Wedding Traditions to Skip (and a few to keep)

Hello, hello!

When it comes to weddings, there are traditions coming out the wazoo. And just like everything else in the wedding world, I've got some opinions about those that you should skip, and a few that you should keep.

SKIP

1. Cake Cutting

A lot of couples feel pressure to a) have a traditional wedding cake and b) cut that cake in front of their guests. I'm here to tell you that no one cares about the aforementioned. By the time your cake cutting happens, your guests are either a little, ahem, incoherent or everyone crowds around you not allowing your photographer to get a good photograph of it anyways. Lose-lose.

2. Signing During the Ceremony

Not important. No one (well maybe your Mom) cares about this part. It can drag out a ceremony longer than it needs to be when the paperwork can just as easily be signed post-ceremony.

3. Garter/Bouquet Toss Want my honest opinion (of course you do), the whole garter thing is just cringe. And the bouquet toss, unnecessary. Your guests won't notice if you skip it and you'll save the embarrassment of your groom going up your dress in front of your grandmother (ya, bet ya didn't think about that).

4. Gendered Wedding Party

It's 2020 people, you know what doesn't matter, having only girls on the bride's side and only guys on the groom's. If the bride wants her brother standing on her side, so be it. If the groom wants his girl cousin on his side, let it be baby, let it be.

5. Something Old, New, Borrowed, Blue

Listen, if you want to keep this tradition, do it. But ain't nobody should be out here telling you that you have to (preach it sister!). Don't let this one stress you out. If everything on you is new, that's a-okay.

6. Not Seeing Each other

No big deal if you see each other before the ceremony. In fact, here is a full post on why first looks are grand.

7. Ceremony Seating Arrangement

Bride's side, groom's side. Isn't the whole point of a wedding to celebrate two family's coming together!? So why the heck are we separating sides? Doesn't make sense to me. Sit where you want.

8. Dad Gives you Away

If you want Dad to walk you down the aisle, awesome! If you want Mom to, perfect! If you want them both to, excellent! If you want neither of them to, coolio! If you want your dog to, great (also v cute)! Point is, there are no rules when it comes to weddings! Make your own.

9. Same Bridesmaid Dresses

I personally love the look of mismatched, but coordinating bridesmaid dresses. Your bridesmaids will probably thank you too because they have the freedom to choose a dress that they feel good in!

10. Diamond Ring

Alternatives to diamonds are trending at the moment and I hope we continue to see more alternatives pop up! Gemstones, pearls, and sustainably sourced diamonds are where it's at.

11. White Dress

Ivory, cream, nude, blush, heck, even multi-coloured. It's your wedding day. Don't let anyone tell you that you have to wear pure white!

KEEP

1. Guests Don't Wear White Unless your wedding invite specifically says to wear white, I would steer clear of wearing it. It's a big faux pas. Avoid me giving you some major side-eye and just don't wear white.

2. The First Dance

I looove watching the first dance (not in like, a creepy way). I just think there is something so special about having a quiet moment with just the two of you, uninterrupted by guests.

3. Exchanging Gifts/Notes

A gift or a note given to each other in the morning is the sweetest thing. It is the best keepsake.

4. Mailed Invitiations

I don't know about you but getting good mail (ahem, not bills) is still fun for me, even as a grown woman. I may be slightly biased towards a pretty invitation suite because I love photographing them but still, it's a nice tradition to keep.

Moral of the story. Your wedding day is your own. Don't let anyone (including me) tell you what to do and what not to do!

That's it that's all.

If you have anything to add to the list, leave me a comment/email me/slide into my DMs.

Until next time,

Telle.