Experts reveal that it’s out with the “something old” and in with the “something new” when it comes to modern wedding traditions
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Wedding fashion updates include second-hand outfits and the introduction of comfy shoes as searches for ‘wedding crocs’ soar by 26% in the last year
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While most are “a bit nervous”, more than a fifth (21%) of nearlyweds are “dreading” their first dance, with 11% choosing to scrap the awkward tradition entirely
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Almost a third (30%) of Brits think that wedding speeches need modernising for the modern day, and a whopping 72% of nearlyweds are worried about what will be said about them during the speeches
While every season of every year brings with it new wedding trends and fresh takes on timeless traditions, experts from leading wedding planning website Hitched.co.uk have analysed how couples are adapting and modernising certain traditions to make them relevant for the here and now.
Aisle Style Trends
Second-hand wedding fashion has grown in popularity in the last few years, particularly amongst the younger generations. Research by eBay revealed that almost two thirds of Gen Z shoppers (62%) purchase the same if not more second-hand clothing than last year, and the latest National Wedding Survey by Hitched showed that less than three quarters (73%) of couples purchased attire ahead of their weddings in 2022.
Instead, items were passed down or borrowed from family or friends (16%), or rented (14%) for the big day, with a fifth of couples saying that having eco-friendly elements on the day was important to them.
Another important element when it comes to aisle style, is comfort. Research by Matrimonio revealed that almost a third (32%) of nearlyweds surveyed would choose a wedding shoe with a low heel for their big day, and Google searches for ‘wedding Crocs‘ have soared by 26% in the last year as couples seek to include current fashion trends into their big days, especially if they’re extra comfortable.
‘Wedding trainers’ are another popular choice for modern couples, with more than 3,600 Google searches every month for alternatives to the traditional formal wedding shoes. And, since the return of the ballet flat to fashion runways this year, searches for the impractical shoe have increased by a whopping 61%, with more than 16,000 users turning to Google the item every month.
Zoe Burke, leading wedding expert and editor of Hitched.co.uk says: “At Hitched we’re all about planning a wedding that’s personal to the couple, that expresses who they are – both individually and together – in every way possible. Apparently that now includes wearing Crocs down the aisle?!
“I mean, it was only a matter of time, wasn’t it, especially with more couples opting for casual comfort on their big days and less couples blowing out on traditional wedding fashion, but it’s interesting to see how even weddings – events that are typically seen as more formal or special affairs – are not immune to our innate desire to be comfortable in how we dress.
“This has no doubt snowballed from those years we spent in our comfies at home, braless and shoeless, with many people still not ready to go back to the form and structure of pre-pandemic fashion. Now, formality is being ditched in favour of looking cool and feeling comfortable, and we’re totally here for it.
“A wedding is meant to be the most fun, enjoyable day of a couple’s life, so it’s not surprising to see that nearlyweds are eschewing shelling out on uncomfy clothing for what makes them feel the most relaxed on the day.”
Big Day Updates
Other wedding traditions being shunned by modern couples include time-honoured practices such as first dances and typical wedding speeches, as an Instagram poll* by Hitched revealed that while half were “a bit nervous” about their first dance, more than a fifth of nearlyweds (21%) were “dreading” having one, and more than 1-in-10 couples decided to do away with the awkward tradition entirely.
When it comes to wedding speeches, a second poll** showed that almost a third of respondents (30%) feel that the wedding tradition of giving speeches needs modernising for 2023, as many guests find the tradition “boring” (8%). For the couples themselves, 42% say the thought of their own wedding speeches makes them feel nervous, and the majority (72%) are more worried about what will be said about them by others.
To quell some of these worries, additional research*** revealed that 44% of couples were doing “something different” for their wedding speeches, including having joint speeches from the couple, lots of little speeches from wedding guests, or simply no speeches at all.
Something Old Traditions
Thanks to the ongoing cost of living crisis, and searches for ‘postage stamp costs’ up 20% this year according to Google Trends, couples are finding new ways of sharing the details of their big days that don’t involve traditional snail mail. The latest National Wedding Survey found that only 57% of couples purchased save the date cards to send guests ahead of their weddings, and Google search data shows a 10% drop in users looking online for ‘save the date cards’ in the past year.
Instead, couples are relying on other solutions to provide information about their nuptials with a third saying they shared key details about their weddings with guests via free wedding websites such as those provided by Hitched, or through instant messaging services like WhatsApp.
The National Wedding Survey also showed the decline of a number of more conservative wedding traditions too. It was revealed that 90% of couples were already living together before their wedding day, and almost a third of couples married in 2022 reported they already had children under the age of 18 at the time of their weddings.
Less than half (43%) of couples sought a blessing or permission from the parents ahead of getting engaged, and post wedding, only 79% of couples chose to have one partner change their surname to their partner’s surname.
For the latest Wedding Trends Report, please visit: https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/organising-and-planning/wedding-trends/
