| Getting Wed at Your Alma Mater | | | | keep it subtle. |
| Many couples meet in college, so it is only natural | | | | The bride can also include little college related |
| that they want to be married where it all started. | | | | touches in her ensemble, depending how far she |
| Most colleges have beautiful chapels that are a | | | | wants to carry a theme. A simple way to do it |
| perfect place to marry your college sweetheart | | | | would be to use the school colors in her wedding |
| (for example, my sister-in-law was wed at the | | | | jewelry. For instance, if your colors are blue and |
| Princeton chapel). Whether you live down the | | | | white, have custom earrings handcrafted with |
| road, or have moved away since graduation, your | | | | white pearls and pale blue Swarovski crystals. You |
| college campus will be a wonderful nostalgic place | | | | could also let the location of your alma mater |
| for your wedding. | | | | become a design element. If you went to the |
| One of the best parts about having your wedding | | | | University of Hawaii (lucky you!), why not wear |
| at your alma mater is getting your old college | | | | wedding jewelry with a monogrammed shell |
| gang back together for the wedding weekend. | | | | motif? It would be both unique and personal. |
| Invite everyone to come a few days before the | | | | Another lovely idea is to choose flowers and |
| wedding, so that you can have an informal | | | | favors that are related to your alma mater or its' |
| gathering at your old hangout the night before the | | | | location. State flowers are often beautiful, so a |
| rehearsal dinner. With people scattered so far and | | | | University of Alabama grad could choose exquisite |
| wide these days, make the most of the | | | | camellias for her bouquet, and the Maryland |
| opportunity to have all of your friends in one | | | | Terrapin could festoon her reception with black |
| place for a relaxed evening. (You won't really get | | | | eyed Susans. To set the tone from the beginning, |
| time to visit with people during your wedding | | | | have your invitations custom made with an image |
| reception. The bride will be lucky if she gets three | | | | of the flower that you have chosen to feature |
| bites of her dinner between greeting guests.) | | | | (another great idea for stationary would be to |
| There are some wonderful (and tasteful) ways | | | | use a letterpress image of a distinctive campus |
| that you can pay tribute to your alma mater | | | | building - almost every college has one). |
| during your wedding reception. You can | | | | Of course, no wedding on campus would be |
| incorporate your school colors into everything | | | | complete without this one element: when you |
| from the flowers, to the candles, to the cake. I | | | | make your grand entrance to the reception as |
| have also seen fantastic wedding cakes created | | | | husband and wife, be sure to play your college |
| that have a college motif on them, such as a | | | | fight song! It is the perfect way to show your |
| replica of the chapel or other building on top. Tiny | | | | loyalty and to get the party going. |
| mascots might also make cute cake toppers, but | | | | |