Forcing your guests to spend lots of money to travel just to satisfy your own selfish wanderlust isn’t always a good way to celebrate your big day.
It’s a too expensive ordeal and you might be asking too much of your guests and their schedules.
Bridesmaid Proposals
Proposals and weddings go hand-in-hand. Kind of hard to get married without a proposal, now that we're thinking about it. In the western world, at least. There are arranged marriages. But even those are technically a proposal. Different proposals around weddings have come up. Bridesmaid proposals are when you very carefully ask your girlfriends to be your bridesmaids with elaborate cards, gift boxes, and more – all filmed for social media, of course.
Most bridesmaids are going to be thrilled to be asked, but it doesn't need to be filmed. It might be important to you, but the important part should be the wedding itself, not asking them to be part of it.
Candy Buffets
If you were a child when you came across one of these, it would probably seem like a dream come true. Mom and Dad might even let you have your fill – it's a special event, after all. But then you find that everything kinda gets sticky and clumped together, and eating all that sugar doesn't make you feel very good.
You might also find that all that pretty candy doesn't actually taste very good. And then all the candy that doesn't get eaten goes home with who? The guests, maybe, but the bride and groom definitely. That's a lot of candy, and we're going to guess you'll be sick of eating it after a few days.
Weird Cake Flavors
Chocolate. Vanilla. Maybe fruit thrown in there. Stick with those unless you have a REALLY good reason not to. Not everyone likes matcha. In fact, we're going to go out there and say no one does, and we've all been tricked. Carrot cake or coconut might work since they're pre-established cake flavors, but it isn't a bad idea to have traditional options available.
Those extra-special flavors will probably cost you some extra-special expenses. If you're interested in keeping the budget tight, stay on the straight and narrow. If you have a lot of layers in a cake, keeping the bigger layers normal goes a long way.
Required Bridesmaid Surgery
Of course, the bride wants to look good on her big day. More and more frequently she wants the bridesmaids that will be in pictures with her to look just as good, even if that means they have to get cosmetic surgery. Anything from botox injections to implants is on the table when it comes to this somewhat alarming trend in weddings.
There are some bridesmaids that go through that. That's a trend that will hopefully remain alive only for a select few, and hopefully, they wanted those procedures to begin with!
Officiants That Aren't Human
There are some people out there that think it's fine for two human lives to be joined together by something that is not alive – specifically, a robot. A company in Japan (you saw that coming, didn't you?) called Kokoro Co. has manufactured a robot that is legally allowed to perform marriages.
You don't have to get a priest, or a rabbi, or whatever it is you need, but there's the whole...thing. About robots. Because they aren't alive. Marriage is kind of a human thing specifically, so it might be a cool thing to do for certain people, but most won't be interested.
The Donut Wall
Sorry, the what? Apparently, there has been a trend for a while (thanks to Pinterest, where bad wedding trends both start and go to die). The idea is to set up a board of donuts at the entrance so that guests have something to munch on while they're waiting for the ceremony or reception to start. It's been done to death, and leaving food out in the open, since a lot of these kinds of weddings are outdoors, isn't super sanitary.
Your guests might like the donuts, but they're a flash-in-the-pan trend that isn't going to last long, no matter what people think. Just let them save room for cake.
Bachelorettes That Let Loose
No one expects the Bachelorette party to be quiet and serene. It's a party celebrating the bride! There are always going to be drinks, dancing, and whoops of celebration, but things seem to be getting crazier and crazier as time goes on.
From dancing on top of tables to male entertainers to cakes that are shaped like a certain something, every year we get wilder and wilder stories appearing in the paper. Even Katy Perry asked Rihanna to display her birthday suit at her bachelorette party. Some of these parties have resulted in arrests.
A Special Dance While Going Down the Aisle
It only took one wedding having the bride and groom dance their way down the aisle and then uploading a video of the event to YouTube to create a new wedding trend that leaves a bad taste in the mouths of everyone present. Please, please, please just walk down the aisle the normal, regular way.
