It’s 2020 and as we all know the world is ever changing. The wedding industry has shifted dramatically and so have the wedding traditions that go with it. Many couples are learning about and opening up to the idea of non-traditional weddings. Just because common wedding traditions have been around for hundreds of years and are expected to happen at a ceremony, doesn’t mean that you have to have them at yours.

Weddings are a very personal event and each one is different and unique. Don’t feel like you need to stick to certain traditions just because others have come to expect them. Your wedding day is one of the biggest and most important milestones in your life, so it makes sense that you are comfortable and confident with how the day unfolds.

By choosing to add or omit wedding traditions you can create a custom wedding day experience that is tailored to what you and your partner want.

Here are some subtle ways you can break wedding traditions and step outside the conventional wedding box!

Don’t Wear White

The white wedding dress has been around for centuries and the origin story of how it even came around ranges from a symbol of purity to a symbol of wealth. It’s one of those long holding wedding traditions that haven’t faded away but these days brides are becoming more adventurous with their wedding attire choices.

Many brides are opting for their dresses to be a different color other than white, or to have some other color mixed in with a sheer tulle overlay, sash, flowers or embroidery work. There are so many different ways that you can mix up the dress with a little color that when you take them into consideration you realize there are endless possibilities for the color(s) of your wedding dress.

If you want to take it another step further you can choose not to wear a wedding dress at all. While many brides picture themselves wearing wedding dresses on their big day and spend months picking out a wedding dress, others may feel more comfortable wearing something different such as a jumpsuit or two-piece pant suit. 

Step Outside of The Church

Whether you’re religious or not, having your wedding ceremony outside and under the cover of trees or in a wide open field is always a breathtaking and spiritual-feeling moment. Joining in your union with mother nature as a witness can add a sense of peace and purpose. There are endless places where ceremonies can be performed outside. 

A sandy beach, an old forest, on an overlook in the mountains, the warm desert, even on a rooftop in the city or your backyard, these are all valid places you can hold your ceremony, but the world is a big vast place and your options are limitless. Inviting guests to an outdoor wedding instead of inside of the family church is a tradition that we continue to see happening more and more. 

There are a few additional perks to having an outdoor wedding. Including space and minimal decor. When you hold your ceremony outside you can adjust the seating and the layout of the ceremony so that it gives enough space to keep everyone comfortable and from feeling cramped. And ya know, social distancing. 

You can even arrange so that your guests can stand the entire time. With this much control, you can also come up with some creative nontraditional ways to walk down the aisle.

With all of the beauty of nature around you, you can keep your wedding minimal with decorations. Less is more, but you should carry a backup plan in case of unpredictable weather. Either way, your photographer will be prepared for the event and be able to capture some incredible shots as well as have the space to move around and get great angles.

Be Minimal With Your Wedding

A wedding ceremony is about two people who fell in love. Everyone who attends your ceremony has come to watch you and your partner share your vows and become married. As incredible as decorations and fancy things are at a wedding, they are all for show. Your wedding isn't any less valid without decor or tulle bows over the pews. 

Having a minimalist wedding is something that you can easily do. It not only helps to reduce the wedding waste produced but it also allows the focus to stay on you and your partner rather than all of the stuff.

Plan An Elopement or Destination Wedding

There are so many positive reasons to have an elopement wedding, the top two being to keep your wedding intimate and reduce your stress. Pittsburgh has a lot of awesome places to have your elopement wedding if you’re local, or simply looking for a nontraditional place to have your destination wedding held.

Having a large and grand wedding with hundreds of people that you barely know or wouldn’t even remember attending is an old tradition that should really be kicked out. Even more so now that there are ever changing restrictions on large gatherings. Having only your close family and friends there is much more meaningful anyways. Knowing that everyone that attends is someone that cares deeply for you is a great feeling worth so much more than boxes and bows.

Have a First Look

An old wedding tradition states that you shouldn’t see the bride until the wedding ceremony, and while many people still try to hold onto that, having a first look before your wedding ceremony is becoming more popular. There are many reasons to have a first look, but the decision is up to you on whether or not to have one.

Your photographer will go over your wedding timeline and how it works with or without a first look so that you can stay aware of the day’s events from their perspective and make your overall decision. You may find that this is one tradition you’d be happily willing to break.

Each couple is unique and different, having a traditional by the book wedding just doesn’t make sense in today’s modern age.

Create your dream day based on what you and your partner want and not some standard checklist. Make your intimate wedding day tailored for the two of you, and you’ll find that your wedding will be a much more memorable and happy experience! A day that you will treasure for a lifetime.