What is a Nontraditional Wedding?

So, you’re wondering, what is a nontraditional wedding? Maybe you’re sick of hearing about matching chair covers, forced first dances, or the idea of spending an entire day entertaining people you barely know. Maybe you and your partner would rather get married on a mountain, in a tattoo parlor, or at a drive-in while stuffing your faces with burgers.

Spoiler alert: a nontraditional wedding is whatever the hell you want it to be.

It’s a wedding that throws out the rulebook, ditches the pressure, and lets you actually enjoy your damn day. No outdated traditions, no pretending to be someone you’re not—just a day that feels like you. Whether that means eloping in the woods with your closest people (or just the two of you) or throwing a neon-lit backyard rager instead of a stuffy banquet hall reception, the possibilities are endless.

If that sounds like your vibe, buckle up, because we’re diving into what a nontraditional wedding really looks like, why more couples are choosing them, and how to plan one that feels true to you.

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Table of Contents

• What is a Nontraditional Wedding?
• Why More Couples Are Saying “F*ck Tradition”
• Ideas for a Nontraditional Wedding
• How to Plan a Nontraditional Wedding That Feels Like You
• Who I Am & Why I’m Your Photographer

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What is a Nontraditional Wedding?

A nontraditional wedding is any wedding that doesn’t follow the “typical” formula—and honestly, that formula is outdated as hell anyway. If the thought of a massive guest list, awkwardly staged photos, and spending thousands on chair covers makes you break out in hives, congrats! You might be a nontraditional couple.

This could mean:

• Skipping the big venue and getting married somewhere that actually means something to you.
• Ditching the wedding party because, let’s be real, picking “favorites” is stressful.
• Wearing what you want—black dress, jumpsuit, leather jacket, whatever makes you feel like a badass.
• Throwing out “must-have” traditions—no forced bouquet toss, no awkward first dance, no cutting cake if you’d rather just eat it straight out of the box.

At the end of the day, a nontraditional wedding is whatever makes you and your partner feel the most like yourselves.

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Why More Couples Are Saying “F*ck Tradition”

Let’s be real—weddings have become a lot. The pressure, the cost, the expectation that your wedding has to be this huge production for other people rather than an experience for you? No thanks. More couples are realizing that they don’t actually have to do anything they don’t want to do.

1. The Cost is Outrageous

The average wedding in the U.S. costs over $30,000. For what? To stress about floral arrangements and feed 100+ people, half of whom you barely talk to? Instead, couples are putting that money toward what actually matters to them—whether that’s a dream trip, a house, or just a wedding day that doesn’t make them want to scream into the void.

2. Weddings Should Be About the Couple (Not the Guest List)

You know that weird moment when you realize your wedding day is more about keeping Aunt Susan happy than about celebrating your love? Yeah, that’s the shit we’re avoiding. Nontraditional weddings let you focus on what you want instead of what’s expected.

3. Tradition is a Social Construct Anyway

Most wedding traditions? They come from really outdated ideas. (Like, did you know the white wedding dress only became a thing because Queen Victoria wore one in 1840? Before that, people just wore their best outfit.) So why stress over traditions that don’t even matter to you?

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Ideas for a Nontraditional Wedding

Not sure where to start? Here are some ways to make your wedding actually fun and meaningful:

✨ Eloping in a Place You Love – Whether it’s a mountaintop, a city rooftop, or your backyard, elopements strip away the stress and focus on just the two of you.

🍔 Getting Married at a Drive-In or Diner – Why not say your vows over burgers and fries? (Bonus points if you share a milkshake with two straws.)

🎸 Throwing a Backyard Rager – Live band, neon lights, and an open bar? Sounds way more fun than a ballroom with bad chicken.

💍 Skipping the Diamond Ring – Get a custom tattoo, rock a gemstone, or just say screw it and go ring-free.

🚀 Starting Your Honeymoon First – Who says you have to wait? Kick things off with an epic trip and get married on the adventure.

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How to Plan a Nontraditional Wedding That Feels Like You

1️⃣ Start with What Actually Matters to You – What do you want to feel on your wedding day? Intimate? Adventurous? Chill? That’s your blueprint.

2️⃣ Ditch the “Rules” – Traditions only matter if they mean something to you. Keep what you love, toss what you don’t.

3️⃣ Choose the Right Vendors – Work with people who get your vibe and won’t pressure you into cookie-cutter bullshit.

4️⃣ Make it Fun AF – Your wedding should feel like your kind of party, whether that means an intimate elopement or a full-blown festival.

5️⃣ Document the Hell Out of It – And that’s where I come in. 👇

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Who I Am & Why I’m Your Photographer

Hey, I’m Natalie—the human behind the camera at Good Earth Photo. I specialize in capturing weddings that don’t fit the mold, for couples who’d rather have a day that actually feels like them. Whether you’re eloping in the mountains, getting married in a drive-in parking lot, or throwing a neon-lit house party, I’m here to document it exactly as it happens—no weird, stiff posing, no fake shit, just real, honest moments.

🔥 What You Get When You Book Me:
📸 Photos that make you feel like you’re stepping into a memory every time you look at them.
🤘 A judgment-free, hype-filled experience where you can be 100% yourself.
💡 Help planning your day so it feels effortless and stress-free.

If you’re ready to ditch the rulebook and have a wedding that actually feels right, let’s chat!