How to Plan a Wedding That Actually Feels Like You
Don’t be afraid to go against the grain and include your favourite things in your wedding.
Written by Melissa Woods
It all starts with who you are, not what you’ve seen.
If you’re here, you’re probably already questioning what your wedding “should” look like. I’ve been there, and if you’ve followed my story since the start, you’ll know that Ben and I ended up having a way more traditional wedding than either of us really are because we listened to everyone else!
Maybe the Pinterest boards don’t feel like you. And no doubt, endless content and family opinions are making things harder, not easier. You're trying to figure out how to plan a wedding but using a traditionally rigid format which doesn’t reflect anything real about your life, your values, and your relationship. Am I right?
Here’s the truth… and I wish someone had said this to me… you don’t need to follow a formula. You’re allowed to do what you want. It’s your wedding. No one else’s.
Scrap the Script
Most "wedding traditions" don’t reflect the diverse lives we lead today. And many of them are deeply gendered, heteronormative, and unnecessary.
You're allowed to make your own traditions.
You can spend the night together… walk in together… write your own vows… swap champagne toasts for your favourite cocktail… wear trainers... wear nothing at all! The point is to be authentically you.
All traditions can be replaced with your favourite alternative.
Work With People Who Get You
The suppliers you book for your wedding really matter. They’re not just providing a service, they’re helping you tell your story.
The Book Of Love is a directory we created for exactly this reason: to connect you with the florists, photographers, designers, celebrants etc who believe in creating something personal, not just beautiful. And they’re ready to help you bring that to life, without judgment or assumptions.
When your supplier team is aligned with your values and vision, planning becomes a collaboration and your wedding will never be replicated because you are at the heart of it.
Prioritise What Matters To You
You don’t need to tick all the boxes associated with weddings.
You don’t need a six-tier cake… you don’t need favours… you don’t need anything that you don’t particularly care about… and you don’t even need everyone to understand your choices.
All you need is a sense of clarity about what matters to you. Go big on these things and the impact will be felt so much more than when you try to cover everything.
Think Beyond Aesthetics
Weddings are often designed to be looked at. You’ve seen the mood boards - colour palettes, tablescapes, outfits, lighting. All of it beautiful. All of it curated. But ask a bigger question - What do we want this to feel like?
A wedding that only looks good in photos might not feel good in the moment. And that’s what stays with you… the energy, the flow, the emotion, the presence of your people. That’s what you'll remember in years to come.
Think in terms of experience. What kind of atmosphere do you want to create? How do you want to feel, and how do you want your guests to feel? Because when things feel good, they always look good anyway!
Phot by Lisa Jane Photography
At Make New Traditions, we’ve never been interested in replicating the industry. We’re here for the wild, quiet, celebratory, rebellious, deeply personal ways people choose to commit to each other. Whether that looks like a festival in the woods, a warehouse rave, or a small gathering in the backyard - it’s still a wedding - it’s your wedding.
Find the right suppliers to help you plan a wedding that feels like you in our Book Of Love Directory!
A Fresh Take on Weddings: Introducing MNT - The Coolest Wedding Magazine in the UK & Ireland
It all begins with an idea.
Written by Melissa Woods
The Wedding Magazine That Was Missing When I Got Married
When I was planning my own wedding, I felt like I was drowning in glossy images that didn’t look or feel anything like me or Ben. The magazines I picked up were filled with the same outdated ideas, and traditional feeling brands. I just didn’t feel aligned with any of it, and that kind of put a dampener on my wedding planning experience.
I longed for something else. Something that reflected the messy, joyful, diverse, real lives of people actually getting married today… something less… wedding-y, I guess. But it didn’t exist. So I did what I tend to do when something’s missing - I set about creating it, albeit over 10 years later!
But that’s how MNT Magazine was born - as the answer to the prayers of ‘bride-be-me’… better late than never, right?
More Than Just Pretty Pictures
Don’t get me wrong, I love beautiful imagery. But for me, a wedding magazine has to be more than a scrapbook of other people’s photos. MNT is about what it feels like to get married, not just what it looks like.
Every issue is built around real love stories from our very own community of modern lovers, many of whom have used the MNT platform to find their suppliers, whether that be in our Book Of Love Directory, at one of our live events, or from our bi-annual print magazine.
That’s the heart of MNT. Real weddings, real choices, real meaning.
Two Sides of the Same Story
What makes MNT unique is the way we bring both sides of our community together. You’ll hear from modern couples, sharing their unfiltered experiences of planning and celebrating in ways that feel true to them. And alongside those voices, you’ll hear from our suppliers - the photographers, florists, celebrants, planners, and makers who are reimagining what weddings can be.
It’s not about one side speaking louder than the other. It’s about bringing both sides together, so you get a full story.
A Magazine With a Mission
MNT isn’t just about inspiration - it’s about freedom. We want you to feel free to create a wedding that reflects your values and your relationship, not someone else’s expectations.
That’s why every article, every story, every feature is chosen with intention. We publish what we believe couples need to see: a more inclusive, authentic picture of what love and commitment can look like in the UK and Ireland today.
Why You’ll Want This on Your Coffee Table
MNT has been purposely designed as the kind of magazine you’ll want to keep, revisit, and pass along to friends who are starting their own planning journey. It’s packed with real weddings, thought-provoking articles, and practical tips - all designed to help you carve your own path.
It’s also a showcase of the incredible talent in our Book Of Love supplier directory, because the suppliers we feature aren’t just doing business as usual. They’re part of this movement too.
Buy MNT Magazine
MNT Magazine exists to remind you that your wedding can be whatever you want it to be. This is the magazine I wish I’d had when I was getting married. And now, it’s yours.
Blog Post Title Three
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Four
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.