Tradition: it’s not just a Fiddler on the Roof song. Weddings are full of traditions — from what you wear to how you celebrate and even who you invite. Some wedding traditions are timeless, while others are outdated or inauthentic.
Recently, non-traditional weddings have been trending on social media. Gen Z and Millennial brides are sharing the unique ways they plan to celebrate their special day instead of adhering to what’s customary. Keep reading to learn how they’re reimagining their wedding days and staying true to who they are.
Non-Traditional Wedding Attire
In Western culture, it is often considered tradition to wear a white dress on your wedding day.
This tradition is rooted in religion as the color white symbolizes purity and was historically believed to represent a bride’s virginity.
While most brides still wear white, there’s less emphasis on a bride’s relations these days (and rightfully so). Even still, some brides are ditching tradition and choosing a dress color that better suits their personal preference or lifestyle. Light pink, black, or gold are all popular options for non-traditional wedding dresses. White dresses with a colorful pattern are also great choices if you want to break tradition without changing it completely.
And who said it had to be a dress? Modern brides are branching out from ball gowns and stilettos and wearing jumpsuits or matching sets with sneakers or cowboy boots.
Non-Traditional Wedding Moments
Back in the day, it was considered bad luck for a bride and groom to see each other before their wedding. This superstition dates back to the era of arranged marriages and the fear that a couple would back out if they saw each other beforehand.
Nowadays, couples are being intentional about seeing and spending time together leading up to the big day. Here’s a few ways they’re bucking tradition:
- Spending the night together before the wedding
- Getting ready in the same location
- Sharing a first look
- Exchanging private vows
Couples are choosing to spend these intimate moments together before celebrating with loved ones — and we’re here for it.
Non-Traditional Wedding Ceremonies
They’re also reimagining the wedding ceremony itself, beginning with the processional.
Instead of walking down the aisle to Pachelbel’s Canon in D, brides are opting for instrumental versions of contemporary songs by the likes of Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. Some brides are choosing to walk down the aisle alone to break the tradition of being passed from one man to another, while others are walking down the aisle hand-in-hand with their betrothed. We’ve also seen some brides flip the script and walk towards their guests instead of from behind.
As micro weddings and smaller ceremonies continue to trend, there has been a rise of circular seating arrangements in lieu of two separate sides. A ceremony in the round provides a deeply intimate setting where a couple is literally and physically surrounded by their loved ones. What a beautiful sentiment!
Non-Traditional Wedding Receptions
A traditional wedding reception often features a cocktail hour, sit-down dinner, and dancing — but you don’t have to do it that way. Weekday and brunch weddings are rising in popularity because they are typically cheaper than a catered dinner reception on a Saturday night.
And, while everyone loves to watch other people dancing, not everyone loves being in the spotlight. More and more couples are choosing to forego the traditional father-daughter or mother-son dances due to complicated family dynamics or fear of the stage. Some couples are even choosing to do their first dance in private to keep the focus on each other.
Planning a Non-Traditional Wedding
From colorful attire to private vows, today’s couples are breaking tradition and choosing to celebrate in a more intimate and authentic manner. Non-traditional weddings might not be what you’re used to, but they can be just as memorable.
Rachel Kauffman is a Detroit-based content writer, bookworm, and cat mom to two feisty felines.
