5 new wedding trends that are making me go “huh?”

Guest post by likegracekelly

Ashley & Matt15

Photo by Wild About You Photography

1. Exotic animals at weddings

At least, if Jezebel is to be believed. They’ve reported on rent-able llamas and Corgis for weddings, and their commenters have chimed in with stories about “penguin proposals” and renting a lion for your wedding photos. This is not me passing judgment on having animals at your wedding, it’s just weird to me to rent an animal who doesn’t know you (as opposed to bringing your beloved pooch) as a prop.

2. Drones and GoPros

This was weird to me until I saw the prices of some wedding videography packages. I realized that my brother has a GoPro, and they actually have a lot of potential. Like the bride who put one in her bouquet. Or perhaps someone can attach it to their boutonniere and get video of me walking down the aisle?

The drone is where I draw the line in the sand, though, after that story about the journalist getting hurt at TGI Friday’s.

pantone 2015 marsala
By: Scott Lewis – CC BY 2.0

3. Pantone’s color of the year

As a hobbyist graphic designer planning a wedding, I feel like I got a double-whammy with all these announcements saying: “BREAKING NEWS: Pantone has chosen the color of the year!” I have nothing against the color itself (though the name “Marsala” makes me hungry) but all the hoopla around Pantone’s color of the year for ANY year reminds me of that scene in “The Wiz” when they’re all wearing red and someone announces over the loudspeakers, “Red is dead, long live green!” so they all immediately change the color of their clothes.

4. Shaming people who still like old trends

Speaking of “color of the year,” I love Pantone’s 2013's color of the year, “emerald.” I also like things wedding websites say are “on their way out” like Scrabble tiles, Facebook engagement announcements, Mason jars, mismatched bridesmaid dresses, etc. Like, can I live?! Even on the super-supportive Offbeat Bride Tribe I see people defending their trendy choices, usually by using a more “offbeat” choice as a counterweight: “I’m using Mason jars, but they’re for my video game character terrarium centerpieces, I swear!”

So what if I incorporate trends I like into my wedding? I personally believe that “timeless” is a Wedding Industrial Complex code that ensures wedding conformity. My wedding will look like it took place this year because that’s just when it will take place and that’s the stuff that’s available to me at the moment.

5. Shaming Offbeat Brides then using their ideas in 2-5 years

This year, the Wedding Industrial Complex seemed to find it pretty revolutionary that brides were choosing dresses that aren’t white. Or geeky boutonnieres. Or being cleverly budget-savvy. Or going barefoot, or any number of things I’ve seen on Offbeat Bride.

We are the brides and grooms the Wedding Industry Complex wishes they could be. We are bold. We are creative. We are unabashedly ourselves. We are the movers, the shakers, and the music makers. Go us!

This is not about hipster-y “I liked that before it was cool” feelings or going “HA, SEE!” when an element of your wedding becomes trendy. That would be a sign that you’ve fallen victim to “special snowflake” syndrome. (Though when you’ve been given enough grief about something only to see it become trendy, a moment of “Really, wedding industry? Really?” is allowed.)

This is about being yourself. Trends be damned.

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