Testudo, Tigers and Hoyas. . . oh my!

How to incorporate your Alma Mater  in your wedding .

This is my latest article for District Bride Guide . http://districtbrideguide.com/testudo-tigers-and-hoyas-oh-my

Weddings give you an opportunity to showcase your personality; whether it’s a love for nature with an outdoor venue or by celebrating your heritage by having a bagpiper perform.  If you met your sweetheart in college or you are a huge sport fan, why not include your university in your wedding.  Here are a few ideas on how to do so.

▪ Venue- Many college campuses have venues available. Research the university about any eligibility requirements about renting the venue.   University of Maryland’s Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center has many different options for rental and has flexibility http://www.riggs.umd.edu/weddings.html . Georgetown University has three chapels to choose from if you are planning on having a Catholic wedding and you are a GU degree student, graduate, faculty, staff or a child of a faculty or staff member http://campusministry.georgetown.edu/programs/Weddings/.

▪ Mascot – Check with your school’s athletic / alumni association or search Mascot Request to see if you can make a donation to have your favorite mascot visit your wedding. George Washington University gives you the option of having George, Big George or Hippo to come to your wedding http://spirit.gwu.edu/AboutUs/Mascots/MascotAppearance.   University of Maryland’s feared turtle Testudo, would love to crash your wedding http://www.umterps.com/marketing/md-marketing-mascot.html.

▪ Grooms cake / Cake topper - The grooms cake is a traditional southern fixture which has gained in popularity. The Grooms cake is playful and reflects the groom’s interests. A grooms cake to celebrate your college can be made with a picture of a stadium, school symbol or of the mascot.

▪ Song- Have the Dj play your Alma Mater’s fight song. I did this at my wedding and it was a lot of fun! My sister in law, a graduate from University of Delaware, and her sorority sisters linked arms and sang their sorority’s song at her wedding, which made for great pictures.

▪ Garter- Of course there are so many accessories you can get and decorate with your school but the garter is the cheekiest of them all! You can go to http://www.collegefootballstore.com/search/garter to see if they have your school available.  

Here is one of my best friends and beautiful bride Liz getting some help from her wonderful Maid of Honor (yours truly) with her Clemson garter. I also had on a Clemson garter along with a pink toss for my wedding.

▪ Colors- From attire to flowers and everything in between choose your University’s colors.

My dear friend LeAnne had Clemson’s orange and purple in her flowers as well as her bridesmaid dresses.  There’s me, second from the right on the bottom rocking the orange. 

▪Pennant/ Flag- Make sure your photographer gets a picture with any fellow students or alumni while holding the appropriate flag or Pennant.  This is also great to do for grade school and high school friends.

Perhaps it’s all this great college football and the fond memories of college life that inspired this article. Either way, go out and plan your wedding to reflect your great memories and loves. If you have incorporated your alma mater into your wedding, let me know!

Happy Sunday!

Katie