The New Rules of “I do”
The wedding industry is one that is ever-changing - it responds to general, global, and local trends. We’ve seen this happen over and over again since we opened in 2018, and it’s happening again! Times are changing. Things are moving toward sustainability and tech integration, truly personalizing your wedding, greater focus on guest experience, and there are new budget and inflation pressures to contend with.
How do you navigate all this and end up with a day you love and feel great about? Here are some things to consider as you plan!
A focus on values & sustainability.
We’ve seen an increased focus on prioritizing environmental impact - the wedding industry is notorious for being a high-waste industry but there are ways to minimize! Look into rental decor rather than throw-away big box options, talk with caterers who work with local and/or seasonal food, and ask us about recycling your florals! We love making arrangements out of the leftovers and taking them to the nursing home down the street.
This can also mean more intimate celebrations - if you are going for higher quality, less disposable items in your decor and catering especially, that can affect your planning when it comes to who you’d like to be with you on your special day (more on that later).
Let’s talk about wedding planning and AI.
There are SO many tools available that were not even a glimmer in a coder’s eye two years ago (that’s not true they were probably working their tushies off). AI support and planning apps are readily available now and can absolutely revolutionize your planning process if used correctly (theknotww.com). Think AI mood board generators or chat-based planning assistants. Before you commit to any tools, do a thorough demo, check on data privacy policies, and check in with your planner and vendors to make sure what’s offered integrates with their systems. What you DON’T want is to have too many chefs in the kitchen - your planner is your best friend when it comes to organizing your wedding. Let them cook! And use the tools available to help you get them what they need to support you best.
Think personalized guest experience over tradition.
We’ve been saying this for years now and are thrilled to see it become a trend. Shifting from a generic “wedding template” to a deeply personalized event means blending cultures, custom ceremonies, and unique guest experiences (Trends.wedding).
There. Are. No. Rules.
This requires more planning! Instead of a plug and play timeline, we’re crafting your day to fit exactly what you want it to be. Pick bold colors, feature decor that reflects your personality and the things you love (even if it doesn’t feel “wedding”). Offer activities/experiences for guests beyond the typical drink drinks, eat food, and dance. Choose attire that you LOVE - hate white? Don’t wear it! Love a jumpsuit or a two-piece? Great! Don’t want to invite Aunt Lucy that you met when you were 3 and haven’t talked to since? Don’t! (No offense, Aunt Lucy).
Smaller weddings with higher impact design are one of our favorite things - you as the couple will have a better time and your guests will love it (redeventweddingfayres.com). It’s a quality over quantity season and we are here for it.
Work with your planner to craft the perfect day and if you know you’re going to be leaning all the way in to bucking tradition, talk with them about expanding your planning package so you have help the whole way!
Navigating wedding costs.
Inflation, supply chain issues, tariffs (GlobeNewswire): these are scary words when it comes to planning your wedding. It means higher costs, longer shipping times, and all-in-all a little more headache in the process. What we’ve found over the last year is that the “middle budget” weddings are fading - folks are either doing super scaled-down weddings or really going for the high-end experience. This is a tough adjustment for couples - a budget that used to get you a really beautiful typical wedding is not going to go as far as it used to. We’ve seen our average couples’ budget go up from $30k to over $40k.
We’ve created our microwedding and elopement packages to answer that growing need, but we’ve had to limit those packages to 30 guests because we’re also on the receiving end of some of those increased costs! Our goal is always to offer beautiful experiences at any budget, and that’s taking a little more effort these days. We believe in talking it through and being transparent with our pricing - you can check out our packages here. Schedule a phone call if you’re not sure whether it will work or not - we will be honest with you about what’s possible at your price point and whether we are the spot for you.
Things to focus on.
If you haven’t already, check out our post: Wedding Planning 101 to get started. Use your vendors as a resource (hi!) - ask them questions and get their advice as you plan. The good news is that weddings are more about meaning, experience, and values than ever before. Challenges can be navigated with support and intentional planning, so allow some extra time and energy as you go. Reflect on what really matters to you, work with vendors who embrace the new (lack of) rules, and as always, ENJOY!
Love,
Jessie