Custom hashtags are one of those wedding non-essentials that you can easily ditch, but if you, your other half, or your guests are heavy social media users, it's a fun and easy way to build up excitement around your big day! Some of the best wedding website builders include a handy feature that makes it easy to crowd-source wedding photographs, but when it comes to sharing in-jokes and reliving funny dancefloor moments, wedding hashtags are still king.
You can create one using an online generator, and there are even companies that will do the job for you - for a fee, of course! - but the best event hashtags, be they for weddings, hen parties or stag dos, are usually created in a flash of inspiration by the person at the centre of the party! Follow these easy steps, and you'll have one in a jiffy! And remember us when you discover a video of your granny leading a conga line to Barry Manilow's Copacabana on Instagram!
1. Gather the Information for your Wedding Hashtag
Grab a piece of paper or a word processor and write down the following
- your full name
- your partner's full name
- the date of the wedding
- any other significant dates (the day you met, your first date etc.)
- the year
- the name of the venue
- and the part of the world in which your wedding is taking place
- the theme or style of your wedding
These are the tools with which to build your hashtag.
2. Brainstorm
Jot down a bunch of ideas, however silly or nonsensical they may seem. This might spark ideas for more elements to include in your hashtag: the names of your pets or children, your joint-favourite movie of all time, the red wine you always have in the cupboard, etc. Avoid the obvious contenders, which include #NameAndName (unless you're called #LoreleiAndAtticus), and generic phrases like #HappilyEverAfter and #JustMarried as your pics may get buried among dozens of others.
3. Use Our Tips
Try your hand at some of the following formats and add them to the list:
- #TeamSurname or #TeamSurname2018
- #OfficiallySurname
- #MeetTheSurnames
- #SurnameForever
- #SoonToBeSurname
- #NameAndNameGetMarried
- #NameAndNameGotMarried
- #NameAndNameTieTheKnot
- #NameAndNameTiedTheKnot
- #NameAndNameGetHitched
- #NameAndNameGotHitched
- #NameAndNameSayIDo
- #NameAndNameSaidIDo
- #NameLovesName
If you and your partner are from different parts of the world, or one of you speaks another language, you can also try a mixed-language hashtag like #YouHadMeAtDiaDhuit, #AlohaIreland, or #GetMeToTheChiesaOnTime.
4. Pun Your Heart Out!
If you've got a natural punner in the friend or family circle, now's the time to shoot them a message! If not, you can enhance your own punning skills using the magic of the internet!
Start with a word from the list we made in Step 1. Use rhymezone.com to find rhymes for your word, or elements of that word (the "Jack" in Jackson, for example). Enter one of the resulting rhymes in the search bar at idioms.thefreedictionary.com to find common phrases and sayings to base your pun on. Then, it's just a matter of swapping the two words. Surnames are particularly easy to do this with, for example #McBrideToBe, #HappilyEverAdams, #HitMeBabyOneMooreTime, #HowToGetAwayWithMurphy and #ByrneBabyByrne.
5. Slash the List
By now, you should have a shortlist of 10 or 20 hashtags, but before you do anything else, search for them on social media to make sure they haven't been used before. If they have, cross them off the list! You don't want some other Pauline's relatives popping up in your social media feed!
6. Pick Your Faves
You should have a couple of contenders left (if not, it's back to Step 2!), so list what you have in order of preference.
7. Review Your List
Go through each hashtag, and ask yourself the following questions:
- is it unique enough that it won't get used by another couple in the next few months?
- is it memorable?
- is it short enough for signage?
- is every word easy to spell?
- does it read clearly without spaces between the words (we all remember that Susan Boyle album party mishap!)
If you're answering no to multiple questions, that one needs to get the chop too! When you've done this, the hashtag at the top of the list is your perfect hashtag! Hurrah!
8. Polish Up Your Wedding Hashtag
Capitalise the first letter of each word for clarity, and your wedding hashtag is ready to go!
9. Spread your Wedding Hashtag Around
Now all that's left to do is let your guests know about your wedding hashtag! Talk to your stationer about including it on invitations, ceremony programs and menus, and contact one of our recommended décor suppliers about getting a custom sign or prop made. Chalkboard signs work well too and don't have to be ordered too far in advance.
Featured image credit: Banner and Image by Lantz and Lady on Etsy
Still looking for wedding décor ideas? Check out our handy inspiration posts!
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