Including All the Important People

One of my favorite things that I did at my wedding was extra special dances. This included a dance with my mum and my bonus-mum. When i danced with my mum my three sister's came up and joined it, it was just so special and fun. All the girls together on the dance floor :)

Last week on my instagram and facebook I shared the little things that I did to include my parents in the big day, besides the obvious.

First, I wrote a special letter to my mum, my bonus mum, my dad, and my bonus dad. I gave these letters to them the night before the wedding. My mum passed down her love for writing letters and sending cards, so it seemed like a natural thing to do!

Second, I hand painted on wine glasses for my mum, my bonus mum, my now mother-in-law, as well as all my sisters and bridesmaids. Each glass was dipped in their favorite color with their names on them. We'll talk about other bridal party gifts at another time! My husband gave laser etched glasses to all the dads and his groomsmen to include the dads there too.

Third, in the traditional way my dad walked me down the aisle and handed me off to my husband! I believe he also said "my keys are in my pocket if you still want to get out of here" because he's always in full dad mode, quite the jockster. Then, as mentioned in my post, I also had my mum, my bonus mum, and my bonus dad give their blessing as well!

Then came the dances!! At the reception my husband and I did our first dance first, then I danced with my dad, then my husband danced with his mum. After that I danced with my bonus dad and then with my mum (and sisters) as well as with my bonus mum. So much dancing! It was a fun way for me to include them all and made it feel extra special. Plus it was a good way to kill time before dinner was ready!

Though I didn't have any family members in the bridal party it was also nice to do these little things so that they felt more involved in the process. Before dinner service, my eldest sister and her husband did the pre-dinner prayer which was also a lovely way for them to be included!

Now let's take a quick peek at other ways you can include the important people in your life - aside from those mentioned above or including them in the bridal party!

1. If you participate in the something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue then you can use this tradition to include the important people in your life! One of my favorite things - that I didn't do but I definitely considered - was sewing a piece of a blue shirt from dad (or anyone who is/was important to you) to the inside of your wedding attire! Most of the time it's in the shape of a heart, but it can be any shape of course :)

2. Speeches is another way to include the people you love most, if they are comfortable with it! We all know that it's "traditional" for the father-of-the-bride, the maid-of-honor, and the best man to give speeches, but anyone you want to hear from can be chosen to give a speech at the reception.

3. Along the same lines, doing readings at the ceremony is another option! This doesn't have to be biblical - I know that that's usually where people's minds go when you say ceremony reading - it can be cute poems or quotes from your favorite books or really anything meaningful for you, your spouse, or both of you.

4. Pictures! Including a table with pictures of your loved ones on their wedding day is such a fun way to include them - if their married of course. Also including a memory table with either pictures or objects that belonged to (or were given to you by) a late loved one.

5. Something I've seen relatively recently that also applies to already married couples that are important to you is playing their first dance songs sometime during the reception. This is a cute way to honor their love while also joining in a dance to the song that marked their beginning! Plus I'm always down for more dancing if you didn't realize :)

What are some other inclusions that you've seen?! I'd love to know if there was something unique that you saw at a wedding. People are always coming up with fun new ways to include everyone and have fun during their big day! It makes me want to throw a second wedding with my husband just to include these things hehe :) maybe for our 20 year anniversary ;)

**Just a note to say that including people who matter to you IS NOT limited to family members, it can be your very best friends too or just people you have grown up with your whole life who became family!**