(1) Personalizing table numbers:  We asked our awesome photographer--Nataly Lemus, to take pictures of our hands to use as table numbers during our engagement session.  To be extra cautious we also backed it with nice metallic stationary with numerical numbers on it too, in case it was still confusing.  

(2) Non-cheesy Slideshow:  We used www.animoto.com to streamline our photos to the Jack Johnson song "Better Together"..and we made sure to put in not only baby pictures, but pictures of our parents' wedding, drunk photos, Party Boy photos (if you ever watched Jackass you'd understand), photos of friends/guests from the wedding, classic Lan & Jack photo poses (which are two thumbs up--my DH just loves doing it)..it was a big hit, and probably my favorite part of the reception events.

(3) Flip Flop Baskets:  They are really popular right now for good reason.  All the girls really appreciated getting off their heels after the ceremony, cocktail hour, etc..  A huge plus that it is really easy to make.  I waited for the Old Navy $1 sale to buy them and purchased my baskets for about $5 a piece from Cost Plus World Market.

(4) Ceremony Music:  We hired Fiddlestick String Quartet for our ceremony musicians and they played the Beatles' All You Need Is Love for our recessional.  The Beatles are one of favorite bands and it was a great way to personalize all the traditional ceremony stuff.

(5) Something Borrowed:  I wrapped my mom's pearl necklace three times around my wrist to use as a bracelet. 

(6) Reusing Flowers:  We recycled our ceremony flowers for our reception hall.  In particular we used our pomander balls to line up our grand entrance.  We used our large manzanita trees as the background for our sweetheat table.  It looked beautiful!

(7) Reserve seating signs:  We had reserve seating signs for the wedding party.  It made everyone feel extra special.  I never saw my parents so happy.  I highly recommend doing it!

(8) 'Thank' 'You' signs for our thank you cards to our guests!

(9) Kiss in the Middle of the Aisle:  My DH and I made sure to kiss in the middle of the aisle during the recessional.  It was one of the many planned photography shots we wanted after searching through photographer blogs over the planning months. 

(10) B-Pics:  If you do a budoir photobook for your husband, give it to him on the wedding day, so it gives him something to think about the entire day ;)  Also, make sure your 2nd photographer get photos of him opening it.  Those were some of my favorite photos!

(11) Survival Kits for Vendors:  I made a few wedding survival kits for my vendors who would work ALL DAY, like my photographer and planner.  I purchased a set of 10-12 gift bags from Target's wedding section and filled it with Red Bull, Smart Water, emergency chocolate, snack size trail mix, Goldfish and asian trail mix.  They really appreciated it and it only cost a few dollars per bag to make.