Wedding season is upon us, and recently, a Webb Weekly staff member tied the knot. Congratulations, Steph!
So, it got me thinking about what’s in and what’s out for weddings these days. Here’s a rundown of some trends I’ve seen following various wedding channels and hearing how friends are considering their own nuptials.
First up, the return to home weddings. Pre-pandemic destination weddings were all the rage, especially for non-religious ceremonies. I myself attended a wedding in Cancun in November 2019.
When travel opened back up, folks were itching to celebrate abroad. Now, with that post-Covid travel frenzy dying down, the trend has swung back to weddings at home, not just in your hometown, but actually at your residence.
There are backyard weddings, living room weddings, and front porch weddings. Why? Well, there is the obvious cost benefit, but also, there’s a greater sense of authenticity and the significance of place. Weddings at childhood homes are especially poignant and better speak to the narrative of the couple rather than an all-inclusive resort setting.
Of course, an at-home wedding does not mean an entire DIY affair. Catering is nothing new to weddings, but instead of a venue providing a sit-down dinner, folks are starting to lean away from the chicken or fish menu and go with less traditional fare. Food trucks, a local restaurant or chef, or the couple’s favorite restaurant catering further personalizes the celebration. There’s also the potluck wedding, which allows family and friends to contribute with culturally significant dishes.
Speaking of dishes, old-fashioned cakes are on the rise. To be honest, cake was never out of style at weddings; it’s a huge part of a standard reception. For a while, cupcakes were having a moment, but now trends are swinging back to the tiered cake. While cake budgets in the past could get out of control with elaborate cake designs, the trend recently has been minimal cakes with lighter decorations. Think a few flowers, a vintage topper, or some drizzles of chocolate or raspberry for a simple, yet elegant cake for your big day.
On the drinks side of weddings, there are open bars, cash bars, just wine and beer, or signature cocktails. Oh, and God forbid, and never again, a dry wedding. Whatever kind of selection you have, focus on keeping the line short so as not to kill the vibe with guests waiting for drinks. Obviously, self-serve can be dicey, so if you can have a bar staffer serve folks, have them prepare pours ahead of time. Premixed cocktails, punch bowls, bottles or cans of beer at the ready, and even some rows of filled wine glasses for quick pick up to get back on the dance floor.
Home or church hall weddings aren’t for everyone. Those seeking a bit more adventure may check out Train Weddings. The Knot has a recent piece on eight train wedding venues, one of which is located in New Hope, PA. There are other options a bit further afield in Baltimore, Virginia, and North Carolina. This would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, hands down, and provide guests with amazing scenery as the backdrop to your big day. You can have the ceremony and reception on the train as it chugs along. Or utilize the train station itself as a venue with the ceremony on the tracks and the reception standing still or vice versa.
As for what’s out on the wedding front, first-up welcome bags. Overstuffed bags full of items no one wants to lug home are falling out of trend. Instead, have favors that can be consumed onsite, like chocolates or mini-bottles of champagne. Plus, having consumable takeaways is a more sustainable option. Weddings are now looking to reduce waste — especially by not having disposable plastic for tchotchkes, props, cups, flatware, etc.
Another aspect of past weddings that is on the decline is the standard timeline of events: ceremony, pictures/cocktail hour, cutting the cake before you eat, tossing the bouquet and garter before dancing, couples’ first dance, then parents’ dance, etc. These traditions can start to feel like chores when adhering to a rigid timeline. Instead, couples are making a more organic schedule or eschewing certain practices altogether.
Full disclosure: I had a very traditional church wedding with a standard reception, which is what our parents wanted, and we were happy with it. But as a very young bride, my options were limited. If I were in the market for a second wedding or elaborate vow renewal, I would definitely do things very differently and take a few cues from some of these modern wedding trends.
