wedding trends

Four Wedding Trends for 2021

 in COVID-19 / Trends / Wedding planning / Weddings / Welcoming Ceremony  tagged wedding ceremony / wedding guests / wedding trends / weddings by

Four wedding trends for 2021 are influencing couples planning their marriages this year. The pandemic continues to drive changes to what is possible and what is safe. We can’t know when we will return to some sort of “normal” where weddings are concerned, but couples will certainly be influenced by these four wedding trends this year.

  1. Shorter planning cycles. States are frequently changing the number of people who can gather based on current COVID numbers and spikes. Couples are choosing to schedule, plan, invite guests, and hold their weddings within a few weeks to months. This in turn drives the next trend.
  2. Smaller guest lists. Smaller weddings can be planned more quickly and held more safely, both considerations in 2021. Some couples are choosing to have only very close family and friends. Others are focusing on local friends and family so guests don’t have to incur the risks involved in airports, airplanes and hotels. There is an upside to more intimate weddings as couples are able to include guests in meaningful ways in the ceremony and throughout the day.
  3. More intentionality in the wedding day. Couples who have delayed or postponed weddings from last year will tend to be more thoughtful about what is truly important to about the day. They might have fewer people in attendance, but will want something special and memorable. Choices around the ceremony, dinner and reception may all be customized for your day.
  4. Weekdays. 2021 will likely host many weddings postponed from last year, along with the events for newly engaged couples. This will put a strain on venues and other wedding vendors. Venue availability in particular will drive couples to get creative and consider weekdays for their weddings.

These four wedding trends for 2021 relate to each other and are all driven by the pandemic we’re living through. If you’re planning, or re-planning a wedding for this year you’ll likely feel the impact of some or most of these. But there are upsides to each of these trends, too. Ultimately the weddings of 2021 will be special and unique because each couple is.

2020 Wedding Trends

 in Personalization / Trends / Weddings  tagged personalized wedding / trends / wedding / wedding trends / weddings by

2020 wedding trends are of interest to all newly engaged couples as you begin to define your wedding day. Trends covering the ceremony, fashion, reception, floral and more aspects of the wedding day are documented in many publications and websites.

Interestingly, you’ll find that the identified 2020 wedding trends differ from article to article and even conflict with each other at times. That tells us that there isn’t a definitive list of trends for the year. Want your ceremony to be unique, to reflect you, and to provide your guests with a positive, memorable experience? To do that, you’ll want to be aware of trends, but choose among them wisely.

Some interesting articles on 2020 wedding trends can be found at The Knot and Brides. The 2020 wedding trends article in Wedding Wire begins with the observation that wedding trends don’t really matter that much. That it’s great to be aware of them, but to incorporate only those that resonate with you and your partner.

I second the advice to embrace only those trends that speak to you. And you can pick and choose parts of trends, too. For example, some are predicting that bolder colors will be on display at weddings this year. There are certain colors like Classic Blue that are supposed to be very popular. But if you love the idea of lots of color at your wedding but prefer a bright red or a forest green, go for it. Consider the identified trends, decide if they fit your vision for your wedding day, and if so, make it your own.

Spend some time thinking about what is important to you for your wedding day. Talk to your partner to find out if their thinking aligns with yours. You might discover something is really important to them, and you didn’t know. With your priorities established, you’re ready to go.

As you start finalizing plans for your wedding, remember your budget. No matter how wonderful your day is, if it leaves you in debt or stressed over how much you spent, it is not worth it. There are many levers you can pull to control the spending on your wedding day. If you keep in mind the priorities you set as a couple, you’ll be able to make trade-offs without adversely impacting the overall experience.

With an awareness of 2020 wedding trends, and with your personal style and priorities as a couple in mind, you’re sure to create a wedding day that reflects you perfectly. Your guests will enjoy seeing your personalities shine through all the aspects of your day, and you’ll feel comfortable and relaxed as you enjoy it fully.

Leaving Tradition Behind

 in Ceremony / Personalization / Trends / Weddings  tagged wedding ceremony / wedding traditions / wedding trends / weddings by

Leaving tradition behind on your wedding day can allow you to personalize your event and also reduce the stress of the day. In recent weeks I’ve written about leaving tradition behind with regard to your wedding party and ceremony helpers. Today let’s consider other wedding ceremony traditions that are falling out of favor with couples.

Runners – These have been used for ages, first to keep “devils” from coming up through the stone floors in churches, and to help keep wedding dresses clean. However, runners at outdoor ceremonies are asking for trouble as the picture below shows. If you want to highlight your aisle, consider using flower petals as illustrated in the second picture.

Runner on a windy day

Veils, especially veils over the bride’s face – While veils are a wonderful finishing touch for a bride, they can cause problems at outdoor ceremonies when they catch on twigs or blow in the wind. Since the bride’s identity is no longer a secret, veils are a fashion statement these days and not a necessity. Fascinators, decorative combs, clips or pins are often used by modern brides and carry over gracefully to the reception, too.