Yeah, you might get some hits on YouTube, but if you don't feel perfect about your dance, you're just going to end up embarrassing yourself. That might mean even more hits on your video, but you aren't going to be happy about it.
Neon Signs
Starting sometime in 2019 neon signs got really popular as a design choice. They started popping up at weddings. Personalized neon signs can be a cool addition to a home or a room, but every wedding seemed to feature this lighting choice.
Getting a neon sign made just for you can cost some big money, and if it's a cutesy wedding saying or something like that, then once the event is over it goes into storage and might not ever come back out. Unless it's something you'll want up in your home after the wedding, it might just not be right for where you say your vows.
Succulents
Succulents are great for a lot of reasons. They're supposedly easy to take care of, they don't wilt quickly, and they're small enough to be easy additions to the decoration. But it seems that every wedding has figured these things out, and so they've started to pop up at every wedding. They are, however, strangely difficult to take care of, so giving them out as favors don't really work as well.
You don't want people to think of your wedding as something that will die. They've also become a little dated, so if you want your wedding pictures to be timeless, it might be best to turn your back on these plant options.
Chalkboards, Chalkboards, Chalkboards
Have you been to a wedding in the last ten years? Then you have seen one of these chalkboards at the front of the reception. Maybe the wedding itself as well. In moderation, or as a special thing, they're fine, but every single wedding has to have them nowadays. The shabby-chic look is so big that it's basically become the standard for most weddings nowadays.
It makes sense – they're pretty cheap, they're easy to move around, and they can be customized to say whatever you want. Thing is, everybody is doing them, which makes them something that weddings have been avoiding forever: normal.
Multi-Ceremony Group Weddings
There have been big group weddings for a long, long time now, and they seem to be becoming even more popular as people are trying to skirt the extensive costs associated with a ceremony.
A bunch of couples get together, pay for everything together, there's no reception so that's a whole lot of money saved right there, and you won't even need to worry about flowers. You show up with your honey, you get married, and you go home. It definitely seems faster to do it this way, but if you want something that will actually be memorable, this isn't the way to go.
Overly-Complicated Seating Charts
Most weddings are going to need a seating chart, but if you're on Pinterest checking out the latest creative ways people have done them, prepare for a dose of reality.
They're often difficult to set up, and you know they'll never look as good as they do on Pinterest. Aren't things busy enough when you're trying to get your big day ready? Just put the cards on a big table at the front and save everybody the hassle. Better yet, just let them fend for themselves – that way if they're sitting next to somebody they don't like it's their own fault, not yours.
Unique Food Combinations
People have been eating food for a long time. Decades, at least. We kind of know what goes well with what, so there's no reason to break the mold when it's dinnertime at your reception. Some couples have taken to creating unique food combinations like salmon mac and cheese, just to stand out a little more, but people don't want their food to stand out unless it's quality.
Chicken might be a bit on the boring side, but people like it. It's good. And it's healthy! Nothing better than that. You can have some interesting options, as well, but make sure there are some standards you can depend on.
Enough Rose Gold to Fill a Bank Vault
Yeah, rose gold looks really fancy. Really, really fancy. Done in moderation, it can add a touch of class to the proceedings that not many other things can. But if you fill your wedding with this colored metal, it will be too dazzling to be anything but tacky.
Too much of the stuff makes your big day look dated since it's been a trend for a couple of years now. A vase here or some candlesticks there won't hurt anybody, and can even elevate the decoration, but too much doesn't do anyone any favors.
Ruining the Dress for a Picture
The two options for a wedding dress are rent and buy. If you're renting, you obviously can't ruin it, unless you want to pay the full cost anyway. If you're buying, why would you throw all that money away by jumping into a pool, or a mud puddle, or something else that renders it useless? They can cost thousands of dollars!
Even more, it can be dangerous – if you jump in a pool, all that fabric is going to be really heavy. If you can't get yourself out, then what happens next? Keep the dress, pass it down to future generations, and stay away from the water.
Black-Colored Cakes
Having a color scheme at your wedding is as traditional as having guests. Black is an easy color to pair with lots of others, so it's sure to stand out even on a day that is usually light and bright. Having a black cake, however, isn't a great choice. Even if it doesn't look deadly, guests might not like the idea of having teeth that look ready to fall out of their heads in the pictures everyone is taking.
