Tradition vs. Trendy

The last big family wedding we had was my sister's - 10 years ago.

It was a beautiful wedding. The bridesmaids wore iridescent purple dresses, she had a live singer for the dinner music and she chose a unique, but elegant dress that 10 years later is still considered beautiful.

Although these were all memorable parts of the wedding, her wedding was also full of tradition. Her and her husband were married in a church, her flower girl looked like a mini bride and the groomsmen wore matching tuxes.

Paul and I, not so traditional.

For starters, I'm having a destination wedding - a big wedding trend in recent years. But I'm trying to make it easy for those who can't make it to the Cheese state and am having a reception at a later date in Illinois as well.

My vows will be said on a dock rather than at an alter. I'm going to have two flowers girls, both who will be wearing turquoise, and my bridesmaids are wearing mismatching black dresses. (I thought my mother was going to have a heart attack over this. Her exact response was "you want your wedding to look like a funeral?!")

I've ruffled some feathers throughout this planning between holding two receptions, and all of my non-traditional ideas. But after having to say a few times "it's my wedding," the families are coming around. And I think when they see it all on the big day, they will see my vision.

My concern though is not so much who I'm making happy or unhappy, but more of where should the tradition vs. trendy line stop?

I'm having the flower girls wear turquoise rather than white, so is it bad to push that and skip out on the petal throwing all-together? And is it wrong to have the ring bearer carry a box rather than a pillow?

Can I skip the boutonnieres? It's not like the groomsmen are going to dry them out and scrapbook them.

I'm not asking for a lot here. Just to shake things up a bit without criticism.

It's not like I'm going to wear a black wedding dress down the aisle. Although, I did consider that. I can't seem to wear white without spilling something on it, but my mama wouldn't give on that.