings you've attended used similar 'original' ideas? Most of our friends were married some time ago.

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 28/02/2015 17:34

But the thing is with Pinterest that you will see the quirkiest and certain "trends of quirk" across the whole world. It doesn't mean that every wedding in your area or that your particular guests will have attended are going to have been like that.

There is no such thing as an original idea anyway, never was, and now thanks to Pinterest we can have that confirmed every time we have an idea. (Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing!) :)

squoosh · 28/02/2015 17:35

I agree with Mousefinkle a wedding is wedding no matter which way you slice it so no point tying yourself in knots trying to be 'original'. Good fun weddings have very little to do with the decorations and everything to do with a sense of fun and celebration.

Organise your wedding the way you want. I doubt Auntie Hilda will be looking at the mismatched cups and saucers or Mr Whippy vans whispering 'hmmm, this has been done to death on pinterest'.

Original poster

OurDayWillCome · 28/02/2015 17:39

True Bertie. I think I'm not actually trying to be original, more than I thought of a few ideas then looked on the internet, realised it was the latest 'thing' to do those sort of weddings and I don't want to appear as if I'm trying to be to be trendy. I like fish and chips. I like vintage stuff. I like village fetes. So do a lot of other people, but as others have said, everything's been done for a reason.

OP posts:

MimiSunshine · 28/02/2015 17:43

To an extent I think weddings do all seem to follow similar themes.
From friends weddings I've noticed that
About 5-6 years go weddings were on the 'glamour' side, edging towards black tie, lots of crystal, those really tall vases that are like giant goblets / martini glasses with huge flower displays in and long bridesmaid dresses and perfectly iced cakes.

Since then it seems it steadily switched to mini little vases with 'meadow' flowers scattered around tables, 'naked' sponge cakes, knee length dresses and bunting, vintage suitcases and lots of photo frames

It's all very nice but whenever I see the pictures I do think "oh another 'crafty' wedding".
Having said that I do think a seaside infused theme would be fun. And I love the idea of a sandcastle cake.

LokiBear · 28/02/2015 17:43

Weddings are always going to be similar. I didn't have a theme, just things I liked. Bangers and mash for the wedding breakfast meal, Christmas wedding, cupcakes instead of wedding cake, lots of sparkle, fake snow centre pieces. It was very 'me and dh' but I know it wasn't massively original. I loved every second of it.

LadyFlumpalot · 28/02/2015 17:46

Mines in June and is definitely not original. In fact, I've borrowed ideas from all over the place and squished them all together in the hope of having a fucking huge piss up lovely day with my loved ones with the minimum fuss possible!

squoosh · 28/02/2015 17:46

A friend of mine spent 18 months 'sourcing' teacups from charity shops for her vintage style wedding.

I feel confident in saying I will never love someone enough to give up 18 months worth of weekends for such a dull task.

heartisaspade · 28/02/2015 17:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheRealMaryMillington · 28/02/2015 17:52

I think the only important thing is to focus on everyone having a lovely time.

Make the food good and the booze plentiful, don't make folks hang around for hours for photos, make the speeches great but short, get your invitations consistent and remember people are there to celebrate with you not get something to document on social media.

miniavenger · 28/02/2015 17:57

Pretty much every wedding has been done before with the exception of malfunctions or big issues. The big difference in each are the bride and groom and how they and their guests are. Just do what you want, how you want.

aliciagardner · 28/02/2015 17:57

Agree with everyone saying that none of your guests will be aware of what's common on Pinterest. It will be original for them! Plus, it's the combo that you chose that makes your wedding different from all the rest.
Seaside theme sounds fab! Nautical bunting, driftwood/shell centrepieces and fish and chip/ ice cream can would be just enough to give it that feel without being OTT. Too much is tacky, imho.

Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about being original. People just want to share your happy day, have a drink and a dance and a laugh. The people coming to your wedding all love you, they want to have a nice time from the beginning so they're on your 'side'!