Plus, to get a cake that is really, truly black you often have to use fondant, which isn't what we would call a crowd-pleaser. It might stain more than just your teeth, too. You didn't want to keep that fancy white wedding dress around, did you?
Too Many Cocktails
We aren't about to tell you not to have cocktails or alcohol at your wedding – certainly not. Having an open bar costs a pretty penny, but keeping things simple – a few cocktail options and a few different beers – saves you a lot and will make the wedding seem more thoughtful, too.
Come up with two signature drinks: one for the bride and one for the groom. Include a few other classics, and maybe some options for kids. Guests won't notice the difference and the people working the bar will have a much easier time. Everybody wins.
Dogs in the Wedding Party
We love our pets, but that doesn't mean we should put them in the day that might very well be the most important of our lives. Unless they're very well-trained, they can't be relied on to follow orders. Orders such as “Bring the ring here,” “don't eat all the cake” or “don't go potty on the father of the bride.”
A dog can be plenty cute, and they might be welcome at a wedding ceremony or reception if they're well-behaved, but they really shouldn't be part of the proceedings. Keep things easy on yourselves by not including this random chance.
Cakes Covered With Fondant
Fondant is another thing that has been around for a long, long time, but has only recently come into vogue when it comes to weddings. Pinterest has increased the interest in perfect-looking cakes, and fondant is a good way to do that, but there are many people who find the taste off-putting.
A lot of people might just end up peeling it off their piece and throwing it away, so all you're paying for is a good picture. If that's important to you, then go for it, but most cake decorators would suggest just going with good old buttercream. A lot of things are classics for a reason.
Yeah, Mason Jars
You knew they would be in here, and here they are. For some reason, mason jars have become the decoration of choice for weddings, whether they're in the Boho style or not. They're useful items to have around the house in case you want a quick drink or need somewhere to put your change, but getting five hundred of them for your wedding has made them grow old. Fast.
Why would anyone want to drink out of these? They aren't made to do that, they're made to store canned peaches. Mmm, peaches. In short, mason jars are bad for weddings, good for peaches.
Matching Bridesmaid Dresses
Matching bridesmaid dresses? But every wedding has those! Well, sort of. It used to be that the ladies had to get a specific dress, from a specific store or seller, and that was that. They might be able to accessories a little, but nothing more than that. It's made for some truly uncomfortable outfits.
Nowadays, brides are putting down a few rules: color, shoulder style, hem length, etc. Then the bridesmaids are allowed to pick a dress that follows the rules while also looking good on them and being a little unique. That way they all have a bit of individuality, and the dresses can be reused.
Those Oh-So-Funny Cake Toppers
Here's how cake toppers should go nowadays: is there a bride? Get a bride. Is there a groom? Get a groom. Don't make social commentary about how the bride is a “ball and chain.” In fact, even though this trend has been around for as long as wedding cakes, they are thankfully finally falling out of favor. Happy couples are springing for flower toppers, going without entirely, or not even having a cake.
Even if you do get something for the novelty, who's going to laugh at them? Distant uncles and kids who don't know any better? You can come up with something classier, we know you can.
Swapping the Cake for Donuts
The cake used to be the only possibility when it came to a wedding dessert, but nowadays there are plenty of options. One of the most popular is a gourmet donut table, and there are some great examples out there. But there are pitfalls, as well. Donuts can come off as kind of cheap, and unless you spring for a variety, guests might end up a little disappointed.
If you aren't interested in having a traditional wedding cake, there are lots of options. Macarons, tarts, or cream puffs are all fancy – and less standard than donuts are becoming. Going a little off the beaten path makes for a more memorable day.
Weird Wedding Themes
Some people take their mutual love of something like Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings, or even the Shrek movies a little too far. Building an entire wedding around a single theme isn't too crazy if the theme is something like a color, or a season, or something like that, but theming them after pop culture, extreme sports, farming, and things like that seems a step too far.
