Back in September, I flew to Denver to be part of the wedding party in the marriage of two very good friends, Alicia and Shawn Marie. My favorite thing about any wedding (aside from the chance to see two very deserving people joined in love and happiness, of course) is the various personal meanings and individual touches that the couple puts into the ceremony and reception--the more meaningful and unique, the better. I have a lot of very creative friends who aren't scared to step outside tradition, so I am rarely disappointed, and Alicia and Shawn Marie were no exception.

The ceremony was full of meaning and references to their own unique love story, the way they met, and their own spiritual beliefs. The overall effect was stylish, classy, and quite emotionally powerful. I found myself overwhelmed with happiness for them, smiling and crying at the same time. I hope that all of the good will that I could feel tangibly in that room follows them through their lives together.

One particular detail that I loved about their wedding was two different ways in which they used some beautiful china. One was in the ceremony, and the other was afterwards, during the reception.

During the ceremony, the wedding party surrounded the couple in a half-circle. As part of this half circle were two small tables. On each table was a teacup in a saucer, each with a card that read, "In loving memory of," dedicated to a loved one who had passed away, with a brief epitaph. This struck me as a wonderful gesture to give a silent acknowledgement of the people who could not be there to celebrate that day, but who would have loved to be. A small place setting, a marker, recognizing a loss.

The second way in which the couple used china to bring a personal touch to the wedding was during the reception. They had a vegetarian buffet for the reception (and I could write a whole other article about the incredible food on that buffet!). At the end of the table were two stacks of mismatched china, with a sign that read:

"In honor of this delightful occasion and its grand atmosphere, please devour your food on some eclectic and fine china. If you find you have enjoyed the experience, or simply love the plate, feel free to take it home with you."

The plates added elegance to the party that would have been missing (or marred, even) with disposable plates, and I loved the idea of giving china as a keepsake. I liked this idea so much that I asked Alicia about it after the wedding. It had been Shawn Marie's idea, and they had gone to a few thrift and consignment shops in the area to find the eclectic china for very little money. Inexpensive, elegant, and beautiful. I regretted that I had to fly home and couldn't safely take my plate.

What other unique ideas have you seen at weddings and receptions that gave them an extra unique and beautiful touch?