Mini weddings – the next (current) trend?

 

2020 was the year when weddings had to change – but could it also be the year that changed weddings?  Writing this just after Christmas it feels weird to think back to early 2020 when putting off weddings seemed almost pre-emptive, and we were sure that we would just be delaying by a few months.  Fast forward 9 months and we are seeing a new style of weddings - dictated by Government guidelines.  From weddings with 27 guests down to weddings with just 15 couples, guests and suppliers have had to adapt.  Some have postponed, some have gone ahead, some people have eloped!

Whilst I have not DJ’d a wedding now in around a year, through my work as a butler I have seen weddings that have gone ahead, and of course had many conversations with brides and grooms who have booked their weddings with me.  I have seen mini weddings, I have had postponements, one elopement and sadly one outright cancellation.

So what is the future?

Firstly, I predict that from whenever we can get back to “normal” it will take at least two years to catch up with weddings.  Suppliers, venues, registrars can all only do so many weddings per year, so unless you want to compromise, you may still need to wait.

My second prediction is an upturn in the number of mini weddings, even after Covid.  I have seen some wonderful, intimate and very personal weddings in this period, and not one couple has seemed disappointed or unhappy with their day!  Possibly may favourite was a wedding in our smaller ceremony room, afternoon tea for all 15, and then the bride and groom stayed overnight in the hotel and had dinner for two that evening after all their guests had gone, giving them a chance to be alone and to savour their wedding day!

So why not!  I have always reminded people that the most important – the only important part of their day is to get married in front of their closest family and friends.  A smaller ceremony can be more intimate and more personal, it also allows for a different choice of venues, not restricted by their size.  A more personal wedding may also be a less stressful one – with brides and grooms feeling less like they are “on stage”.  A meal, some speeches, lots of personal time with your closest guests.  By scaling down your day, it will allow you to choose to either scale down your budget, or perhaps include some touches that may not fit into the budget for a larger day.

Perhaps the small, intimate day sounds idyllic (and bear in mind that in the future we won’t be restricted by specific numbers), or perhaps you still want the big party, Prosecco and “Dancing Queen”.

Why not have both?

This is an option being taken up by many couples right now, but there is no reason why you can’t do the same thing in the future!  Essentially it is the same idea that we have been doing for years with overseas weddings where the “evening reception” takes place at a later date. After your intimate and low stress wedding day, have the big party – without the pressures that are always present on a wedding day.  I’d always suggest that you still style it as a wedding – wear the dress, cut the cake, maybe even speeches – but this time you can just rock up and party!  Keep the theming the same so that it isn’t just “a party” but it is still an integral part of your wedding day – just on a different date!

Of course, there will still be big weddings – and for many people that will be the day that they want, but now there are more options.

 Maybe something good will come out of 2020 after all!

 

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