Your wedding day is all about celebrating the love between you and your partner, and it's the perfect opportunity to go all out with customized décor. And what better way to show off your personality than by incorporating your hobbies?
Whether you choose to opt for something subtle or spring for more of a punchy ‘wow’ factor, wedding experts share their thoughts on creative ways to flaunt your favorite pastimes.
Photo: Momental Designs
"If your hobby is something you do together, go ahead and register for some related items on your registry. Especially if you already have the traditional household items taken care of, your loved ones will probably love the opportunity to enhance your next hiking trip or board game night. Even if the hobby isn't something that you can physically share with your guests at the wedding, they can feel included by knowing what gifts would make your time together even more special.” —Rachel Ceaser, Savoir Fête
"Talking about hobbies within the ceremonies and/or vows can be a lot of fun. Whether it's poking light fun at the weird collections they have or showing appreciation for their musical talents... bringing hobbies up gives these moments a unique and personal spin that makes everything more interesting and memorable." —Brian Franklin, Vows & Speeches
"You could always invite your guests to join in on one or some of your hobbies. If biking is a big hobby of yours, perhaps organize a group bike ride to a restaurant for lunch; if you love yoga, host a private group yoga for your guests. Incorporate elements into your welcome gifts — perhaps it's a voucher or gift card to participate in one of your hobbies over the wedding weekend: ski lift tickets, yoga class cards, or drink tickets to your favorite wine bar for a tasting flight." —Juls Sharpley, Juls Sharpley Events
"Tap into memories. We're working with a couple who loves to cook. On their first date, they made homemade ravioli together. So, as part of their wedding day menu we've added a pasta course of ravioli. For guests familiar with their story, it's a nice touch point and, for all guests, a delicious meal addition!" —Gina Jokilehto-Schigel, Shi Shi Events
"We've seen many destination wedding couples get creative when it comes to reception seating charts and favors. One groom's hobby was making his own custom hot sauces at home, so they gave each guest their own miniature hot sauce bottle with a personalized wedding label at their seat. It was a great addition to the Mexican cuisine served at the reception!" —Jen Avey, Destination Weddings Travel Group
"Some ways that couples can incorporate their hobbies into the wedding would be to have their escort card display include the hobby — I've seen this be the most popular choice with the use of basketballs, favorite drink, luggage tags for the world traveler, etc. Are you a disc golf lover? Why not have a few baskets for guests to throw into during cocktail hour? One of the mountain venues in Colorado offers a fly fishing lesson to guests during cocktail hour — I love this idea!" —Mandy Hess, MJM Designs
"Use your hobbies as a starting point for adding an engaging experience to your wedding weekend that your guests can enjoy. One past bride of mine loved creating crossword puzzles and has even had two of hers published in the New York Times. For her wedding she created a crossword puzzle all about the life and love story of her and her fiancé. She then had it blown up and printed onto a whiteboard. Guests were then able to work together to complete the puzzle over the course of cocktail hour. It was a really sweet and thoughtful way to embrace her hobby and engage her guests in a totally unique experience on her wedding day." —Lynne Reznick, Lynne Reznick Photography
You only get one wedding with your partner, and this is the time to share all of the details that make you both uniquely you. Whatever way you choose to celebrate your hobbies, don’t hold back!
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker, adjunct professor in the field of public relations, and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.