Ps. rock my wedding is good for ideas too - check out the blogs from other brides

elQuintoConyo · 28/02/2015 20:12

zombie weddings have been done to death made me laugh

I don't like to see (pictures of) weddings sooooo themed that the guests dressed in regular 'wedding guest' outfits stick out like sore thumbs.

CSIJanner · 28/02/2015 20:27

Is it unoriginal if the couple of guests hasn't seen or cared about pin-interest?

However if you're looking for ideas, how about a MN idea themed wedding. Okay I'll start

Think pier side as opposed to seaside. Carosel. Dodgems. Candyfloss machines. get chunks of rock, possibly with your initials and wedding date put in, chopped up into little pieces for favours. Evening snack is a cockle and whelk van as opposed to ice-cream. Chips on the side as an alternative.

Or air-surf board, to surf without the water. Or think tea party at Burgh Island with a bandleader / ragtime type party.

Any good? Remember, it needs to be about what you like. We're just nosey and love a wedding thread

Lorialet · 28/02/2015 20:33

Your idea sound brilliant! Who cares if it's been done before? Just do what you want and have your perfect day.

rosy71 · 28/02/2015 20:33

I have never heard of a theme for a wedding.

nooka · 28/02/2015 20:36

I think that some people can get far too carried away with wedding arrangements and the industry around weddings certainly encourages that. To me weddings are about two things, the ceremony where as a guest I hope mostly to see lots of love, and the party, where as I a guest I hope to have fun. Nothing else is terribly important. So do your own thing, choose what you think will be cool and your guests will enjoy and try not to worry (or spend) too much.

lavenderhoney · 28/02/2015 20:37

Quadrophonia theme?:)

Just arrange it to suit you and your guests and have a lovely time.

If you want a mN theme, then perhaps at the FUCKYOUCHRISFESTandthathorse:)

maybe AnyFucker could get certified to do weddings and marry you:)

Anyway, a wedding with bunting and a kind of " darling buds of May" style is nice. If I ever get married again ( hollow laugh) then I would spend ages arranging it and rummaging pinterest for all the great ideas. Instead of letting my mil get involved and having surprise bridesmaids

Totality22 · 28/02/2015 20:43

Loved that wedding featured in ohflippity's link!

Although reeks of "trying too hard to be different" but I still loved it... love a bride in boots.

I agree that doing something as traditional as getting married makes it hard to be unique!!

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 28/02/2015 20:44

If you can think up a genuinely original, never done before idea, that's probably because it's shit. Prioritise your guests having a nice day and then just pick the add ons you like best.

There was a good article on offbeat bride about how everything is tacky and we all need to get over judging everyone else's weddings.

ThursdayLast · 28/02/2015 20:49

we all need to get over judging everyone else's weddings.

This. Truly truly truly this.

2cats2many · 28/02/2015 20:52

Bar, band and boogie. That's all that's needed to make a great party- including a wedding party.

RhoticSpeaker · 28/02/2015 20:55

at "sourcing teacups"

NotAnotherNewNappy · 28/02/2015 20:57

A friend of mine had a pirate & wenches themed wedding aboard and 18th century galleon - would that be original enough?

I agree with the others, don't try to be too different - just choose what you like/what means something to you and it will all come together in a way that feels personal.

DH and had a subtle London theme - in that we had a ivory hackney cab and a silhouette of the London skyline on the invites. For the rest, I tried to keep it pretty classic. If I'd gone the whole hog and hired a London bus, pearly king and queen and served up pie & mash it might have been tacky - but as it was it was just lovely and personal to us.

trixymalixy · 28/02/2015 21:02

Im so glad pinterest didn't exist when I got married. We just did what was us. That included VW vans as wedding cars, which has been done to death now, but our three were driven by friends and one belonged to my FIL so a bit more meaningful.

What I'm trying to say is do what is you, and pay no attention to what anyone else has done.

frumpet · 28/02/2015 21:16

Honestly , the thing that makes weddings personal or unique are the people you invite , otherwise you just have a couple of people looking super smart , even for a weekend .
Pinch the bits you like from Pinterest and enjoy your day

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