This past year, engaged couples all over the world had to rethink their wedding. And with social distancing and capacity restrictions we saw many shift to micro weddings. We break down these small but elaborate celebrations in this year’s Wedding Trends Look Book below.
Every year we look to the zeitgeist to survey the nuances of how couples are choosing to tie the knot. With each new season, we see trends that coincide with the ever-evolving concept of what a wedding means for the couple, their family, and their guests. This year as we dive into the underlying currents, one thing truly stands out as the next big trend — micro weddings.
Covid-19 has impacted all of our lives, but it continues to leave an indelible imprint on the world of weddings. One of the most significant impacts has been the creation of the new phenomenon of mini-monies. These small celebrations often honor an original wedding date which is then followed by a larger reception at a later date — also known as a sequel wedding. This concept is most closely related to an elopement, where a couple chooses to get married without or with few guests present, and then host a celebration with friends and family later after announcing their marriage.
Weddings aren’t just a celebration of love, they are a celebration of personal history and family. Whether it’s micro weddings or a mini-mony, one thing is certain — couples still want to create a meaningful celebration no matter how many guests attend. Many couples have looked no further than their (or their parent’s) own backyard. These weddings are reminiscent of weddings of the 1950s when they were less formal and often hosted at home. These intimate weddings also mean that couples can focus on the smaller details and more elements become possible when planning for 50 people and not 300.
Couples that have celebrated with smaller weddings will tell you that this process helps keep a focus on the marriage itself. It allows you to choose the pieces that you want to include without the pressure of doing everything that might be expected at a larger celebration. A micro wedding with fewer expectations also allows you to be more flexible and creative. Think, too, how much easier the planning process is and once you’ve decided on the guest list, you will actually have the time to commemorate your day with everyone.
Still craving a blow-out bash with everyone you know? The mini-mony provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate with a larger party later.
During the pandemic, we are seeing many couples honor their original wedding date with a small ceremony and then planning a more traditional and larger reception on their first anniversary. This provides the best of both possible worlds — a time to celebrate with your immediate loved ones and prioritize spending time with each and every loved one on your ceremony date — then party like crazy with everyone you know at a later reception.
The sequel wedding also allows you to switch up what that reception looks like. It could be a more casual afternoon event or a swanky cocktail party where you show off your original wedding dress. The best part is that there is no “right answer”. The most important element is to do what is best for how you and your fiancé want to celebrate your love.
See all of these ideas and more in our 2021 Wedding Trends Look Book curated specially to spot the latest trends in weddings.
