There are a number of ways to go about putting a unique spin on your wedding. If you want to break with tradition, one of the best choices to consider is to look at the newest and most popular wedding trends. Canadian couples have been playing with a number of fascinating fads for their nuptials. To make the most out of your big day, take a moment to explore the latest and more interesting Canadian wedding trends and see if any are a good fit for how you envision your celebration.
Hosting Trends- An Eco-Friendly Event
According to recent statistics, younger couples across Canada are more concerned with sustainability than previous generations. If you’re worried about how much of an impact your wedding will have on the environment, you may find it helpful to consider an eco-friendly event. One way to achieve this is by exploring alternatives to traditional plates and flatware. Opting for biodegradable items can greatly reduce the amount of waste your wedding generates. Another worthwhile idea to consider is to skip physical invitations and utilize digital options instead, as most paper invites end up directly in the trash.
Keeping Things Small
Planning a large wedding can often prove to be a huge headache. Since bigger events can be both expensive and exhausting, more and more Canadian couples are hosting smaller gatherings. Not only can a wedding with a shorter guest list help you save money, but it also creates a more intimate experience for you and your loved ones. Instead of renting a giant venue to accommodate all of your guests, deciding to have a small wedding allows you the flexibility to host your nuptials in a more personal location such as a friend’s backyard or your favorite local restaurant.
Incorporating Retro Wedding Elements
Trends come and go rather quickly in the wedding industry. While some fads are viewed as products of their time, others boast timeless qualities that make them a perfect fit for modern affairs. One way to personalize your big day is by looking at retro wedding ideas and seeing if anything appeals to you. For example, many couples are incorporating classic elements like champagne towers into their receptions. Another simple idea to consider is placing disposable cameras around the venue and encouraging your guests to take photographs throughout the course of the night.
Ditching the Cake
A cake can seem like an essential part of a wedding. However, many couples are ditching the idea of the classic cake altogether these days. Instead, younger Canadians are exploring a wealth of more enticing options. If you prefer ice cream to cake, consider having a sundae bar at the reception. Giving guests the option of making their own creamy creations with a plethora of toppings can be far more memorable than serving a basic wedding cake. Other dessert options worth offering can include cookies, cupcakes, doughnuts, and a chocolate fountain.
Picking Bold Flowers
Flowers are one of the most important decorations involved in weddings. Though it was common for couples to select neutral colors for their floral arrangements in recent years, this trend is shifting dramatically. Now, it is more popular for couples to pick flowers that boast bold colors. Whether you’re looking for the perfect centerpieces or want to put together a bouquet that guests will remember for years to come, going big with the color choices of your flowers can be a great way to give your event a personal spin.
Selecting the Best Trends
There are many different ways to go about planning a wedding that feels like it is truly your own. If you want to break with tradition and find some fresh elements for your event, be sure to look at the latest Canadian wedding trends to see what appeals to you.
Plenty of wedding traditions have shifted, changed, or disappeared entirely over the years. Throwing rice, for example, was once considered a staple of a couple’s nuptials. According to historians, rice was thrown at couples who had just tied the knot as a way of encouraging good fortune, best wishes, and luck in the honeymoon bed. However, plenty of problems accompany this ritual. Outside of the mess it can make, uncooked rice is also deadly to most birds because it absorbs all available moisture in their intestines.
Instead of inadvertently killing a flock of local feathered friends on your big day, you may want to find other ways for guests to wish you good luck. Take a look at these popular alternatives and find a much safer fit for friends and family to send you off.
Flower Petals Vs. Rice
Want all of the fun of having something thrown at you without the negative environmental impact? Flower petals make a perfect alternative to rice for many reasons. First, they have a more appealing aesthetic quality. Your wedding pictures will look much more glamorous with colorful petals raining down on you. Second, flower petals are soft and won’t feel like a million little thumbtacks being thrown at your face. Finally, petals are biodegradable. Whatever is thrown will decompose or be used by other creatures quite quickly.
If you’re worried about picking dozens of flowers for this purpose, there are ways to make this entire experience eco-friendly. See if a couple is looking to get rid of floral arrangements from a wedding happening sometime before your own. Have someone remove all the petals and put them into bags to be handed to guests at the ceremony. The petals will create a beautiful scene.
Bubbles vs. Rice
Who says that what is thrown your way needs to fall immediately to the ground? Instead of giving guests ammunition to hurl in your direction, a perfect option to consider instead is handing out bubbles. When guests are blowing little bubbles at you and your partner, it can create a whimsical feeling that requires no additional cleanup. In fact, most of the little soap bubbles will pop before making it too far from the wand, so the entire experience is simple and lacks any of the mess of other choices.
