Weddings are usually solemn but happy occasions; events marking important milestones in couples’ lives. As with anything in life, however, there are weddings that do, sometimes through accident and sometimes on purpose, stray from “the norm”. Almost everyone who is married, has been married, or has attended a few weddings has a tale to tell about something funny that happened at a wedding, or a wedding that was funny from beginning to end.

Sometimes a couple, usually when both partners share the same sense of humor, decides that they want their wedding to be funny. They want it to be something that people remember with laughter; something that people will talk about for years. This is certainly a couple’s choice, and hopefully their guests and family will share their sense of humor!

There are some couples who keep their weddings fairly traditional, but add just a little touch that is funny. Many times they will do this with their wedding vows. Adding a little personal twist to the wedding vows that makes people laugh can be a great way to make your wedding memorable, but still keep it the important and loving occasion that it is. For example, if a man loves his dog and spoils it to death, while reciting her wedding vows his wife can put in something like “I promise to love, honor, cherish, and not yell at your dog when he jumps on the bed”. This can provide a hearty laugh for the guests, but it still has an affectionate tone that doesn’t detract from the message that the vows impart. As another example, if the bride isn’t a very good cook (and has a sense of humor about it), the groom can say something like “in sickness and in health, in burnt dinners and last-minute take-out meals”.

Many times a couple will go all out and plan for their wedding to be a funny occasion from beginning to end. One good example of this is the Las Vegas “Elvis” wedding, where the couple is married by an Elvis impersonator (one who is authorized to perform wedding ceremonies, of course), while Elvis music plays in the background. After the ceremony, one or more Elvis impersonators will sing some love songs (while dancing like Elvis, of course). Or, sometimes a couple will pack their guests into a large limousine or van and have a “drive-thru” wedding – which, of course, is also available in Las Vegas.

Often a wedding, or at least part of a wedding, will turn out to be funny without anyone planning it that way. The addition of children can often make this happen – since little tykes can be so unpredictable. That cute little flower girl may decide - as she is walking down the aisle during the ceremony - that she has to use the bathroom, and may decide to announce this to her parents without waiting for a more discreet time. The young ring bearer may get a little antsy as he is waiting for the bride and groom to recite their vows, and may decide to entertain himself by making funny faces at the guests. It isn’t always children, however, that can turn a wedding into a funny occasion. People trip while going down the aisle, nervous brides or grooms recite their vows wrong, and of course, receptions are always great places for unexpected funny events, especially when the champagne is flowing.

Whether a wedding is funny because it was planned that way, or funny because of something that happens, the key is for everyone to try to keep a sense of humor about it. The bottom line is that two people who love each other are joining together, and whether there is laughter or tears, it is the love that really counts.