Whether it is passing on the white dress or wearing two of them, couples today are rewriting the traditions they inherited. Some customs earned their retirement, and some new ones deserve the spotlight. Here are five shifts we love seeing.
1. Non-white wedding dresses
If white is not your color, then white is not your color. Mandy Moore, Sarah Jessica Parker, Reese Witherspoon, and Keira Knightley all skipped the stereotypical white gown. What does your color say about you?
- Pretty in pink: blush and light pink gowns read flirtatious and feminine.
- Beautiful in blue: baby blue and navy suggest stability and calm.
- Powerful in purple: violet and indigo carry royalty and strength.
- Great in gray: maturity, composure, and organization.
- Bold in black: power, sophistication, and mystery.
Brides are wearing red, gold, green, and even orange now. The only color we gently advise against is camo.
2. The two-dress trend
Not every gown is made for dancing, so many brides now have a ceremony dress and a reception dress. If you go this route: budget for each dress before you enter the shop, plan the changeover time, and think through shoes and undergarments for both. A convertible dress gets you two looks with one purchase.
3. The mixed-gender wedding party
Wedding parties used to be strictly gendered. Today, the people standing beside you should simply be the people you love most. A best guy friend can be the bridesman; a best girl friend can be the groomswoman. Pre-wedding events open up to everyone, and you gain perspectives you would have missed.
4. Deciding on a last name
Keeping a maiden name, hyphenating, taking a spouse's name, or building a brand-new name from pieces of both: every option is on the table now, and technically, getting married comes with a free name change.
5. All three tosses, modernized
Rice tosses gave way to dried flowers, biodegradable confetti, and bubbles, all of which photograph beautifully. And many couples are retiring the bouquet and garter tosses entirely, since both can be awkward for single guests. Lovely replacements:
- Hand out individual flowers from the bouquet to loved ones.
- Set up a bouquet and boutonniere station for guests.
- Hold an anniversary dance and present the bouquet to the longest-married couple.
Keep, skip, or reinvent: your wedding, your rules. One tradition that never goes out of style is a confident smile, and our Wedding Collection handles that part.
