People have been getting married for centuries and, as such, certain codes of conduct have materialized: rules, etiquette, traditions, etc. to give couples guiding principles and a template to plan out one of the most important life events. Not going to lie, there are some mainstays that we wouldn’t be opposed to keeping around for all-time: for instance, an engagement ring or any piece of proposal jewelry – diamonds or gems of any kind work just fine as a prop for a VIQ (very important question). For the most part, though, it’s 2021 and the only real requisite that a couple should follow for their wedding is to keep their love intact and to plan something that’s completely representative of their relationship and everything that means the most to them.
We thought it might be fun to provide a run down of some of the biggest wed-iquette (that’s wedding etiquette, FYI!) considerations and then sound off on Style Me Pretty’s modern iteration. If you’ve been following us for a while, you probably already know that we’re huge proponents of personalization and details so delightful they add the perfect dose of pretty to your party. So, when wedding ‘rules’ are concerned, we say go ahead and break them, it’s your day, you do you!!
Read along for our SMP take on some of the longstanding wedding playbook follies, as well as a few recommendations on gifts to celebrate your whole aisle team. Yep, the wedding and all of its lead-up gives the pedestal up to the bride, but that doesn’t mean she can forget about all the beautiful souls who got her there!
The Old Rule: The bride’s parents host the engagement party
The New Take:
Anyone can do it, even and especially if the couple wants to host the celebration themselves! The COVID pandemic has influenced the wedding industry tremendously – but one positive thing it’s done is allowing brides and grooms to figure out their own affairs. Not to say that parents (of either the bride or the groom) can’t plan something like an engagement party, but since the world is still spinning on this social distancing/virtual axis, the modern couple is much more equipped to customize an e-party event that heeds public health cautions, honors their own tastes, and hypes up their ‘I Do’ crew overall.
Oh! And that means the to-be-weds can take the lead on making toasts, too. There’s nothing wrong with starting this whole journey off with a real big “Cheers to us!”
The Old Rule: The bride’s parents pay for the [wedding] day
The New Take:
These days, there are no assumptions for who will pay for the day. The couple may be paying for the wedding all on their own, they may be receiving financial support from their parents or other family members, and other times, budgeting for the big day can be drawn from a virtual potluck of private patronage.
So, if you’ve just gotten engaged, take matters into your own hands and get up-to-date with all the latest on wedding planning. You’ll feel a whole lot more comfortable having those conversations about money later on.
The Old Rule: The bachelorette party is a complete surprise for the bride
The New Take:
Surprises are cool, for sure, but nowadays brides want to be in on the fun and have a finger on the pulse of their party – and we totally support them! Not to mention, with the pandemic throwing such a wrench into all parts of the engagement process (from picking a date and place to planning all of the pre-wedding fetes) you can’t blame a bride for wanting to be in control and for getting psyched over all the pomp and circumstance and paraphernalia that comes with a bachelorette trip, weekend, night out, etc.
It’s not just about the bride sash, the guest of honor needs her squad all decked out, too!
There is such freedom in realizing that the wedding rules we’ve come to know are yesterday’s news, but with the freedom also comes unlimited opportunities and endless decision making – so, to keep yourself on track, take a peek at our Ultimate Planning Guides. We don’t believe rules are necessary, but since planning is a process, procedure/protocol can often help reign everything in and alleviate some of the pressure. Shop the Style Me Pretty Collection + Ultimate Planning Guides right now!
Photography: Rachael Kazmier Photography
Join The Conversation
favorite (0) share share (0) pin (0)
