Couples plan unusual weddings for many reasons – Some for novelty, others to fit a budget, and still others due to other constraints. This bride-to-be was left with a little conundrum back in 2005, and although we don’t know how her tailgate wedding turned out, we were inspired to help others who may want the same affordable theme!

(Especially now that the 2011 – 2012 NFL Season has officially begun!)

Party411 Discussion Boards, Anniversary Party Talk: unusual wedding reception

The challenges in this situation are two-fold: 1. Spend as little as possible  2. Make tailgating a wedding-related activity

We like challenges.

So if a tailgate wedding reception is something you’ve been thinking about, here are some ideas to turn a sports-related event into a wedding memory!

Novelty

1. Personalized Beer Steins will be perfect for a frosty tailgate brew! You can find them at Things Remembered for under $20/each and have your names and wedding date engraved on them. This could be a bit pricy if the guest list is long, but it’s a gift that will leave everyone with an awesome favor that they can use during the party!

2. Rent a T-shirt launcher and have someone shoot custom T-shirts with your wedding info on them. T-shirt launchers can be rented for $400 (w/S&H) from tshirtgun.com and you can get t-shirts for less than $10 each  from Vistaprint.

3. Get a custom steak branding-iron (or matching set) and press your initials or names into everyone’s delicious BBQ food before it goes out! The custom iron is costly @ $125 but you can save, love and use it forever!

4. Get custom jerseys for you and your groom to wear! These can be “customized” official NFL/NHL/NBA/MLB jerseys, or something simpler like what you’ll find at ShirtMagic.com. If you’re a DIY bride, you can create customize them yourself for an even more intimate and meaningful effect.

Grilling Time

5. With a low-budget wedding like this, one way to save money is to opt for a pot-luck instead of asking for gifts. That way you won’t have to buy hundreds of hot dogs, pounds of ground beef, question whether or not ribs or steak are in the budget, or skip the succulent corn-on-the-cob!

6. If pot-luck is beyond what you’d consider, then Costco and other warehouse stores are your best friend. You will be able to save by buying in bulk, but you can also find some items with sale prices. Pick up a variety of meats, veggies and seafood for a full smorgasbord.

7. Dips are delicious. Dips make great tailgating food. Dips can be made fancy for a wedding reception. Get creative or try one of our delicious dip recipes!

8. Fusion between brew and bridal party: Forget the champagne, get a beer fountain! Class it up with a craft selection that the bride and groom will both enjoy.

Make Memories

9. If you are choosing to toss a bouquet, send it soaring over a goal post – whether pre-constructed or created by you.

10. If you’re willing to get down and dirty (hey, a tailgate wedding SHOUTS nontraditional,) then organize your guests into teams, for example “Groom’s Team” vs “Bride’s Team”, or, if you want to emphasize your new union, “Married Couples vs Singles”. Get some field games going, but add some wedding flair. Make active team members wear a veil, or have an egg race using plastic champagne flutes.

A fun non-traditional theme like the tailgate wedding doesn’t have to take the romance out of your reception – it just takes a little creativity!

Do you have some great ideas to bring out the bridal at a tailgating-themed wedding? Share them in the comments!