But, who are we to get in the way of people designing their special day the way they want? They're the ones who are going to have to look back on the pictures in the coming years.
Photo Booths
There have been a number of years that had the photo booth practically be the centerpiece of the wedding reception. You can grab some friends, make some silly faces, and create a cheap keepsake that you can use to remember the fun. But they should be going the way of the dodo soon, and we couldn't be happier.
They're becoming pretty boring – yeah, you're sticking your tongue out. You have some silly sunglasses on. And there, we've just described almost every single photo booth photo that has ever been taken at a wedding. Get a photographer – somebody that is trained and skilled at taking photos.
Covering Everything in Burlap
Why burlap has become so popular at weddings in recent years is anyone's guess. It's coarse, it's rough, and it's not even the most attractive thing to look at. But, for some reason, it's been overdone from one end of the wedding industry to the other. Decorations, seating, even the cakes themselves. What's wrong with using classic linens that are softer to the touch and much less...what's the word...fraying?
As with many of the items on this list, a little bit is okay, but overdoing it with burlap will come quickly. A light touch, that's what is required. And don't put it on mason jars unless you want to have a boring wedding.
Special Wedding Hashtags
When social media was new, it was the hottest thing to create a special hashtag for guests to tag photos when they upload them. Creating your own special hashtag is easy for Twitter or Instagram. You can use them to access photos of the event after the fact. But now they've started to become tacky, and we don't actually know anyone who has taken advantage of them – they just post the pictures.
We're sure they're out there, but it's happening less and less. Plus, if you come up with a hashtag that is already in use, then there goes the entire point of the hashtag in the first place.
Just Call Them What They Are: Buffets
Weddings and wedding planners have been calling these “interactive food stations,” but don't try to delude yourselves. They're buffets. And if you're out with your family and you want the opportunity to eat far too much Chinese food, buffets are great.
If you're dressed in your best, however, and you just watched your cousin get married – and you know you're about to show off on the dance floor – having unlimited food is just not ideal. People have to stand in line, they have to serve themselves, and there are some versions that are even more expensive than the traditional version of service.
Getting Married in a Store
Weddings cost a boatload, even if you're doing a small one. There are plenty of young (or old) couples out there who are trying to save anywhere they can, and that's why they choose to get married somewhere like a Taco Bell. Or a White Castle.
Venues charge extra for weddings since they know the market is so big. Some thrifty pairs have even gotten married in places like TJ Maxx, bars, and more. Wineries or breweries are popular choices since the reception can be held right there and there are ample drinks to take advantage of. Then there are people who get married in fast food joints.
Tossing Rice or Paper
We're happy to report that, no, tossing rice doesn't make birds explode. However, it's still wasting food and is super difficult to clean up. Confetti isn't any easier to clean up unless you're going for eco-friendly confetti that is biodegradable, and that's more expensive. You'll have to pick either more work or more money – two things that are already plentiful when it comes to weddings.
Consider some alternatives: give guests bottles of soap bubbles so they can fill the air with colorful shimmers (good for kids, too), or sparklers if it's a night out when you leave to create photos that are full of light and energy.
Taking DIY Ideas From Pinterest
When coming up with craft ideas, there's nothing like logging onto the Pin and doing some browsing. Thing is, a lot of those projects are a lot more difficult than they look, and you're likely already swamped for time. Weirdly, they can also be just as or even more expensive than the normal way of doing things for weddings.
If you put it together wrong, then you've just wasted all that time and money. Some people might be able to pull fancy decorations off, but a lot of others should just go with the decorations that the wedding planner comes up with.
A Life-Size Bride Cake
This one might not exactly be a trend just yet, but if even one woman does this (and she has), it's already been done too many times. Apparently, a bride talked to the UK's “Daily Mail” newspaper, explaining that she had always had a dream of having a cake modeled after her.
The cake was five feet tall, and we can't even fathom how expensive that was – even normal cakes can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on how intricate they are. Also, was this the cake that they cut into to feed the guests? That sets a weird precedent.
