5 Wedding Trends to Watch in 2021 | indigo.chapters.ca

The authors of The New Wedding Book share modern wedding ideas to make your own during the pandemic and beyond.

By Emilie Dingfeld

The wedding industry is just one of the many industries that has been shaken up during the pandemic. From single-digit guest lists to outdoor venues to innovative favours (read: masks), wedding planning has stepped up to the task in big and small ways. According to the authors of The New Wedding Book, Michelle Bilodeau and Karen Cleveland, it’s about time soon-to-be weds start saying “I do” their way. “A trend that I’m particularly excited for is around broadening the lens on weddings,” says Cleveland. “I’m loving representation of different cultures being mashed up and couples really finding their own footing, as opposed to following the scripts, so to speak, of the White Western wedding.” Here’s how to make the most of your nuptials and embrace 2021’s top wedding trends.

Embrace the Micro Wedding

During the pandemic, gathering sizes cramped many couples’ wedding style. But one noteworthy couple had Bilodeau swooning. She recalls journalist Elaine Welteroth’s Brooklyn wedding, which was scaled back due to the pandemic. “Her wedding was the epitome of cool,” says Bilodeau. “They shifted their budget to include this big floral archway … and she pulled a white dress from the back of her closet. She wore a pair of kickass heels. And they got married under this archway in their brownstone in Brooklyn. And then they just had a socially distanced street party.” You can make the trend yours by focusing your spending on three keys areas, Bilodeau and Cleveland say—from wedding decorations to food to photography.

Focus on Sustainability

You can incorporate sustainability into your wedding to stay true to your eco roots. “Is your food vendor a place that gets foods locally?” says Bilodeau. “A lot of wedding dresses are polyester, and polyester is plastic. Look for a dress that is made out of silk instead of something that has sequins and beads, because that isn’t environmentally friendly.” Better yet, she says, try vintage or preloved gowns. Choosing in-season florals is another way to go easy on the planet. For a budget-friendly, DIY option, fill beautiful vases with flowers from the farmers’ market or ultra-trendy dried flowers. The best part? You can use the vases at home for years to come.

Keep the Tech Going

Many of us have a love-hate relationship with video calls after more than a year of staring at our own reflections. But blending IRL and virtual weddings could be the new happy medium moving forward, says Bilodeau. “It could help weddings be more inclusive, because you might have family members in Australia or New Zealand, and that $4,000 flight just isn’t doable right now.” Get creative to show your gratitude for their tuning in by arranging celebration packages for them to enjoy during the big (or small) event.

Make Super-Personalized Invitations

In line with spending less money overall, some couples are forgoing the elaborate invite packages and save the dates in favour of more personalized invitations. “I’m all for rewriting the rules when it comes to that,” she says. “It could even be buying some notecards and writing a handwritten note to invite people to your wedding. What’s more beautiful and intimate than that?” While e-invitations are a fun, modern take, Cleveland’s non-negotiable? Handwritten thank you cards.

Say Goodbye to Esthetic ‘Perfection’

Whether you’re planning to attend a wedding in the near future or be the reason for one, bootcamps have long promised to whip you into shape. But that is one trend Cleveland is happy to kick to the curb. “This idea of bridal bootcamps, I find that really problematic,” she says. Instead, focus on the reason the love is there in the first place: you. With the trend of more intimate, casual weddings many couples opt to do their own hair and makeup—a sure way to feel and look like you on your big day.

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2021 Wedding Trends: 5 Modern Ways to Say ‘I Do’