Giving away the bride – This is another antiquated concept that was part of wedding ceremonies when the bride was chattel being legally transferred from father to groom. It’s perfectly OK to pass on this part of the ceremony. No one will miss it, and it feels pretty inappropriate for many couples who have established their own lives and professions in advance of marriage.

Using “man and wife” when pronouncing the couple married. Currently options include “husband and wife”, “husbands together” or “wives together”. This keeps the couple on equal footing grammatically and offers options for same sex couples.

Similarly, the traditional introduction of “Mr and Mrs John Smith” is often replaced with “Mr and Mrs John and Mary Smith”, “… as a married couple, John Smith and Mary Jones”, or simply, “… as a married couple, John and Mary.” These options identify you as equal partners in the marriage and work well for same sex couples and couples where neither partner is changing their name.

If you find value or enjoyment in wedding traditions, it’s fine to incorporate them into your ceremony, but leaving tradition behind when planning your wedding is equally fine. Choose rituals, language, decor and attire that represents you as a couple, and it will feel comfortable and authentic.

Wedding Trends for 2019

 in Celebration / Ceremony / Personalization / Trends / Weddings  tagged personalized wedding / wedding day / wedding trends / weddings by

Wedding trends for 2019 are all over the internet as planning for next year’s wedding season is well underway. While it’s helpful to be aware of new ideas and trends for all aspects of your wedding day, it’s always best to make choices that are comfortable for you.

You’ll find a wide variety of predictions for next year’s wedding trends, and some of them even conflict with each other. Here are three articles that are fun to read with ideas that are fun to consider for your big day:

From Brides magazine: https://www.bridesmagazine.co.uk/gallery/2019-wedding-trends

From Shefinds.com: https://www.shefinds.com/collections/2019-popular-wedding-trends/#slide-1

From the UK Independent: https://www.msn.com/en-xl/middleeast/life-arts/five-wedding-trends-for-2019-according-to-experts/ar-BBN8pto#page=1

You’ll notice interesting menswear options listed in a couple of them, along with ideas for bringing nature indoors for both ceremonies and receptions. But you’ll also see some ideas that are only mentioned in one of the articles: practical wedding gowns and tiaras come to mind. There are a few ideas that you’ll find in all the articles, indicating a likelihood that you’ll see them in many weddings next year. The standout one in this category is eco conscious weddings. What exactly that means to you, however, will be up to you to decide.

There are a couple of trends that I’ve already seen making their way into southeastern Minnesota and that I especially like. First, the relaxed approach to wedding parties where you surround yourself with the important people in your world regardless of gender or number. Second, and the increasing popularity of unplugged ceremonies where guests are invited to set aside their devices during the ceremony, sit back and celebrate with you. Both are great options to consider for your wedding day.

Reading up on predicted wedding trends for 2019 is an easy and fun way to find ideas to consider, but at the end of the day, you’ll need to decide as a couple what fits your style, your vision and your budget as you plan your wedding. You want your wedding day to be a reflection of you, not of some stylist, planner or magazine article, so enjoy looking at the wedding trends and then plan a day that will be uniquely and authentically you.

Three Evolving Wedding Trends

 in Trends / Weddings  tagged wedding trends by

Evolving wedding trends are interesting to explore, but make sure you pick and choose those that reflect you for your wedding day. If you make choices based on your own personalities, style and interests, you ensure that your wedding day will be personal and authentic, allowing you to be comfortable and have a great time.

That said, here are a few things trending for weddings in our area:
1. Fashion: Bridal gowns with sleeves of all lengths are increasing in popularity, with a decreased focus on strapless gowns. Beautiful patterned chiffons and other floaty fabrics and an increase in A-line silhouettes keep things interesting, too. For bridesmaids the trend is back to long dresses, with more and more brides allowing the women to pick the bodice design that best fits them. For the men in the bridal party suits are holding strong as an alternative to traditional tuxedos, with vests and shirtsleeves being seen as a practical option on very hot summer days.

2. Flowers: Cascade bouquets are making a comeback for brides, especially for those who want a larger, lush floral accessory. The new cascades are less structured than their ’80’s counterpart, and make a great statement coming up the aisle. The use of greenery both in bouquets and table and ceremony decor arrangements continues to grow, especially in barn venues and when going for a more natural vibe.

3. Venues: Outdoor ceremonies continue to be very popular, both at barn venues and at country clubs. Single venue weddings – where the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and reception are all held in one place are definitely the wave of the future. Hotels offer the optimum single venue option with guest rooms available, too. And don’t forget transportation. Both for the convenience of guests and to ensure no one drives after too much celebrating, increasing numbers of couples are providing shuttles, trolleys or buses. This is thoughtful for out of town guests as well as a great safety precaution for everyone.

It’s great to consider wedding trends and to have new options and choices for all aspects of your wedding day. Just remember to make your selections based on your personalities and priorities and you’re sure to have a memorable day.