Pictures That Have Everyone Grossed Out
We don't know where this trend came from. Most likely it started as people began to get remarried, and kids looked squicked at the thought of kissing on camera. Or kissing at all. But then it made the jump to groomsmen and bridesmaids sticking their tongues out as the bride and groom tried to get a taste of each other.
Whether it's the wedding photographer setting this picture up, or the bride and groom want to do it, it just always looks tacky.
Too Many Balloons
What is this, prom? Is it a birthday party for children? Balloons are fun, don't get us wrong, but they aren't the right kind of decoration for a wedding unless they're being used sparingly. Cleaning up is a hassle whether or not you used helium, and the rubber can pop during the reception or even the ceremony.
Weddings don't need any more loud, sudden noises. Then there are the people who are allergic to latex. While rare, it can be very serious. As long as they're safe, a few balloons at the entrance are fine, but there are lots of better options if you need décor for inside the venue.
Weddings Held in Barns
If you grew up on a farm, then you can have your wedding in a barn. For everyone else: you shouldn't have your wedding in a barn. If you're driving out from a city to get hitched in a barn, it's artificial and can seem fake. When you're getting married, every detail is a way to present yourself, your spouse, and your new life.
Having the wedding take place somewhere that is artificial – and not representative of your real life – should be something you want to avoid. There are lots of great spaces you can pick that are a little closer to home, both physically and metaphorically.
Strand Upon Strand of Twinkle Lights
If you want your wedding to look like a college dorm room, go right ahead with this trend that often comes packaged with things like mason jar drinks and chalkboards. There are some reasons why these long strands of lights would work – if it's around the holidays or in winter, then they look relatively classy.
But most weddings seem to have these no matter what time of the year it's being held. There are plenty of other options to choose from if you want elegant lighting for your big event: Lanterns on tables, spotlights lighting on walls. Dig a little deeper and come up with something special.
Towers of Champagne Glasses
There are lots of things that look great in photos but just aren't that practical when put into real life. The tower of glasses is a prime example. If you don't set it upright, you're going to have a mess on your hands. Even if you do set it upright, one wrong move will send it all crashing to the floor in a shower of sticky liquor and pieces of glass.
One wrong move from a drunk guest and the wedding is ruined. Plus, they're incredibly expensive even if everything goes perfectly. Champagne, the stuff worth drinking, at the very least, adds quite a bit to the bill for a wedding.
Boudoir Shoot? What?
This is definitely a new one to us, and it makes us wonder what the heck is going on out there in the wedding world. This trend has the bride and the wedding photographer create a “boudoir book” that has the bride getting scantily clad and modeling lingerie.
The idea is this is a gift for the groom on the wedding night. But we are confused... don't the bride and groom already have the real deal? Why would they need the book as an extra special gift?
Toss the Garter Toss
A lot of these trends are tacky or outdated, but why on earth has this demeaning trend made it so far into the 21 st century? Having a bride hike up her dress to remove her garter is one of the most bizarre ways to celebrate the new life with her husband we could possibly think of.
It's sort of objectifying. Also, her parents, her siblings, and even grandparents will be there to see it, so why do it? Leave this icky trend in the trash heap of history.
Boring First Dance Songs
First dances are always wonderful to watch, but we think that digging a little deeper into the endless history of music would do a lot of couples good. Ed Sheeran, John Legend. Is that it? Is that all you're able to come up with? Couples love to say they have “their song,” but when that same song is every other couple's song, you should spend a little more time.
There are lots of love songs out there on Spotify, trust us. It doesn't necessarily need to be a love song – there are lots of beautiful instrumental songs to dance to.
Giving Guests Favors to Take Home
Here's something to remember about weddings: it's not about the guests. It's about the people who just pledged their lives to each other. Giving your guests favors doesn't make any sense. Giving out special thank you gifts to groomsmen and bridesmaids is one thing, but for everybody? No thanks.
If they're anything more than fifty cents a pop you could be putting down some serious cash for something that most guests will lose or throw away as soon as they get home. If it's edible, they're likely to consume them right at the wedding, which makes them pretty pointless as far as favors go, anyway.
