Challenging the common wedding expectations.
Wedding trends and traditions come and go. Let’s make this YOUR dream wedding, not everyone else’s.
You aren’t required to have a typical wedding, or to follow any trends. You get to decide what will be most meaningful and memorable to the two of you, and it doesn’t need to be what you see everyone else doing on social media, in magazines, or even within your own family’s tradition! If you’re looking for some alternative ideas, you’ve come to the right place!
Smoky Mountain elopement in Tennessee.
Here are timeless ideas replacing wedding trends:
Expectation: It needs to look like a wedding - the typical decor, flowers etc. according to your theme/vibe.
Alternative: What if you took it a step further? If you love art, have your wedding at an art gallery, or turn a customizable space into an art gallery. If you love latin cafes with live music, rent one out and have a band and someone offering dance lessons. If you’re obsessed with the 70’s find a hotel or bar with that vibe and rent it out. Why make a place feel like those things when you could immerse yourselves in them instead?
Expectation: A wedding party is essential
Alternative: The whole point of the wedding party is for support, and for them to be by your side celebrating. Your wedding day flies by so quickly and you realistically don’t get much time with them. Instead, you can do an intimate gathering with those people one or two nights before the big day!
Expectation: You have to invite an extended list of guests that will likely be 100-300 in total
Alternative: You realistically only have a small group of people you do life with, and who truly know you. If you want to keep this special day intimate, you don’t have to invite people you haven’t seen since college, or who you’ve only met at a family reunion once in your life.
Expectation: The wedding schedule is ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing.
Alternative: Why not consider the things you love… reserve an art museum or art gallery, hire a special dance performance, have yard games, throw a pool party, rent out a movie theatre and show your favorite romantic film.
Expectation: A wedding reception is held at an event venue.
Alternative: Some of my favorite wedding parties have been in a stunning garden in the English style, under a big white tent in the middle of a field, or in someone’s backyard.
Expectation: Your wedding is a one day celebration.
Alternative: Wedding weekends are the BEST! It’s so fun to be able to have that intimate moment of saying your vows, and then rather than trying to cram in a ton of things right after, you get to do a handful of special things together. At traditional weddings, people spend so much money attending your wedding, but then they don’t get to really spend any time with you.
Expectation: You have to invite people to your wedding ceremony.
Alternative: This is a divine and special moment and you don’t need to have 50-300 people watching you if that isn’t what you want. You can keep that private if you prefer, and then throw a big party afterward!
Expectation: You should hire a videographer for your wedding.
Alternative: While this has been popular, especially in the last 10 years, I don’t think it will last. I only know a handful of couples who make the point to watch them every year. Most people tend to forget, especially the longer you’ve been married. Video also more easily feels dated. Also, with how rapidly technology changes, who knows how long you’ll be able to view it. VHS tapes and DVDs are almost entirely extinct, and video file formats become unable to be opened. Physical photos and albums that don’t rely on technology won’t ever go out of style.
If you’re planning an intimate wedding that is uniquely your own in Nashville (and beyond!), let’s plan a phone call and talk about documenting your special day, and turning your magical moments into art…
A table scape photographed at a Nashville wedding on 35mm film.