Pants.

There ain't no such thing as an 'original' wedding. Sorry.

Yeah, I know. I was being naive. But then, everyone tells you to make it 'special' and about 'you'...it's a load of toss. Weddings are basically all the same, no matter how many personal touches you try and incorporate. At least I know now I can just chill out and get drunk.

But none of your guests will have seen it before.

In all honestly, there is very rarely a true 'original' wedding these days.

Just go with what you love.

Weirdly, your comment has made me feel better!

Was just coming back to temper my original sarcasm with similar.

I bet your guests won't have been to a wedding like yours before though so it will be unique to them. It sounds great, I wouldn't worry xx

You know me - 'Kharv: Footlong, just served slightly tempered'

Thanks guys- in all honesty, it's taken the pressure off a bit! I was really worried about everything being unique and original and special.

Now I know it's impossible, I don't care so much! Back to Plan A. ?

Whilst it may not be totally unique... i bet it will be completely different to any of the weddings any of your guests have been to before.

You dont have to tell them you have read that report...

Its about you guys and what you want... and if thats what you have done, then it will be special regardless.

I disagree. Going back to your earlier comment about "personal touches"...

"Personal touches" (themes are special to the couple, certain props that are significant) are never going to be original. Nobody can think that they are the only couple to incorporate a bucket and spade at their wedding? However, "personalised touches" are almost certainly original.

An example: I had place cards that had the person's name and a song lyric printed on them:
Am I the only person in the world to have song lyrics printed on their place cards? Unlikely.
Was mine the only wedding that my guests will ever attend where song lyrics are used on the place cards? Unlikely but possible, I suppose.
Was mine the only wedding that my guests will ever attend where the song lyrics on the place cards were all specific and personal to our relationship with each guest? Probably to certainly. Even if they attend a wedding where someone else does the same, the chances of that couple picking the same song to encapsulate their relationship with said guest is vastly improbable.

So is there anything "personalised" rather than "personal" that you can do to add a bit of originality back?

Your wedding will be a reflection of you and that is what your guests will see. It doesn't matter if someone has done similar before: this is your vision of your wedding, and will therefore be special.

x

To echo what everyone else has said - a lot of weddings are similar, but you will notice that when you're the one planning and researching them. Your guests - unless they spend a crazy amount of time on wedding planning websites and blogs - usually won't think 'well, I've seen this before'. Most people who go to weddings aren't comparing them to anything - instead, they're appreciative of the effort the bride and groom have gone to and just enjoy themselves!

Example: my mum called me the other day and told me about this great wedding they'd gone to: "It was amazing, Zoe, they even had a thing called a 'sweet buffet'! You could go up and fill bags full of sweets, it was so much fun!" (With Peter Kay style hesitant pronunciation...)

I have seen bits you've been planning for your wedding on here and it looks really good! Very different to a lot of weddings I've seen - you should definitely submit it as a real wedding for the site

Thanks everyone for the nice comments; I genuinely wasn't coming on here for a pity party- if anything I feel like the pressure is off a bit now! You're right. Our wedding is going to be very different from any I've been to and it's what we want, so that's the important thing.

FTLOMB thanks for the advice. I've been wracking my brains to try and think of stuff- I'm personalising each of the napkin rings with the guests name- they're mini life-preservers (made from curtain rings!) with 'HMS Whatever'- whatever being the guest's surname- printed on them and the date. I might use the pyrograph thing to write something more meaningful on the chip fork place names. Plus our cake will be pretty spesh, hopefully. I'm hand-drawing maps from the reg office to the reception venue to hand out too.

I'm going to have a think about other ways we can make it more personal, without OH putting the kibosh on it for being too soppy- he's already vetoed the sailor knot-tying thing and the old-skool sea shanty singer... I'm going to make a beachball pinata, and we're having inflatable beach balls at the reception as well as a knobbly knees contest. I'm also making a photo-cutout board thing; hand painting the whole thing with my dad.

Actually, the more I think about it, the better I feel! Stuff everyone else! ?

Awww Skeppers, the little details aren't what make the wedding unique, it's the people and the energy of the day. Which shall be captured marvellously and you'll look back and remember how much fun you had and how happy you both were, and that's the importance of the wedding!

And Brown is totally right, if you want to feel it's original, just make it personal, no one else in the world will have the same thing that way!

Skeppy Skeppy Skeppy!!!!!!

We love your planning (I certainly do!!) you love(d) your planning.... What's the issue?

So what if someone else has gone along the same lines? You chose your style and each element for a reason- that hasn't changed has it?

I'm quite sure we aren't the only couple doing a gunmetal and white scheme. Or having a laid back village hall play fest reception. I'll be wearing a Maggie dress,him a hired grey tails suit and both our rings are from argos.

Seemingly completely unoriginal yeah?

Maybe.... But not to us.

It's our only time, styling everything how we want it with our own personal tweaks and a bit of DIY thrown in.

Surely the thoughts and little touches put in to each and every wedding day DO make them original in their own way? And definitely to the couple!

Stop fretting and go eat some candyfloss!! ;0) xx

Yes Ma'am! ?

Hit the nail on the head!!

Do you know how many guests I see who are so impressed because they've never seen a sweet buffet???

People don't get to attend loads of weddings so you're guests are going to be wowed!

If it makes you feel any better, I've probably attended more weddings than anybody else on here (I think 35 at last count!) and I've never attended a seaside themed wedding (apart from my own which was more beach than seaside) and I live right next to the sea!

I couldn't give a stuff if mine is a re-hash of everyone else's wedding, it's the day that me, my fiancé, my son, my family and friends will love. They will feel treasured and appreciated and included and we will laugh non-stop. I just want them to be happy, I'm not interested in marks out of ten for originality or anything else for that matter. ?

Some friends of mine just got engaged and the bride is constantly going on about she wants to do the wedding 'her' way, totally unique, personal touches etc etc - I had a look at her pinterest board and it's practically the bible on vintage shabby chic :p

It's a lovely style and I'm sure they'll have a great wedding, it's just funny to me since I spend so much time looking at wedding sites and know how very, very popular that theme is right now!

Also - after reading all your details OP, I really really wish I could justify having a seaside wedding myself. It sounds fantastic

I know i would love for my wedding to be origional, but the wedding and reception venues are taylored to weddings - so i know the venues are "pre loved" but still attempting to buck the "Traditional".

Married on a boat - reception in a Converted church - now circus skills school, but for my lot it will be unique. and even if i got married at the local posh hotel with chicken or beef for the wedding breakfast then its still origional as its the only time i plan to marry my OH. there origional - unless your marring the same guy twice it'll be origionl ?

I bet they didn't have handmade fimo crabs ?

Every wedding is completely different, because it's about the people who are there. It's great that you've put in so many personal touches, but as others have said no wedding will ever be truly unique, there will be someone in the world with the same ideas. We've photographed weddings in the same venue, with the same colours, same theme, and they've been hugely different. It's you and your husband who'll make the wedding day, along with your guests, and that'll always be unique ?

I think there's far too much pressure on couples to have a wedding that's "different" - your wedding will be special, your guests will enjoy themselves. you'll have a brilliant day - and that's what it's all about ?

Fanks everyone. My OH (ever the voice of reason) has told me to stop being a bellend.

Excited again now!!

*waves arms like Kermit*