As with all weddings, the place to begin is with the proposal. Gentlemen, if your girlfriend is a huge baseball fan, do what a friend of mine did and propose to her on the Jumbotron at her favorite stadium. Taking in a game and getting engaged, all in one afternoon? What could be better? Another really cute way to pop the question to a sports fan would be to order a custom jersey for her that says "Mrs. Jones" (insert your last name there) and give it to her as a gift. Watch her face go from surprise to confusion to joy, as it dawns on her that you are asking her to become your wife.
The rehearsal dinner can be another place to celebrate your favorite shared sport. One very unique idea is to host the party in a fancy box at a baseball or football stadium. Treat your guests to traditional stadium fare like hot dogs, nachos, and beer. You can bet that such a fun location for the party will be a great icebreaker. If you can't reserve a room in a stadium for your rehearsal dinner, you can still bring sports into it. If both families are the sort to enjoy athletics, think about planning your party around a softball game in a local park. Alternatively, you could have a pickup football game or plan a family golf tournament.
Sports can definitely play a role in the wedding itself. One idea is to use your favorite team's colors as part of your wedding palette. This works better in some instances than others. If you are a Dallas Cowboy's fan, it would be a snap to get everything from the bridesmaid dresses and jewelry to the table linens in their signature blue and silver colors. Top your cake with a big star, and you will be good to go. On the other hand, if you and your fiance bonded over four years of Tennessee Vols games, you will need to tread a bit more lightly when using the team colors. Bright orange flowers would be pretty for the bouquets (perhaps mixed with fuchsia blossoms), but don't saddle your attendants with head to toe orange dresses, bridesmaid jewelry, and flowers to match!
Depending just how crazy you and your fiance are about sports, there are many more neat ways in which to show your love of the game. You could have custom wedding invitations created to resemble tickets. Wedding programs can be modeled after the programs at sporting events. On a smaller scale, unique boutonierres would be a fun way for the groom to show his team spirit. And don't forget the cake toppers, whether you have bobbleheads of your favorite players, a team logo, or a crystal football on the top tier.
