Weddings are a great way to celebrate your marriage with your spouse and the beginning of your life together with your loved ones. Although brides still wear dresses and grooms still wear tuxes, many “traditions” have changed over the years.
However, some traditions like cake cutting, and first dances still remain. Doing the same things over and over again can get a little boring, and modern brides may not want to follow in the footsteps of brides in the past.
After all, you’re the bride and groom, so do what you want to do. Don’t conform to what everyone else expects.
Bouquet / Garter Toss
Usually the bride would wear a garter and she would sit down on a chair in the middle of the dance floor and the groom would slip the garter off her. It was sort of embarrassing, especially for your family, and nobody really does it or wears garters anymore. When the garter was off the bride, the groom would throw it to the group of single men at the wedding. Then the bride would throw her bouquet to the single women. It was supposed to mean they were the next to get married.
Then the single man and woman would do what the bride and groom did and the man would slip the garter on the woman. However, in some situations, when the catchers in both senses are family or have a significant age difference between them, it can get pretty awkward.
White Dress and Veil
Unless you are getting married in a church, many brides do not wear veils anymore. Many brides find it more of a pain than not. Guests are constantly stepping on them. It blocks your hair-do and it really serves no purpose.
Also, brides nowadays do not wear white dresses. There are many different options out there like ivory, cream, grey, blush, even lilac and light blue. Some brides even opt for more bold colors like red or black.
Same gender Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
Who says your can’t have your brother or best guy friend as a bridesman? Why can’t your sister or best girl friend be a groomsmaid? If that’s who is important to you then why shouldn’t they stand by your side? Multi-gender bridal parties are the norm now, especially now that gay marriage is legal.
Sometimes groomsmaids still wear a dress, matching the men and sometimes they wear a tux. The choice is really up to them and the bride and groom. For a bridesman, they can match shirts, ties, bowties, and pocketsquares to the bridesmaids dress. Or if you’re really bold, wear a suit/tux of that same color.
Something Old, New, Borrowed, Blue
The tradition states that a bride should wear something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue on her wedding day to bring her good luck. The old item provided protection for the future baby. The borrowed item signified another bride providing good luck. The color blue represented fidelity.
However, many brides do not do that nowadays or if they do, it is something small and not made a big deal about. It can be a blue hair piece or a borrowed bracelet.
Bride’s Side / Groom’s Side
The tradition used to be the bride’s family and friends would sit on one side (usually the left) and the groom’s family and friends would sit on the other side (usually the right). Now, many brides and grooms have signs that read, ‘Choose a Seat, Not a Side.” This also makes it easier for people who are friends of both the bride and groom.
This tradition was seen mostly in churches because Mary was on the left and Joseph was on the right. But once they say ‘I do’ you’re all family anyway, so who cares where you sit. Plus, it is a great way to meet people you haven’t met yet.