Weddings are time-honoured traditions that aren’t going anywhere. We cannot wait for the 2021 wedding season and the fresh new trends that will be brought to life. Although 2020 was probably one of the worst years for weddings, 2021 is sure to come back strong. We have seen so much creativity during this pandemic from Zoom weddings to drive-in weddings. Transitioning to the 2021 wedding season will most likely continue some of those elements, especially the live streaming of weddings for family members who aren’t able to be there on the day.
Writing about wedding trends for 2021 hasn’t been high on the priority list last year, as most wedding publications have mainly focused on how the coronavirus will affect your wedding and how to get around it. However, having a better understanding of the virus in the coming year will ensure that weddings are safe without taking away any of the fun elements we know and love about weddings. Below are eight trends that we believe will take centre stage in 2021.
1. Outdoor weddings
Outdoor weddings are not a new concept; however, they are predicted to be more popular in 2021 as couples don’t want their guests to be in confined venue spaces. Outdoor weddings allow for a greater area to be used so that guests do not have to be in close proximity to one another. Similarly, less sanitising will be necessary and, as long as guests maintain a safe social distance. With suppliers giving discounts to revive the industry, an outdoor Summer wedding may be more affordable than previously.
2. Mismatched seating
The craze of mismatched bridesmaids’ dresses is a beautiful trend that adds a personal touch to your bridal party. Here each bridesmaid can express their unique sense of style. Why not try mismatched seating at your ceremony or even your reception? Just because you like two or three different options for seating doesn’t mean you have to pick just one. Sometimes the best decision is indecision. There are a few ways to do this. You could have mismatched sofas at your ceremony instead of chairs. Another option is having two or more different styles of chairs at your ceremony or reception that play into the look and feel of your wedding.
3. Coordinated guest dress code
The old adage is that you shouldn’t wear black or white to someone else’s wedding. However, many brides have ditched that tradition and instead embraced black and white. It is becoming more and more common to see bridesmaids wearing white dresses and for brides to request that guests come dressed in black. No matter what colour the bride chooses for guests to wear on the day, it makes for exceptional photographs and ensures that the bride really stands out in the photographs.
4. Elopements
Elopements were certainly not popular in South Africa until Covid came along. This is an exciting development for wedding planners as they are much easier to organise than formal weddings and as such, wedding planners can plan at a reduced fee and plan many elopements at once. An elopement is an excellent way for couples to save on a big wedding day forgo the pressure of having to invite all of their family and friends. Although it depends on the couple entirely, as we believe that most people will still choose to have a big celebration with their family and friends.
5. Relaxed and informal weddings
We believe that many couples will meet in the middle this coming year, even with elopements rising in popularity. Instead of either eloping or having a huge celebration, many couples will most likely have a more relaxed and informal wedding celebrating. Weddings in 2021 will be smaller across the board, making couples really think about the guests they invite and the role they play in their lives. Having less guests means having a more relaxed and informal wedding without the seriousness of incorporating all the traditional elements of a wedding day.
6. Single tier cakes
Single tier wedding cakes do not mean only having one cake at your celebration. Instead, couples are choosing to have various different cakes at their celebration over having a three or four-tiered cake. Like having mismatched seating, this can really personalise your wedding and to pick a few different styles instead of just one. Each cake can be a different colour or decorated with different flowers or cake toppers. The cake stands can also be different heights to showcase the different cakes in a decorative way.
7. Eco-friendly
Eco-friendliness is high on many couple’s priority list, which is wonderful! Being ethical and sustainable in how you plan your special day is so important, as events can often be wasteful. Being eco-friendly does not mean having to go without beautiful elements like candles, flowers, or stationery. Candles are super sustainable and can be melted and re-used, so they are a must for your sustainable table décor. Flowers, too, do not need to be wasted as guests can take the flowers home as they leave or flowers can be sent to an old age home in the area to ensure that someone gets to enjoy them long after your wedding day.
It is no longer necessary or expected to send out physical invitations and with emails and wedding websites becoming so popular. Most of the information will be sent to the guests without having to hand out individual programmes on the day, saving on printing and paper. Menus are also no longer necessary, as often guests have chosen their meals ahead of time.
8. Weekday weddings
Weekday weddings seem like a foreign concept to most of us. But, with most venues having great weekday discounts, it is no wonder that many couples are choosing to have their wedding during the week. This is perfect for couples and guests who come from out of town as they have already booked leave, so it doesn’t matter which day of the week the celebration is held. This is especially practical for those couple’s who have a tighter budget and are looking for reduced rates from service providers.
We predict that these trends will see an uptick in the 2021 wedding season, as we near the end of 2020. The whole wedding industry is refreshed and excited to pull-off some spectacular celebrations in 2021, big or small. We believe that this pandemic will only encourage engaged couples realise how precious life is and just how important it is to celebrate life’s big moments.
For more wedding trends in 2021 check out the Pantone colour of the year.
If you would like to book a free consultation with one of our wedding planners to plan your dream wedding contact us here.
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