Standing out from the crowd

It's been a bit quiet on this blog over the last couple of months.
My excuse is that I've been working on a major personal project - my wedding.

A wedding is an event with a certain number of standard elements, and yet each one is unique.
The challenge is to create an event that reflects your individuality while still meeting a series of expectations that fit within particular social norms. Which expectations do you need to meet and which ones can you push beyond the boundaries?

It's the same in business, where there are certain customer expectations and industry norms. Successful companies are able to meet the essential elements of these expectations while differentiating themselves from their competitors. It can be a delicate balancing act, to push the boundaries far enough that you stand out from the crowd, but not so far that customers no longer recognise the benefits you offer.

Among many individual touches, I decided to wear a wedding dress in a traditional design, but in a non-traditional colour.

So, where do you draw the line?