5 Wedding Traditions You Don’t Have To Follow

It’s 2021 – your wedding day is probably going to look a lot different than your mother’s. Wedding trends come and go extremely quickly, and over a number of years that results in weddings looking and feeling much different than they did for the generations before. And while there are certain wedding traditions that are followed by most couples, we’re of the opinion that there are some traditions that you absolutely do not need to follow. In fact, we love it when a couple throws tradition out the window and makes their day completely unique. If you think you have to follow any of the following traditions, think again.

Traditional Vows

We all know the traditional wedding vows that are spoken at most weddings. And because you may have grown up waiting for the day you get to say “I do,” it can be a hard tradition to give up. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t make it your own! There’s no reason you can’t say the traditional vows and your personal vows to each other. There’s nothing sweeter than hearing your soon-to-be spouse say how they feel about you in their own words, in front of all the people you love. Ditching the traditional vows (or adding to them) is highly recommended!

Need a guide for writing your own vows? Click here!

Traditional Wedding Party

Traditionally, the bride and groom ask 3-7 of their closest friends (each) to be a part of their wedding party as bridesmaids and groomsmen. Additionally, they choose one of those friends to be their maid of honor and best man. However, we’re here to tell you that you absolutely do not have to have a wedding party. No, it won’t be weird that there’s no one preceding your walk down the aisle or standing next to you at the altar. If you want to make the wedding solely about you and your partner, then you get to do that! Plus, it’s pretty awesome to have all your friends there as guests – much more relaxed and stress-free. And, you can always coordinate a color scheme for your friend’s outfits so you can get stunning photos together! 

Traditional Wedding Attire

Gone are the days where the bride must wear white on her wedding day. While a lot of brides prefer a white dress to really get that bridal feel, there are no rules on what you have to wear. Wear what makes you feel the best. Black, yellow, short, long, pants, or a jumper – what matters is that you feel good in it and you can see yourself getting married in it. In addition, there’s no need for matching bridesmaid’s dresses or super formal attire. Mismatched bridesmaid’s dresses are almost the standard now, as well as a more casual wedding affair. 

Traditional Ceremony Seating

Tradition tells us the bride’s family and friends sit on one side of the ceremony, and the groom’s sit on the other. But, we’re telling you that if you don’t want to do it that way, don’t! There’s a good chance a lot of your guests know each other and want to sit together – let them! You can place a sign at the entrance to your wedding ceremony letting your guests know there’s no need to pick a side; they’re welcome to sit wherever they like.

Traditional Separation

…of the bride and groom. Tradition has the bride and groom sleep separately the night before their wedding. And additionally, not see each other until the moment the bride walks down the aisle. This has become outdated now that most couples live together before marriage. So, it’s up to you if you choose to spend the night before your wedding together or separate! In addition, many couples are now choosing to do a first look on their wedding day. First looks are popular among many couples because it gives them a chance to see each other in their wedding attire for the first time, just the two of them. It’s a fantastic opportunity for photos and a good way to calm the nerves before the ceremony.

If you can’t tell, we’re big proponents of doing your wedding day the way that you want to. If you love traditions, great! But if not, there’s absolutely no pressure to follow them (even though your mom, grandma, aunt, or whoever may tell you differently). These are just 5 wedding traditions you don’t have to follow, but pretty much any tradition is able to be disregarded if it doesn’t fit your style. Which traditions are you following and/or ditching?

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