While some tried and true wedding traditions may have lost their luster, wedding professionals are taking note of modern iterations that honor and elevate classic trends.
“Couples are looking to put their own spin on traditions and refresh them,” said Heather Balliet, an owner of Amorology Weddings, a wedding planning and event company in San Diego. “They want to update and personalize them while holding onto remnants.”
Here are a few old-school wedding traditions that have undergone inventive upgrades for the modern age. From cozy, family dining to floating cakes, industry experts share examples of how events have evolved as couples seek to make their celebrations more inclusive and memorable.
Elevated Guest Portraits
Everyone wants to capture everything — usually all at once. Polaroids were kitschy and Warholian. The huge photo booths that spit out a photo strip were cheeky. Roaming photo machines, complete with props, have had their moment. “Though these offered an interactive experience and a memento from the wedding, they were cheesy and very playful,” said Kelly McWilliams, the owner of Kelly McWilliams Celebrations, Weddings and Parties, in Cape Coral, Fla. “Couples are returning to old-school, black-and-white guest portrait photography where photographers set up mini studios at their wedding.”
