PW Guide Article: 10 Wedding Traditions you can do Without

I think these are valid points.  Most Brides become so obsessed with "traditional weddings" they really aren't having the day they really want.  Your wedding should reflect You and Your Husband-to-be. That's it.  It is okay if others help  but, they have to understand, their idea may not be what You want.  When others involve donating money to help pay for the wedding....again, it is not their wedding, so all decisions should be made by the Bride and Groom.  I don't believe if you help pay that you get to make decisions and pressure the couple.  I would rather pay for my own wedding and skip the cliche traditions and have the wedding "we" really want!  Don't get caught up in all the fuss...stop and think, what you really want.  It's okay to be different, and remember, it's only one day.  It will be special but, sometimes we need to step back and take it down a notch.

Yes, I agree. Maintain the traditions if you love them, but don't feel forced to.

Yes, My fiance and I are one of those who think that the dollar dance and the smashing cake all over each other is tacky. Especially for the bride who spent so much money on her entire attire, hair and make up. The groom usually rents his tux and taskes it back, and the tux shop will clean it. But a bride has to keep hers, and spend MORE money on getting it cleaned? That's crazy! And your all stick. We're keeping both of this out of our wedding.

We're going to write our own vows, but we want to keep most of the traditional vows also. Something new, with some old, and traditional.

The Dollar Dance?  Never heard of it!!  That is very gauche.  I have already said I don't want to do the garter toss.  I don't think everyone, especially the groomsmen need to look up my dress--that's private!  I think it's an extra, dumb thing to buy.  I had thought about a lilac bridal gown, but I probably couldn't find one in my price range anyway.  Same with the colored engagement ring I wanted.  I actually have never heard of the sixpence in the shoe.  **looking in wallet for sixpence*** Ooops, I  don't have any.  But it sounds like it would cause back alignment problems. LOL.  I got over that "obey" BS when I was like 5 years old, and said "Mommy, I'm not having that in my wedding." 

I completely agree with all of those. Pick the traditions you want to follow, create new ones of your own but don't lose sight of why you're getting married in the first place. You won't be doomed for divorce or being left at the altar if you skip the traditions you aren't comfortable with, contrary to what many people believe will happen if you do.

I will NOT be tossing the bouquet....But, I will be doing the dollar dance per FI's request.

You can actually get rid of ALL traditions that you do not want to be a part of your wedding. So, brides and grooms can pick and choose. :)

A great alternative to the boquet toss (which can make some of your single friends feel uncomfortable or put on the spot in the event of a catch) is to simply hand the boquet to the next engaged couple. It was lucky that I was the one who ended up getting the bouquet at my best friends wedding last week seeing as I'll be the next one in line. 

I'd like to do the garter toss and wear the white dress but there are many things we'll be leaving out of our wedding as well.