A Crown of Flowers
No, it's not the latest George R. R. Martin book – it's a bridal trend that has exploded in popularity in recent years. Every special gal wants to do it, which means before you'll be done reading this article people will be wondering if there's another option. If you want a floral crown you risk dating your wedding pictures, like the poofy sleeves of the eighties.
Don't follow a trend just because it's popular – do something that is special to you. They wilt, and there are a lot of people who might not be able to pull them off. The Boho look is one thing, but they can also look tacky.
Getting Guests to Sit on Blankets
Why would you do this? Don't do this. Guests wear dresses. They wear their nicest suits. They don't want to sit on the ground. Are you going to have great aunts or uncles in attendance? Are you really going to make them sit on the ground? Even the healthiest guests won't want to spend that long sitting on the ground.
We get that the Bohemian style is in right now, as many of the entries on this list suggest, but this is a step too far for anyone. If for some reason you ignore our well-meaning advice and start laying out blankets anyway, at least have some chairs for elder guests.
Mixed Fonts on Invites
Having a lot of different fonts on a wedding invite or a save the date message might seem kind of fancy, but it's difficult on the eyes and can make them hard to read. If every sentence in this entry was a different font, you would probably hate it. There's just too much, and it's far too busy.
Anybody with training in graphic design that receives an invite like this will cringe, and it's far easier to just stick with one or two fonts. Pick one that is decorative and cursive, and pick one that is sans serif to make it easy to read. More than two, and you're flirting with disaster.
Copying a Royal Wedding
For about a day every once in a while, everyone in the world is agog about the royal family of Britain, because they can throw the biggest and most beautiful weddings. A lot of young gals then get it in their heads th1at they want to be like the brides seen around the world. Being glamorous, thoughtful, and kind are all excellent goals, but a lot of women decide what they need to do is copy the weddings.
Pretending to be Meghan Markle, Princess Diana, or other royalty might make for nice pictures, but we'd like to think that most women would be happier in the long term by just having a wedding that is unique to them.
Too Many Signs
Ever been to one of those weddings that have just EVERYTHING labeled? This is where you sit, there's where the bride and groom sit, there's the photo booth, the favors are that away. We get it. Often these signs dovetail with another trend that has become annoying, chalkboards, but eventually, enough is enough. We can see where the bathrooms are, or where the gift table is.
A little bit of direction is fine to make sure people don't get lost, but you don't need one every foot. And if you write anything more than the most necessary information, all that is being left unread by everyone except the most bored guests.
Just Straight-Up Wooden Pallets
If you don't have any pictures of wooden pallets, do you really use Pinterest? We will put forth no. They're being used for everything, from DIY projects to wedding decorations for some reason. The thing about these pallets is you have no idea what people were using them for. Some might be soaked in chemicals, some might have bug nests.
There are lots of reasons why they might not be clean – do you really want them around those fancy dresses and cracking suits? Here's a rule of thumb: if you can pick them out of the garbage, don't use them at a wedding.
The Bridesmaid Army
It used to be that brides and grooms would have two or three attendants each. Those days are over as the number creeps toward ten. We fully understand how this trend got started: You want to include your friends, someone made you a bridesmaid so you have to return the favor. Maybe your Aunt Becky demanded her daughter be at the wedding.
Let's set a hard limit: Once you hit double digits, there are too many. Pick the people important to you, and get ready to make some difficult choices. Those poor wedding ceremonies groan with the weight of all those people. Thankfully, recent high-profile weddings with fewer people have skewed the trend back toward the other direction.
Casual Shoes During the Ceremony
Swapping out those pretty white heels for sneakers when it's time to hit the dance floor isn't a bad idea, but don't make the switch until you say “I do.” Tons of people have been seen wearing Converse shoes with their dress when they pledge their lives, so if you have it in your head to try it out, keep thinking.
If you can't stand heels, get some flats that match the dress. It's your big day and you should be comfortable, but when you're at the altar you might want to stay away from cowboy boots or tennis shoes.
Over the Top Decorations
Many people who are about to get married want 'perfect' weddings, but they also want over-the-top, 'celebrity' weddings — where there is no budget and no limit to materializing their wildest wedding dreams.
