Incorporate Cultural Traditions

• When marriage joins two families, often it also joins two different cultures. Celebrate both sides of the family by incorporating important traditions and customs from each. For example, the groom and groomsmen can wear kilts to honor a Scottish heritage or the couple can incorporate the Dance of Isaiah to celebrate a Greek background. Instead of worrying about cultural traditions clashing, forge your own family traditions by combining your favorite elements from each side of the family.
  
  

Take a Sneak Peek

• Skip the wedding tradition of not seeing your beloved before you walk down the aisle. Before the guests begin to arrive, sneak off to a private room or shaded garden for a rendezvous with your fiance. This quiet time alone will give you the opportunity to reconnect before the ceremony and calm each other's nerves. Just because you are not sharing this time with guests, however, does not mean that you cannot capture the special moments. Bring your photographer along for the meet-up but make sure he keeps his distance.
  
  

Write Your Own Vows

• Bucking the customs of the past, many couples choose to write and recite their own wedding vows. Although personalized wedding vows have become a popular trend, that does not make the idea any less special. When writing your vows, include specific details about why you love your partner and endearing stories about your relationship. If you are too shy to share these details in front of a large group of wedding guests, consider setting aside a special time before the ceremony to recite them to your fiance one-on-one.
  
  

Keep a Secret

• Wedding planning can be a stressful process and it is easy for couples to get caught up in a tug-of-war between what they want and what their families have in mind. That is why it is important, when the big day rolls around, to have something special to share just between the two of you. Get together with you fiance and come up with a memorable trinket that you can each carry with you throughout the ceremony and reception, such as the movie ticket stubs from your first date or a small photo of your child. This secret keepsake will make your walk down the aisle only that much more special.