College football season is upon us and with that comes tailgating, painting your face, and screaming at the TV…or is that just us? Whether you are still in college or a proud alumnus, it’s the best time of the year if you are a fan!
We have it made in Palm Beach County when it comes to college football. You can catch a game locally at Florida Atlantic University or take a quick drive to watch the University of Miami. There are also amazing watch parties for University of Florida and Florida State University alumni. Have you experienced the UF craziness at Key Lime House? It’s epic!
How much college pride is too much for a wedding?
For those who bleed their school colors, it’s no surprise to see college-related details in a wedding. The trick is incorporating your school pride in ways that still feel like your wedding. You love your college team and want to rep it, but also don’t want your reception to dissolve into a sports bar atmosphere with your wedding party doing keg stands in the corner…or maybe you do. We won’t judge! 😉
We have compiled 13 awesome college-themed wedding ideas to incorporate your school pride into your Palm Beach wedding without your future in-laws giving you the “look.” Go team!
1. Show Your College Pride with Team Apparel
Team apparel is one of the easiest ways to incorporate your college into your wedding, whether you use it for fun photo ops or as a quick change into something more comfortable. It’s all in good fun, even if your wedding party went to rival schools. This wedding was filled with UM, UF, and FSU alumni.
2. Gather Your Fellow College Alumni for a Wedding Photo
Odds are, if you are super proud of your school, there are probably guests at your wedding who are, too. Don’t forget to gather your fellow alumni for an all-generations photo on your big day. Just think how epic this would be if you invite your school mascot! This University of Miami wedding was filled with alumni for this amazing photo. Fun fact: this was MIPB founder Stefany’s sister’s wedding…and Stefany is one of the Canes in the photo! 🙌
3. Invite Your College Mascot to the Wedding
You’ve toiled over your guest list for weeks, but you’re forgetting the VIM (Very Important Mascot)! Inviting your college mascot to your wedding is a sure way to land some great photos or rev up the reception when it’s time to get the party started. For Palm Beach weddings, local favorites like Florida Atlantic University’s Owlsley and University of Miami’s Sebastian the Ibis may be worth adding to your guest list. These FAU brides loved having Owlsley join the fun!
4. Customize Your Photo Booth for Your College
Want to take your college pride one step further? Customize your wedding photo booth with custom props for your college. This couple brought their FSU spirit into one of today’s hottest photo booth trends with a custom “Noles by 90” prop in MIPB Family Member Juju Booth’s black-and-white booth. It’s a small detail that makes the photos feel completely personal…and gives your fellow Noles something they’ll definitely want to grab for a photo!
5. House Divided Ice Luge
Cocktails need to be chilled, right? You might as well make the ice pretty! Swan ice sculptures are so 1993, so jump on board the school pride train and get a masterpiece worth showing off.
What if you and your partner went to rival colleges? A “house divided” wedding detail lets you represent both schools without choosing sides. We love this “house divided” ice luge featuring the University of Miami and University of Florida.
6. Can You Take Engagement Photos on a College Campus?
Absolutely! Most campuses are built to be functional AND aesthetically pleasing. Gorgeous architecture, open spaces, and iconic spots make for a photographer’s dream. Taking your engagement photos on your college campus is a fun way to show your school pride while incorporating a place that’s meaningful to your story. We love this engagement shoot at FAU.
You could even take it one step farther and host your wedding on campus. Schools like Florida Atlantic University and University of Miami actually have great event spaces!
7. Bring Game Day Energy to Your Grand Entrance
One of the key moments of the wedding day is your entrance into the reception, so why not make it memorable? Bring your favorite college football traditions into your wedding entrance to get your guests pumped for the party. If you’re a Canes fan, run through smoke, or grab foam fingers, flags, or other game-day favorites that represent your school. Whatever your school’s tradition, have fun with it! We love this bride and her ring bearer rocking the FSU Foam Fingers!
8. Show Your College Pride with Wedding Shoes
These University of Florida Gators shoes are to die for!! Who wouldn’t want to rock shoes that are this fun and show off their school pride? Bonus: if one of your school colors is blue, they can also serve as the perfect “something blue”!
9. A Subtle Nod with a College-Themed Wedding Garter
Want a more discreet way of showing your college pride? A garter in your school colors is the way to go. This University of Miami wedding garter is perfect for any alum or fan.
This is also a nice surprise for your fiancé, particularly if the two of you didn’t go to the same school. We can pretty much guarantee they’ll be rather pleased to see their school colors…on you. 😉
10. College-Themed Suit and Tux Accessories
Let’s be honest here, the bridal gown and accessories tend to get all the attention. While we agree that it’s awesome rocking a wedding dress, we think those wearing suits or tuxes should also get a chance to show some personality, too.
A fun way to do that is through college-themed wedding accessories. These Florida Atlantic University cufflinks and socks are a great start and are items that can be worn long after the wedding is over. You can easily find similar socks, cufflinks, and other accessories for your college.
11. Show Your School Spirit with Your Wedding Photo Booth
Want to show your college pride without your whole wedding being themed in your school colors? A college-themed photo booth might be your answer! Photo booths are always crowd pleasers, and guests get the instant gratification of taking home a printed photo from the evening.
Stock up on themed props for guests to rock in their photos. We love that this University of Miami couple supplied different designs of the turnover chain, foam fingers, face tattoos, and various signs. Such a fun detail!
12. College-Themed Wedding Cake
Wedding cakes are one of the most photographed details of a wedding, so why not have fun with it? Rock a college-themed wedding cake, add a fun cake topper, or order a groom’s cake to show your school pride. Your guests will definitely share these cake photos! These University of Florida Gators cupcakes are adorable and look delicious! Chomp chomp!
13. College Colors Grand Exit
Grand exits are a great way to end the night. Buck the sparkler tradition and hand out ribbon wands or pom-poms in your school colors for some amazing photos! This University of Florida couple was surrounded by orange and blue for their college-themed wedding exit. And we have a feeling they wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
So whether you are looking for University of Miami wedding ideas, University of Florida wedding ideas, Florida State University wedding ideas, or Florida Atlantic University wedding ideas, we’ve got you covered with fun ways to show your school pride throughout your wedding. Happy planning!
