Your wedding is a very public display of love and commitment, from your vows to your first dance. But while most of your day will play out in front of family and friends, there are plenty of ways to include secret, just-between-the-two-of-you moments and messages. No one may notice these sentimental gestures—for example, sewing a piece of your grandmother’s wedding dress on the inside your gown—but that’s perfectly fine. These sweet subtleties help make your wedding feel that much more personalized, and they create something worth passing down to future generations. Here are some places where you can put hidden love notes to your soon-to-be spouse, nod to your family history, and put your (secret) stamp on your big day.
The bouquet wrap. Instead of tying together your bouquet with ribbon, give your florist something more special to work with: a piece of lace from your grandmother’s wedding dress, a swatch of fabric from your mother’s gown, or a family heirloom like a brooch or locket that can be affixed to the side.
The wedding dress. The options are endless here, and we love them all! Consider embroidering something special on the inside of your dress: your wedding date, a meaningful quote or saying, your initials. (Tip: Do this in blue to tick off your “something blue.”) Some brides sew snippets of a family member’s wedding dress on the inside of the skirt, or incorporate buttons from an old, heirloom dress on the bodice.
The cufflinks. Everyone thinks of engraving their wedding bands, but you should extend this to your cufflinks, too. Cufflinks are an easy place to bring in some subtle personalization; engrave them with something meaningful—initials, dates, a nickname, the coordinates of where you first met. Our favorite idea? Engrave them in your own handwriting!
The groom’s jacket. Sew in a label with a sweet message from your bride, or a saying that’s meaningful to both of you. Or sew in a patch of fabric that’s sentimental to you—a piece of your grandfather’s old tie, for example.
The veil. Megan Markle’s veil, a 16-foot stunner hand-embroidered with the signature flowers of all the countries in the British Commonwealth, set off a slew of personalized veil offerings. And it’s easier than you think to turn a simple veil into something special. Have your monogram, initials or wedding date embroidered at the bottom edge of your veil (you can blend this in with a lacey veil for a super-subtle touch).
The groom’s tie. The back of a tie is a popular place for personalization (as is the pocket square!). Many people put a monogram here, or special details like dates and initials. Like the jacket, the tie is a place where you can add more sentimental value in the form of a fabric swatch, or even a fabric photo patch of a loved one you’ve lost, so they’re close to you all day. (Tip: If your groom hasn’t thought about any of this, borrow the tie and surprise him by having a sweet message embroidered on the back.)
The soles of your shoes. Give your wedding party permanent markers and ask them to sign the soles of your wedding shoes. This gives you (literal) support as you go through your big day, and it turns your shoes into a keepsake. Or exchange shoes with your partner and pen each other a short message on the bottoms, which you each can read as you’re getting ready. Messages worn off by the end of the night? Consider it a sign of a day well spent.
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