Just like a multitude of other experiences, weddings are looking a bit different in a post-covid event world. If you are attending a wedding, it may seem like everything has gone back to normal — especially in the Western Pennsylvania area. If you are planning a wedding right now, it’s a wild world full of changes. Here are some of the changes you may see planning your wedding in a post-covid event world.
Longer Wedding Planning Timelines
With so many couples forced to postpone wedding plans during the pandemic over the past few years, suddenly everyone in the event industry is facing a surge of business. While that’s welcome news for business owners, it’s an added complication for the engaged couple as availability for all types of vendors and products is scarce, and traditional wedding planning timelines are out the window. Newly engaged couples should be proactive in securing their first choice wedding location and vendors before they are booked. I encourage couples to choose a wedding date and start booking their most important vendors as quickly as possible to avoid disappointment. For couples who want to have a large traditional wedding, that may mean a longer engagement to be able to book your desired wedding vendor team.
Stationery by judith browne calligraphy. Florals by the Copper Petal. Photo by Jackson Signature Photography at the Wedding Day Walk Through Workshop.
Weekday Weddings Are On The Rise
One way to avoid a long wait for your big day is to opt for a Friday or Sunday wedding, or even weekday wedding.
While Saturday weddings are still extremely popular, Sunday and Monday weddings are becoming more common. This option gives out of town guests the opportunity to use the weekend to arrive and settle in before the ceremony. Many couples also find that getting married on a Sunday or Monday allows them extra time to make memories with guests and family members as they arrive over the weekend. This added perk is invaluable when you consider that many guests have not been able to see each other in recent years because of social restrictions!
Thursdays and Fridays are another terrific choice for guests because they can enjoy a long weekend after the wedding festivities wrap up.
As a bonus, not only do non-Saturday weddings increase the likelihood of securing your first choice venue and vendors, but you may be able to score some off peak discounts as well!
Outdoor Venues
As you may imagine, outdoor weddings are also having their moment. Whether it’s a commercial venue with outdoor space or an at-home backyard setting, hosting your wedding outside provides guests more room to spread out and feel safe. I definitely recommend renting a tent for outdoor events for flexibility and protection in case of rain, heat, bugs, and any number of otehr variables an outdoor wedding presents. Plus, they give you a blank slate for personalization — there truly is a tent for every style!
Wedding Planners
Wedding planners have gone from being an extra perk that help remove the stress to being an essential vendor on your wedding wedding team. Couples who had to postpone their weddings in 2020 and 2021 will tell you that wedding planners are worth every penny as you navigate the post Covid wedding planning world. We’re here to help you coordinate vendors, create a realistic budget, and deal with any surprises that pop up along the way; and we all know that the past few years have had plenty of surprises! Save yourself the headache and hire a wedding planner. The Bespoke & Beloved team is ready to save your sanity and your time.
Smaller and Larger Guests Lists
A smaller guest list of 50-70 people — the micro-wedding — has emerged in the past few years, and is definitely here to stay. One benefit of a smaller list is the opportunity to be more creative in high impact elements like floral installation, entertainment options like we talked about earlier, and creative food choices to treat their guests.
On the flip side, other couples are responding the lifting of gathering limits by throwing huge parties with large guest lists. These couples are happy to celebrate not only their own wedding, but the fact that they can gather in large groups with all of their nearest and dearest after not seeing them for a few years.
More Intimate Weddings
Old Souls Vintage Rentals saphron settee at West Virginia Botanic Garden wedding. Jacqie Q Photography.
J Verno Studios cocktail lounge. Wild North Weddings Photography.
Whether your guest list is big or small, couples are putting more emphasis on the guest experience, creating a cozy and familiar environment for their celebration.
Couples are transforming large reception venues by creating personalized nooks in large spaces and using partitions to create dining “booths”, along with traditional tables. Breakout lounges, small clusters of couches or chairs that allow groups of 3 or 4 to socialize without overcrowding, have become another cozy wedding trend post-covid. Consider providing small tables and refreshments in these areas to make it even more comfortable for guests.
In addition to cozy gathering spots, couples are using multiple rooms in one venue for a celebration. Instead of a party in a big ballroom, the reception may feature cocktails in an outdoor courtyard, hor d'oeuvres in a smaller room, and dinner and dancing in the ballroom.
Food
Seated and served dinners have been a popular choice in the past few years and that will continue, but one option that is becoming more popular is family style table service. Not only is if significantly faster that a buffet or a plated dinner, but the food is usually fresher from the stove as well. While buffets are still present at some weddings, guests are having their food portioned out by the catering team to cut down on multiple people handling utensils.
Vintage Alley Rentals sweets display. Wild Native Photography.
Appetizer spreads are being replaced with snack plates, or cookie plates for Pittsburghers, placed on individual tables. Charcuterie boxes are another delicious (and adorable) way to go.
So what’s on the menu? Nostalgic food! In keeping with the trend of familiarity, elevated fried chicken and mac and cheese or pierogies are being served, along with traditional family recipes that have special meaning to the couple. Locally sourced food is another important value to many couples as we become more aware of sustainability.
Charcuterie display by Big Black Grill. Wild North Weddings Photography
Virtual Wedding Options
The rise of Zoom and virtual ceremonies during Covid has allowed family and friends to be a part of your wedding ceremony despite being far away. This trend seems to be remaining even though most gathering limits imposed by Covid have been lifted, as it allows those who would otherwise not be be able to attend to be part in this special day. Many couples are even implementing creative ways to keep their virtual wedding guests involved, such as mailing them a wedding box that includes items like a wedding favor and program, a treat or small bottle of bubbly, or even some party poppers! Another couple during the height of Covid had a contest to see which virtual guest could make the best wedding cake, and had attendees share and vote on the cake photos.
Breaking Traditions
Couples in 2022 are letting go of tradition, and what others say they should and shouldn’t do, and doing what feels right for them. Some are skipping the big wedding hoopla in favor of an adventurous destination elopement, or hosting intimate ceremonies with reception-only large celebrations. Others are incorporating more interactive elements into their receptions. Experiences like beer pong tables, live wedding painters, circus performers, interactive food stations, or even a bounce house allow couples to let their personality shine while creating an unforgettable experience for their guests!
Jesse Shussett Photos
Increased Safety Measures
Of course, the ultimate goal is to celebrate your love while also keeping your guests safe and healthy. Face masks will continue to be around for a long time, and while many couples don’t require guests to wear them, consider making them available for guests who may feel vulnerable. Some couples have purchased rubber bracelets of varying colors that guests can wear to indicate their comfort level in socializing. Sanitation stations for hand sanitizer and individual sanitizers as a favor are becoming a familiar sight at many events as a way to put guests at ease.
Calligraphy by Bespoke & Beloved Events. Kady Manifest Photography at the Wedding Day Walk Through Workshop
Which of these trends do you think that you’ll be incorporating into your big day? No matter the changes in the trends one thing remains the same - the beauty of finding love and the love of celebrating it!
Happy Planning!