Over the past five years, one of the longest-lasting trends has been that of personalization—the idea that wedding ceremonies and receptions should reflect the values, interests and personalities of celebrants. As stated by experts at The Knot, “Couples are rethinking conventional traditions and putting their own creative spins on long-standing wedding moments.” From plant-based menus to vintage wedding wear, themed weddings to the celebration of brides’ and/or grooms’ cultural heritage, weddings are adapting to client’s demands by replacing strict tradition with customized reinterpretations of important wedding moments. Below are just a few changes being embraced by couples that value sentiment, personality, and meaning.
Embracing Diversity
There is no doubt that the zeitgeist of the current millennium is diversity and inclusivity. Couples are choosing suppliers that can cater to these values, with niche publications like Rock n Roll Bride, The Plunge, and Mr. Theodore celebrating values like feminism, culturally significant weddings, veganism, home elopements, intimate weddings, and weddings themed on everything from ‘dark and deathly’ to Elvis-inspired weddings. The idea is to forget about the stock idea of weddings being all things classical, uniform, and white. Color, passion, and artistry abound in modern weddings, with some couples every mixing and matching themes (think Lana del Rey vs Midsommar, with the bride wearing a pair of Dr. Martens).
Inclusive Weddings
One in four adults in the U.S. has some type of disability, so it makes sense that couples are opting for more inclusive and accessible weddings that promote optimal comfort and enjoyment for all guests. Planning a disability-friendly wedding involves a plethora of steps—including ascertaining guests’ possible needs, choosing accessible wedding venues (with wheelchair-friendly bathrooms, dancefloors, and access points), and menus that are catered to guests’ nutritional requirements. Couples wishing to ensure that all guests have a great time should deal with vendors that have the knowledge and experience required to adapt spaces for those with special needs.
Green is In
Sustainability is the buzzword in the events industry as a whole and younger generations are ensuring that their weddings do not cause a larger footprint than necessary. It pays to know that the average wedding has a carbon footprint of approximately 63 metric tons of CO2. Couples can bring this down in various ways, including relying on local suppliers and food producers, opting for ‘zero-mile cuisine’, celebrating their wedding at a green resort or wedding venue, and opting for plant-based dishes. Couples wishing to take it a step further can wear vintage clothing and accessories, create their own wedding favors with recycled and upcycled materials, and use pre-loved decorative pieces to decorate their reception area and tables. They can additionally provide shuttle buses to guests, to reduce the number of vehicles driving to their celebration. Finally, digitization goes a long way towards protecting resources, since couples can opt for digital instead of paper invitations, create a website in which to share images of their day, and share updates and post-event information with guests via social media.
Personalization is everything in modern-day weddings. Brides and grooms are seeking to imprint their big day with their values and personality, by holding themed weddings and choosing a unique aesthetic that reflects their sense of style. Diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability are just three values that are holding sway in the very latest weddings of millennial and Gen-Z couples.
