Disclaimer: There is no judgement here if you followed these traditions at your wedding or if you look forward to them. This is an opinion piece, not an etiquette guide. Everyone deserves to have the wedding that they want!

Bouquet Toss

I’ve attended many weddings with a bouquet toss, and while I was able to sit some out, I’ve also been pressured to participate, and I’ve hated it every time.

Garter Toss

No one needs to see a preview of the wedding night, at least not in the modern era. This tradition stems from a time when wedding guests would witness the consummation of a marriage. Voyeuristic all around.

Bride Giveaway

My dad wasn’t around for most of my life, so I never envisioned anyone walking me down the aisle. I did have other options, but I decided to walk myself down the aisle, since I was 33 at the time of my wedding.

Parent-Child Dances

Nich doesn’t like to dance, so our first dance together was his limit. Since he didn’t dance with his mom, I wasn’t going to dance with anyone else either. We got right to the food afterwards.

Toasts

No one had anything prepared, and I don’t think any guests noticed the absence.

Your wedding day is about you and your spouse, and what you are comfortable with. Don’t worry about what people will think if you walk down the aisle in a color that you really love instead of white, or if you don’t have a donut bar, or if you don’t have any wedding attendants. Follow as many or as few traditions as you please. People are going to talk anyway, so do what you want.