Not only will this break your bank account, but it's so 90's. Rather go for a tasteful, yet minimal wedding.
Sticking to Wedding Colors
This could be added to the ever-growing checklist of “things you didn’t know you needed to care about." Once you start preparing for your wedding, your vendors or wedding planner will insist you pick a color scheme for your wedding.
Not only is this unnecessary but it means you have to stick to these colors, which can be expensive or just a nuisance when planning your big day.
Expensive Limo Drives or Carriages
For people of means, weddings have always been an occasion for an extravagant display of wealth. Sometimes it seems like every detail in these lavish weddings depicts a place and time that's somehow rooted in an alternate reality.
And limousines do nothing to dispel that notion. If we're being totally honest, we'd suggest saving the money you'd spend on renting a fancy car.
Reception Halls
Anyone can have a reception hall for their wedding. So why not have your wedding somewhere a little more special, like in a forest, on the beach, or even in your backyard?
Just because you're doing something that everyone else does, doesn't mean you have to have the same boring wedding that everyone else has.
An Engagement Shoot
Every social media feed on the planet has been inundated with a barrage of engagement pictures showing absolutely shocked brides-to-be.
They look so surprised that they're being asked for their perfectly manicured hands in marriage. We find ourselves rolling our eyes every time we come across these sickeningly adorable shoots.
Save the Date Cards
Who says romance has to be so cut and dry? As long as you're getting married to the person of your dreams, does it really matter if you send out save the date cards, anyway?
Save the date cards are just an expense you could do without. If you are feeling anxious about your date, we'd rather suggest sending out your wedding invites a few weeks earlier.
Bridal Shower
Y2K is decades behind us but the current bridal shower scene seems pulled out of 1956. If you've ever been to these events, you'll know they feel similarly antiquated.
In an age when so many women are employed, independent, and perhaps already living with their future spouses, why is this bombardment of unnecessary gifts still a tradition?
A Wedding Website
Who in their right mind would want their wedding details or personal photos visible to anyone with a search engine?
When considering whether a wedding website is the right fit for you and your celebration, it's important to think about who would be using it. Wedding websites are also expensive to set up.
A Bachelorette Party
Today’s brides are already treated to months, sometimes a year, of pre-wedding planning and celebrations.
The engagement party, bridal shower, and the entire wedding weekend already attract gifts that are often exchanged for cash or store credit. Is yet another party really necessary?
A Wedding Band
Do you really have to hire a band for your wedding? In all honesty, we believe your wedding day could be just as special if you didn't hire a wedding band.
Of course, you want music at your wedding, but why not hire a DJ instead? The music will be a lot more varied and it won't cost you an arm and a leg.
Gift Registry
If you’re planning to include a gift registry, be prepared not just to brace the many questions from all your relatives, but also their (more often than not) unnecessary gifts.
Let’s face it. How much kitchenware and pajama sets can you possibly accumulate? People will want to buy you gifts but try to get a little creative and think of what you really need.
A Florist
During the months of planning, all of the details, like flowers, seem important, but you should only invest in the things that matter most to you.
Sure, you want flowers at your wedding, but you don't have to hire a florist for that. Simply do your own research and pick your own flowers for the big day.
A Dance Floor
Many brides-to-be want a venue that has it all, but when you think of it, is it really necessary?
Once your guests have eaten all you need to do is clear some of the chairs and tables for a bit of room, not everyone will be dancing at the same time and not everyone will want to sit all night.
Rehearsal Dinners
Rehearsal dinners are not a required event, but it does give the couple's immediate families and members of the bridal party the opportunity to socialize before the wedding.
Unless you have a really complicated ceremony, you probably don't need a rehearsal. You can simply tell people the order of the ceremony and line up.
A Wedding Planner
Like most things in life: everything you need to know, you can find on the internet for free.
Still, if you have the means and aren't excited to plan your own wedding, then you can hire a wedding planner. If not, then you are perfectly capable of doing it yourself!
A Guestbook
It's fine if you want one, but if you don't, just skip it. You'll remember who was at your wedding through photos and cards you'll save.
