Since I’m a wedding planner, people always seem to like to get my take on ideas and trends within the industry.  These questions and posts across the internet seem to surface most often right as we’re ringing in the New Year.  However, I want to get a little ahead of that game.  My season is wrapping up and I’ve witness some really amazing weddings with some of the most lovely couples you’ll ever meet.  I’m sad to see the season end.  I thought that I’d share a few of the trends or rather absence of traditions, that I noticed in the past couple wedding seasons and I predict these will continue to spur on into the future.

1. Something Old, Something New

I personally love the sentiment of something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a six pence for your shoe.  This was thought to bring prosperity and fertility.  Today, it’s more of a charming little ritual.  I’ve only seen one six pence in all my years of wedding planning and she didn’t put it in her shoe.

Photography: Samantha James Photography

2. Unity Ceremonies

In a very traditional wedding ceremony, the mother of both the bride and groom would each light a candle at the beginning.  During the ceremony itself, a center candle would be lit using the flames from the candles lit by the mothers.  The flames could never again be separated, and therefore neither can the couple.  The symbolism is really strong.  In recent years and with the rise of outdoor ceremonies, couples have opted for using sand, planting trees or other creative concepts.  I even did a wedding with a “Love Fern”.  But this year, it seems that unity ceremony has been skipped entirely.  Rather than trying to update or take a creative approach to the tradition, couples are skipping it all together.

Photography: Samantha James Photography

3. Objections

I just have to throw this in here – I have never heard an officiant ask if anyone objects to this marriage.  Not all weddings are like the movies and I don’t think any couple is open to a dramatic scene.

4. Corsages

We saw a shift a few years ago from pin on corsages for mom and grandma to wrist corsages and now I think we’re going to see another shift.  It’s subtle, but it’s happening.  I’ve had several requests for small mother’s bouquets, single stems wrapped with ribbon or I even had one bride who plucked two flowers from her own bouquet to present to her mother and new mother in law – which was so sweet.  And a small bouquet will last so much longer than a bracelet of blooms, which can often seem cumbersome and tends to get in the way.  Grandma will then have a little memento to keep with her for a few days on, just make sure you keep a vase of water close by for her.

Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

5.  Bouquet & Garter Toss

I’ve only had two brides request that I make them toss bouquets and I have only witnessed one actual bouquet toss this entire season.  Some have referred to this tradition as distasteful others don’t like having to single out their friends who haven’t committed to a mate yet.  I guess I don’t really have strong opinions on it either way, except sometimes it really can interrupt the party and get a touch awkward – please don’t make the recipients put the garter on each other.

Naturally though, I think we need to understand where these traditions stemmed from.  There are a couple thoughts on the garter.  The first, removing it is proof that the couple has consummated the marriage.  This seems a little raunchy in my opinion so I like the second line of thinking better.  Superstition states that keeping a piece of the wedding dress is good luck.  To discourage guests from helping themselves to a trinket or swatch of the bride’s gown, the garter was worn to toss and give prosperity to one lucky recipient.

Oddly enough, the idea of tossing the bouquet comes from this same superstition.  Again, wedding guests tried to rip a piece of the bride’s dress and as an escape, she would throw her flowers and run away.  Since the flowes are perishable items, they also represent fertility and are a sign of good things to come for the person who catches them.

Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

I’m a huge believer in tradition.  But there are some things that I could do without.  Are there tradition that you’re tired of seeing or wish would come back in style?

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