Tie your groom’s boutonnière into your theme—a seashell brings nautical décor full circle, while a crisp maple leaf celebrates autumn and cacti evokes desert vibes.

Traditional guest books often end up stashed in a closet. Instead, choose a coffee table book covering a subject you love (like this one about historical Los Angeles) and that you'll want to display at home; guests can write on the photos or in the margins.

Give your cocktail napkins some personality by having them printed with fun facts about you and your partner. You could also include trivia questions about the newlyweds as an icebreaker for guests.

Instead of having waiters carry trays of champagne around, have them refill suspended platforms with the bubbly instead. If just a touch of whimsy is what you're after—and it fits the theme of your wedding—then we recommend adding 

cocktail umbrella picks or festive paper straws to guests' drinks.

Is the weather forecast for your wedding day blistering? Rent a Sno-Cone machine, popsicle bar, or ice cream stand and chill out!

Give the backstory to any family recipes you're serving. Keep the explanations short and significant, and include them on the printed menu.

For example, "Aunt Martine's French Onion Soup/Grandma Betty’s peach pie."

Give each reception table a name (for example, "China") that relates to your courtship. Have a tent card on the table with a short explanation: "We met sophomore year of college here during a study abroad program!"

Add unexpected elements into your bouquet to give it your own touch.

Have a cultural dance that's a favorite at family weddings? From the tarantella (Italian) to the money dance (Cuba), ethnic jigs give a party a distinctive flavor.

Think papaya filling (the Philippines), cannoli cream icing (Italy), pomegranate glaze (Middle East). No problem if the groom is from a different country—think multiple tiers!

Set up a mini photo studio at the reception for guests to ham it up in front of the camera. Send their photos with your thank you cards for a fun surprise.

GIF photo booths are all the rage these days—just don't forget to share your wedding hashtag to encourage attendees to spread the #love.

Instead of displaying the menu on standard stationery, get creative and have it sprawled across plates, marble, or charcuterie boards in elegant calligraphy.

Is there a charity that's dear to you? In lieu of favors, make a donation in your guests' names; leave an explanatory card on each dinner table.

Hosting cocktail hour outside? Set up stations of different lawn games—like croquet, badminton, and jumbo Jenga—around the cocktail and lounge area to give your guests some entertainment besides mingling.

Have a ring warming ceremony, in which both wedding bands are passed through guests to send their well wishes and love into before they’re placed on each finger.

Hire an artist to live paint your ceremony or reception. They’ll create a work of art out of the happiest day of your life that you can hang on the walls of your future home and treasure for years.

Incorporate your birthstone in your tablescape for a special touch. Beyond the décor, you could also take it a step further by centering your wedding theme around your birthstone–everything from invitations to the frosting on your wedding cake.

Give your bridesmaids something a little more untraditional to carry in lieu of bouquets. We’re also into balloons and lanterns as bouquet alternatives.

Another guest book idea: Leave a glass bowl with cards (or postcards, if you’re a wanderlusting couple) and pens beside it, with a note asking guests to contribute a favorite memory of you or your partner, a bucket list idea, or a piece of advice for marriage.

Whether you're crazy about old-fashioned egg creams, Belgian waffles, or Philly cheese steak, ask your caterer about incorporating your faves into the menu.

Jackson also suggests replicating the menu from the couple's first date—a "simple salad with French onion soup, followed by steak frites" is guaranteed to bring forth a hit of nostalgia (for the newlyweds, anyway).