Each year, wedding trends begin to have a definite shape and substance. 2020 was definitely no exception, and 2021 will follow suit, but hopefully with a few improvements as we learn from the past. As we move into a new year full of new possibilities, get ready to see brides everywhere master the concept of the micro-wedding, while destination weddings morph into extended stay weekend bashes.
Fashion, food, flowers and other details become locally sourced, sustainable and eco-friendly. We’ll also see a vast improvement on virtual weddings, as we become more and more adept at live streaming. Your wedding will always be uniquely yours- the question is how much explaining do you plan to do when you show your children and grandchildren photos and videos of your big day? At Conklyn’s Weddings, we want to help you stay as on-trend as you’d like to be this year. Let us offer a few suggestions for keeping your big day up-to-date this year.
Micro Weddings
Gone are the days (at least for now) when couples invite everyone they and their parents have ever met to their wedding. Many of this year’s weddings will be intimate gatherings of 25 or fewer guests, allowing the happy couple to spend more time with each individual guest. You’ll also find that more can be budgeted per person, so personal touches like wine tastings or personalized plants or desserts as wedding favors will become more of a thing.
Say It Now, Enjoy It Later (or Longer)
Many couples are choosing to say their vows without much of an audience, then planning a more elaborate celebration, or even destination weddings, for later when the world becomes more gathering-friendly. Some couples will even choose to modify the destination wedding to feature a weekend with close friends and family, making the celebration more than just one day. We’ll also see the concept of destination weddings in reverse: a Bali or Parisian-themed wedding at home, based on the couple’s favorite locales or hopes for their honeymoon one day. Feel free to get creative while staying as safe as you feel comfortable doing. There are plenty of ways to get together- now or later- to celebrate.
Something Green
One awesome by-product of a global pandemic is how focused many people have become on local businesses and eco-consciousness. As we swoop into 2021, many couples are choosing to have their weddings in their own backyard, utilizing local vendors for food, drinks, decor and florals. Supporting your local farms, florists, fisherman and shops is a great way to give back to your community while reducing your global footprint with your big event. Couples are also opting for more natural, green decor at weddings this year. Get ready to see succulents, ferns, eucalyptus, and cacti, no matter how rustic, formal, magical or casual the wedding vibe might be.
Signature Food & Drink
Another trendy wedding aspect to look for in the new year will be specialty food or drink trucks. Expensive catering is being replaced by the couple’s favorite food trucks with a limited menu. This opens up a world of possibilities where reception venues are concerned, and even allows for responsible serving methods, like bagged dinners to be eaten picnic-style. These days there’s a food truck for every type of food you could want, including mixologists to replace your open bar! Couples can choose to have their signature drinks served to guests, or prepare a special drink for each guest on a limited menu.
Virtual Weddings
Now that we’ve all mastered the art of a Zoom meeting, couples are opting to convert their wedding into a virtual event, inviting far-away guests and family members to join them via live stream. Moving into 2021, drones will become more prominent at weddings to get the full perspective of the event. This is the year for videographers to make their mark on the wedding industry, shooting events from multiple angles and catching the entire event from more than one perspective.
While 2020 threw us all for a loop, the fact is, couples are still falling in love and choosing to get married. If we’ve learned anything by enduring a global pandemic, it’s how to be flexible. The wedding industry and engaged couples everywhere know this just as well as anyone. At Conklyn’s Weddings, we’re ready to bend and flex with any new idea you have to make your wedding safe, responsible, and most of all, yours. Talk to our wedding professionals about how we can help you create the wedding of your dreams, no matter what’s going on in the world around you.