2016 Wedding Trends

Over the past five years I have been extremely fortunate to be a part of a number of special and fun weddings -- as a bridesmaid, maid of honor, and an officiant. I truly love weddings, and all of the joy that surrounds them.  I'll be adding another two to my wedding party tally in 2016...including my own sister's, where I'll be doubling down as both the maid of honor and the Rev! (I should charge extra for that, don't ya think?)

​Because I've gotten such an intimate look into the before/during/after of all things wedding related, I wanted to share a couple of predictions for the trends of 2016....

Photo Credit: EventsWithGrace

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1.   Working in a charitable angle. As time goes by, more and more couples live together prior to their wedding day. Which, as much as that may make a grandma or two cringe, means that traditional registries might not be as needed. I've seen folks register with organizations such as the Heifer Project (selecting a couple of baby chicks as a gift is pretty fun!), for example. I'm also seeing couples opt out of reception table gifts in favor of charitable donations. "Thank you for sharing in our day! A donation in your name has been made to ...." [insert charity of choice] kind of thing. In lieu of favors that often get left behind, or tossed aside, this is an awesome choice for spreading the love beyond just your own circle. ​Millions of dollars are spent each year on weddings, so if even a small percentage of that gets paid forward to a worthy cause, our planet will be a happier, healthier place. Etsy is a great spot to pick up an affordable, unique version of these -- and you'll be supporting small business! Even more love to go around :)

Photo Credit: Paperless Post

​3. Making eco-friendly choices, such as using e-vites for showers, bachelor/bachelorette, save the date, or engagement parties + announcements. Paperless Post is one of my favorite places to do just that. They have a number of great (and free!) options, with the ability to also choose more robust or detailed invitations for a small fee. It is extremely easy and intuitive to use, so it takes away a lot of the grunt work in getting these together. Being able to track and message guests all in one place saves time and energy that could be better spent enjoying your engagement! They also look like real deal invites, and not a cheesy web variety. We can see the negative effects of climate change all around us. Choosing additional sustainable vendors for catering, clothing, or florals is another way to show mama earth that we love her and don't want to make her feel worse!
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Me as The Rev :)

​2. Non denominational officiants, particularly friends or family members. I may be a little biased about this, considering I have performed wedding ceremonies three times already (which you can read about here, here, and here), but this is a favorite trend of mine.  There is something so personal about having someone who really knows and loves you speak about your relationship to your community + tribe. For me, it has always been an honor. This is a particular good choice if you do not have a close religious affiliation. Traditional ceremonies can be long, and almost inauthentic to folks who are only investing in them for the single day. It's my humble opinion that you have every right to think about what marriage, commitment, union, God, or spirit really means to you as a couple, and to work with an officiant to capture that messaging. If you are considering asking a friend to step up for this role, just be sure to check in with your state and county to confirm the legality of this, as it does vary. ​

My happy bestie and her hubby

4. Special touches that feel right to you, no matter what tradition states! I attended a wedding not too long ago with no ceremonial cake cutting, no first dance, no garter or bouquet toss. And you know what? None of it was missed. It simply didn't feel important to the bride, as she'd rather spend those moments chatting, dancing, and laughing.  I also know a gal who asked her grandmother to be a bridesmaid (matching dress and all!), because of their wonderful and close friendship.  A cousin of mine sang a song of gratitude to her mom during the reception, while another friend played the piano for her new husband. The point is, if you want to hit every traditional check mark because it's important to you for x,y,z reasons -- great! Have fun, and enjoy yourself. But keep in mind that there is no script to how you are supposed to celebrate this day. You should feel welcome to add, or take away, whatever feels right for you.

Wishing all you 2016 brides (and grooms!) a memorable and love-filled day! Keep it thoughtful and authentic, and I've no doubt it'll be the best time ever :)
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Cheers!

Trish

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*This post was made in partnership with Paperless Post.