Even in the long history of marriage traditions, a guestbook is a relatively new and unnecessary concept. That being said, the modern concept of it is, shall we say, a bit outdated and doesn’t translate well into the 21st century.
A Professional Makeup Artist
If you want to look like yourself, not like what some stranger thinks a bride should look like, then you should think hard on this.
If you do decide to use a professional makeup artist, make sure to have some photos to show the makeup artist for inspiration, and make sure you do a practice run beforehand or you may end up looking like a drag queen in your wedding photos.
Destination Weddings
Forcing your guests to spend lots of money to travel just to satisfy your own selfish wanderlust isn't always a good way to celebrate your big day.
It’s a too expensive ordeal and you might be asking too much of your guests and their schedules.
Fireworks
Fireworks are so 90's. While they may add excitement to occasions, fireworks are still a terrible idea, they frighten and disturb people and animals, cause annoyance, damage, and impact on air quality.
You're much better off not including these explosives in your wedding.
Flower Walls
The nice thing about getting married nowadays is that you have a lot more freedom to make your wedding as nontraditional as you want.
While many people still like to stick to wedding trends and traditions, you certainly don't have to, especially when it comes to costly items like flower walls that are simply set up for display and serve no other purpose.
Life-Sized Photos
Blowing up your engagement photos to poster size and having them mounted all over might look a bit tacky, if not completely overdone.
We get it, you love each other, which is why we're at your wedding, there's no need to remind us every five minutes with photos scattered all over the place.
Balloons
Whether used to create a decorative entrance, to dress the wedding breakfast tables, or add something extra to a photoshoot, balloons are a big wedding trend.
But balloons are essentially a single-use item; meaning when your party is over, they’re just rubber going to landfill.
Festival Catering
Gone are the days when a wedding meal meant a three-course roast dinner, and that was that. These days, ‘festival weddings’ are big business, and couples are opting for mobile caterers, food trucks, and street-food vendors to feed their hungry guests.
However, with the festival set-up often comes lots of single-use, disposable packaging, plastic cutlery, and drinking cups. Not very environmentally friendly.
Wasteful Weddings
Neither you nor we can ignore the fact that weddings tend to be wildly carbon-intensive productions. The multiple bouquets of flowers and little decorations that are meant to adorn your surroundings will only find solace in bins at the end of the day.
While a certain amount of waste and impact is expected on any wedding day, blatantly wasteful weddings are seen as unfashionable affairs.
Statement Headpieces
Wearing a statement headpiece on your big day will outweigh any of the benefits you may get from wearing one. They're often bulky, heavy and you will find you have to constantly adjust them while you're trying to enjoy your wedding.
If you desperately want to wear one for the photos, make sure you can take it off without ruining your hair in case you get tired of it.
Wedding Arches
Do you really need a wedding arch for the ceremony? The truth is that wedding decor is often excessive—and a lot of it ends up in the trash.
Instead, look to more sustainable decor pieces that you can repurpose after your wedding.
Designer Wedding Dresses
There’s one line that we can draw pretty clearly: however important you think your big day is, it’s not worth getting into debt over.
With that being said, it's very difficult to find a dress you like that also fits in your budget, but remember you'll probably only wear this dress once, so don't spend too much on it.
Unnecessary Stationery
Many stationery items for weddings get printed and quickly discarded—and some of them can be easily communicated without all the paper waste and extra expense.
It's typical for couples to want to stick to physical invitations for their wedding, but for everything else, consider going digital.
Wedding Paraphernalia
Glow sticks, funky glasses, and fluffy accessories are great for a fun, fleeting moment, but they're not ideal for after your big day.
Generally made of plastic, they'll never truly decompose and mount on more unwanted waste. If you must, opt for edible paraphernalia and other more sustainable options.
Dessert Tables
Many couples want their guests to feel well-fed but more often than not, weddings have too much food, and adding on a dessert table will only make guests feel obliged to taste everything which only leaves them feeling tired and completely gorged.
Better to have small desserts that won't leave your guests feeling bloated.