Gone are the days when wedding success was measured by the number of guests you host. Couples are embracing the "less is more" philosophy with open arms, trading in 100+ family and friends for more intimate gatherings that pack a serious emotional punch. Micro-weddings, typically defined as celebrations with 50 or fewer guests, have evolved from a pandemic necessity to the intentional first choice for modern couples everywhere.
But what's driving this shift toward smaller celebrations? Is it just about saving money, or is there something else going on? At Unbridely, we've witnessed this transformation firsthand, and we're here to break down why these pocket-sized parties are creating such massive waves in the wedding world.
When a couple gets married, as much as it’s about them, their relationship and their future, it’s also the coming together of two families.
There are customary or traditional roles for the parents of the couple in a wedding ceremony and including siblings is becoming more common as well.
But when the couple getting married already have children, either from a previous relationship or before they get married, it stands to reason that they’re included and recognised during the wedding ceremony too.
While the sand ceremony or ritual is wonderfully inclusive and symbolic, it has been DONE (and done and done again!).
So we need some new, relevant and maybe less kitch (?) ways to include children (and sometimes other family members too) in a wedding ceremony and I think these 8 ideas are unique and fun.
Even though it’s a romantic throwaway line (“we should just elope”) it’s the compromise factor is where many couples come unstuck. It’s when the unending questions, both internal and external, and the FOMO gets real as you play out the real-life consequences of eloping.
At Unbridely, we believe, with some forethought, clever planning and choosing the best wedding vendors for you, that your elopement can absolutely be everything you need it to be and more.
And for your nearest and dearest, you can reveal your news to them in a way that makes them feel respected as well.
Every extra year after your wedding day, your memories are going to fade just that little bit more.
And your recollection of how things looked and felt, who attended and what you ate are all likely to become a little less crisp as time passes.
To have an heirloom quality wedding photo album within easy reach is as much for you now as your family in the future. Because deep down we know that our photos kept on a USB or hard drive collecting dust in a drawer will not be looked at 10 years from now.
In this simple 5 step guide, we will share the secrets to crafting a stunning wedding photo album that not only captures your most-loved memories of the day but also reflects your unique love story.
“We are no longer allowed to dance, I have no maid of honour or flower girl as my sister is in Stage 3 Lockdown in Bendigo - 20 family members are not allowed to come as they are interstate and my best friend of 20 years from Canada cannot come.
BUT we have decided to go ahead because what is most important is our commitment and marriage to each other! We decided where there is a will, there is a way. We are making the best of a bad situation while still enjoying our big day.”
As Lachy and Cindy discovered, while differing levels of COVID-19 restrictions are in effect (depending on where & when your wedding is being held), there’s still a lot you can do to have fun at your wedding while keeping yourself, and your closest family and friends, as safe as possible.
A modern, Unbridely approach to weddings means couples have the freedom to choose if they even want to have a wedding party in the first place; as in attendants; bridesmaids, groomsmen, maid of honour, etc.
So if having a squad of your closest friends or family members by your side on your wedding day brings warm, squishy, happy feelings for you, then we want to help make sure they look the part.
Here are some of the hot bridesmaid dress looks we are currently obsessing over for the 2022 season.
Should you hire, should you buy and what in the hell does ‘bespoke’ mean anyway?
We can help you to work out what kind of wedding suit will be best for you and shortlist where, and when, you should start looking.
Backyard weddings boast an immediately familiar, comfortable, warm and relaxed atmosphere that is tough to replicate in any other setting.
And, in recent years, these home-grown celebrations have been enjoying a resurgence in popularity and refinement thanks to the quality and availability of small-scale but high quality catering with food trucks and carts, new furniture and marquee/tent/tee-pee hire options and mobile entertainment packages with DJs, MCs, photo-booths and the like.
To help you start to piece together a comprehensive to-do list for your very own homely nuptials, we asked wedding planner and stylist, Nicole Bailey of Your Party Plannery and some newlyweds who had recently planned their backyard wedding, for their top tips and advice.
Also, be sure to download or Pin the DIY wedding drinks guide so you know exactly how much alcohol to buy!
Like it or not, working out what you (and/or your wedding guests) are going to do with the littlies on the big day is a planning necessity.
In the past, parents would choose to either arrange an off-site babysitter or wrestle/bribe/beg their kids to behave like adults so they can enjoy at least a few hours as a wedding guest. But there are new, inclusive options which mean that children can be looked after and/or entertained in a safe and nurturing environment at the same venue so everyone can have fun.
Win win, yes?
Unbridely spoke with Event Coordinator, Hannah of Adelaide-based Nurturing Nannies, about the things you need to consider when planning a kid-friendly wedding.
DON'T MISS YOUR FREE PERSONALISED KIDS WEDDING ACTIVITY BOOKLET PDF!
(just click the button at the end of the post)
When you want to keep your wedding small, simple or short and you don't want to spend a small fortune, what are your options?
In Australia, the Births, Deaths and Marriages offices in the states and territories conduct registry office wedding ceremonies where you can attend with your fiancé, two witnesses 18 years of age or older and up to 55 guests.
But there are some compromises you need to consider, such as:
- not being able to personalise your ceremony to align with you and your fiancé's values and preferences
- not being able to meet with your celebrant before the ceremony
- having all photos indoors
- not being able to share food or drink onsite directly afterwards
- not having a picturesque/outdoor photo location
- being restricted by the registry office's opening hours/meeting times
There's always the option of eloping; running away in secret to get hitched privately. Unfortunately, some couples discover after the fact, that the potential for hurt and misunderstandings that come from eloping were not what they had intended.
But what if there were some middle ground?
In the seemingly never-ending search for the ultimate in wedding personalisation, engaged couples are hunting high and low for the next 'must-have' accessory, entertainment, reception decor or upcoming food trend.
But when it's all said and done, when the high of the big day is just a happy (but distant) memory, what will you have to reflect on? What can you pass on to your children or grandchildren, and what will you really remember about your wedding day by the time your teeth are kept in a glass of water on your bedside table?
I sat down with Mike from EverettBrookes to chat about their (relatively) new offering for clients to make their own engagement, wedding or 'whatever celebration you want to mark' ring.
Rose gold as a core colour for weddings started to become very popular a couple of years ago and there are several excellent reasons why it's not going anywhere in 2017..
