The traditional wedding is having a thoroughly modern makeover.STOCKSY
It’s safe to say that weddings have been on a trajectory of change over the past decade. While lingering,the bridezilla tropes perpetuated by Hollywood and reality TV are fading. And long gone is the blind assumption that the exchange of a sparkly rock comes with a slew of essential traditions.
In 2023,the majority of Australian couples are increasingly ditching or adapting the customs that no longer feel relevant. We can “thank” COVID-19 for this. While the pandemic proved a horrendous time to get hitched,with lockdowns and restrictions bulldozing best-laid plans,the silver lining was that it put a rocket up the personalisation movement.
The next wave of engaged couples are carefully taking stock of what truly matters for their wedding and are putting their energy – and their budget – into things that directly reflect their passions and personality. Amen and “I do”. Here are some of the more significant wedding trends.
DFY (Done For You)
Roll down the sleeves because the DIY wedding movement has lost momentum. Several years ago,blank-canvas wedding venues were trending:the more stark and industrial,the more kudos the couple were given for transforming it. Engaged couples happily (and,speaking from experience,naively) initiated themselves into a baptism of matrimonial fire:sourcing furniture,thrifting cutlery and hand-weaving a half-marathon’s worth of bunting.
Today,80 per cent of couples would prefer to book a venue that has more inclusions – for example,tables,chairs,bathrooms and catering facilities. There’s logic here:the cost of hiring everything for a DIY venue is often about the same as a space that’s already tricked up with the necessary bells and whistles. Though there’s also more at play.
Planning a wedding during a pandemic was incredibly stressful and there’s still a knock-on effect,with more couples trying to lighten the load for themselves. The move to “done for you” weddings and venues is also a direct response to other pressures,including financial ones. While it might feel counterintuitive that DIY does not save money,the time required to plan a DIY wedding and arrange the logistics are significant and can come at the expense of life,work and relationships.
Little big days
It’s tiny,trendy and in great demand. More couples are deciding to host intimate gatherings where the focus is very much on each other and the act of getting married,rather than the wedding itself.
Characterised by a guest list of 10-50 of the couple’s nearest and dearest,so-called “micro weddings” have gained popularity due to the couple’s ability to foster meaningful connection with each person in attendance. It’s hard to have a good yarn to every guest once your numbers edge towards triple digits. And while micro weddings are generally more affordable,the cost per head is often higher,with couples spoiling those in attendance with high-quality food,top-notch beverages,bespoke decor and experiences they might not be able to afford with a larger wedding.
Ceremonies reflect life
It’s not often you have to play favourites with your parents – and this reality is reflected in the rise of brides walking down the aisle flanked by both guardians rather than just the father. In fact,the aisle moment is seeing a revolution,with more grooms and choosing to enter with their parents,not to mention more couples walking hand-in-hand,or ditching the aisle altogether.
Wedding parties
Right off the bat,the wording’s changing. Formerly known as bridal parties,the term wedding parties is taking over as a gender-neutral way to refer to bridesmaids,groomsmen and any combo thereof.
For many reasons – whether financial,the desire to balance friendship dynamics,or just breaking norms – expect to see more couples opting not to have a wedding party. Or for their wedding party to have less of an obvious presence. This means more wedding parties blending in with the rest of the guests,sitting down during the ceremony,not walking down an aisle and wearing whatever they want rather than coordinated ensembles. The onus is on the support in the lead-up and on the day,rather than having a matchy-matchy team of sidekicks for photos.
For couples who do opt to stick with this tradition,it’s refreshing to see more mixed-gender and odd-numbered wedding parties. Why would you include someone in your wedding party just to balance out the numbers,or discount someone because they’re the wrong gender? Now it’s about choosing friends or family who first come to mind and honouring your relationship together.
Gifting has gone digital
Today,most couples live together before their wedding and don’t need another toaster or cutlery set. What they do need is money. The catch here is that asking for cash as a gift can feel awkward and impersonal,which is why digital gift registries or “digital wishing wells” are on the rise. Plus they’re a better experience for guests who might otherwise be doing a last-minute dash to an ATM or transferring to the couple after the event (been there).
Gravy[a registry co-owned by the author] allows couples to not only gather cash for things like a honeymoon or IVF fund but also offers guests to “pledge” of their time,doing something that might not cost them a cent but is genuinely meaningful for the couple,whether it’s painting the house,planting a garden,dog-sitting. Couples can even request that guests become organ donors or donate blood.
The bride wore…
There are a couple of things happening in the bridalwear space that seem to be on opposite ends of the style spectrum. At one end,make way for oversized puff-sleeve dresses,leggy gown slits,statement bows and bold colours. On the other,chic silk suits and sculptural silhouettes in both body-skimming dresses and classic ballgowns rule the big day. Also,expect to see plenty of hot little numbers being slipped on after dinner for solid dance-floor sessions.
Times are a-changin’
Weddings are no longer reserved to Saturdays – they’re happening every day of the week. And while the majority take place in the evening during spring and autumn,we’re anticipating a rise in winter weddings (along with associated perks such as fire pits,long-sleeved gowns and warming cocktails) given the forecast for a hot,dry El Niño period.
Evening weddings continue to dominate,but we’ve recently noticed a flourishing of midday ceremonies followed by long-lunch receptions. For couples keen to maximise the good times,this means they don’t need to worry about a curfew curtailing the celebrations;they can continue the fun with an after-party and still fall into bed before midnight.
Eating and drinking
Grazing tables remain a wedding stalwart,but “interactive food stations” are set to boom. Think oyster bars with on-the-spot shucking,cacio e pepe stations featuring al dente pasta inside a hollowed wheel of cheese,and dessert carts filled with freshly churned gelato.
Late-night food stations will also be on repeat,not only as a savvy move to help revellers soak up booze but also to provide fuel for the dance floor via gourmet sliders,self-serve ham rolls,mini tacos and cheeky toasties. And speaking of dance-floor fuel:espresso martinis. Prepare to throw one back if you’re attending nuptials in 2024.
When it comes to sweets,kitsch cakes – heart shapes,extravagant piping,sweet messages of love,cherries,berries and tiers – are having a moment. It’s an ’80s comeback,in baked form. They’re cute,they’re nostalgic and,so long as they’re tasty,let’s go.
Thoughtful spending
Clearly,we’re all feeling the pinch,and no one is more acutely aware of financial pressures than a couple planning a wedding. Expect to attend more weddings that have clearly allocated the bulk of the budget to things that are important to the couple and parked the nice-to-haves. This might mean spending more on amazing food and drinks,or on hiring a band,but forgetting about fancy transport and wedding favours.
Get Wed (Allen&Unwin) by Amy Parfett and Melaney McBride is out now.