Noisemakers
Though noisemakers are associated heavily with celebrations surrounding New Year’s Eve, you may want to think about using them as an alternative to rice. There is no rule saying you need to give the guests something that needs to be thrown or launched or carried on the wind. Noisemakers like whistles, kazoos, and other toy instruments can create a cacophony of sounds that come together joyfully and chaotically. Obviously, this option is only possible if your event is taking place at a venue without noise restrictions.
Smoke
Finally, there’s a perfect option for couples who like to make dramatic entrances and exits. If you want to use an alternative to rice that will make for captivating, flamboyant images, consider smoke bombs. Colorful plumes of smoke bursting around you as you exit the venue can create a moment that you and your guests will not forget anytime soon. Of course, this may require more strict coordination, as handing smoke bombs to anyone in the crowd could lead to disaster. Plan accordingly and check fire regulations before setting anything in stone.
Wedding rituals change at a pace that can be difficult to follow. If you want to find an alternative to the classic tradition of throwing rice for good luck, there are many perfect choices worth your consideration. Get creative and see what fits the vibe of your wedding best to discover a tradition that makes the most sense.
When couples plan their weddings, they must decide what traditions to include. How do Canadian weddings stack up in the 21st century?
When couples plan their weddings, they must often decide what traditions to include. These celebrations incorporate basic ceremonial elements such as exchanging vows, but many also feature customs that add layers of meaning or are passed down through families or cultures. Meanwhile, some trends become new traditions while old customs slowly fall out of favor. How do Canadian weddings stack up in the 21st century? You may be surprised once you find out.
The Role of Gender in Western Weddings
It’s no secret that many wedding customs were influenced by older social norms. As cold as this sounds, marriages were less about love and more about finances, inheritances, and sometimes political concerns. Unions were arranged in many parts of the world, with women frequently losing any legal rights they had once the ceremonies took place. The Encyclopedia Britannica explains the concept of “coverture,” in which married couples were considered single legal entities, with husbands wielding the most power and decision-making responsibilities. The idea was introduced into English law after the Norman Conquest beginning in 1066. The Canadian Encyclopedia mentions that British cultural influences on marriage and property statutes codified coverture into Canadian law in many areas.
Some wedding traditions are leftover legacies from these societal realities. For instance, you may remember that the bride’s family used to pay for the wedding. Vogue’s Priya Rao reveals that this stems from old dowry customs in which the bride’s family provided physical wealth before a marriage could take place. The Spruce’s Nina Callaway adds that the practice of fathers giving away their daughters during wedding ceremonies is also tied to dowries. This act was a sign that the father was pleased with the marriage negotiations and gave his blessing.
As Societies Change, So Do Weddings
Money Versed writer Liz Collins offers a basic breakdown on wedding traditions that are slowly being abandoned. Unsurprisingly, she listed customs that were once commonplace even in the 20th century:
The bride’s family paying for the wedding
Grooms not seeing their brides before the ceremony
Gendered wedding showers
Bouquet and garter tosses
Wedding Wire’s Alice Prendergast discusses more ways in which Canadian nuptials have changed. For instance, more couples are living together before marriage and fewer choose religious ceremonies. At the same time, a few recent trends are slowly becoming traditions. For instance, the Emily Post Institute details that high-tech weddings are the norm. That’s not a surprise to anyone getting hitched in 2019 or 2020, but what’s interesting is how this resulted from the development of some key innovations over the last few decades. Wedding websites began appearing in the late 1990s, but Pinterest and Instagram were both launched in 2010. Technological developments in photography, music playback, and even e-commerce have roots back in the 1990s or earlier.
Not All Traditions Have Disappeared
While many customs change, others remain the same. In her Wedding Wire piece, Prendergast discloses a few traditional practices that are solidly here to stay. The white wedding dress continues to be a staple, although it’s being reinvented with new details and silhouettes. The first dance is a timeless classic, along with asking for parents’ blessings and popping the question. You’ll also find alcohol at nearly every reception, with everything from signature cocktails to Canadian craft beers. Honeymoons remain popular, although some busy or cash-strapped pairs opt for mini-moons or staycations.
Customized Nuptials Are the Norm
Canadian weddings can be traditional, modern, or somewhere in between. While some old practices remain, couples craft their nuptials to fit their values, purposes, and lifestyles. No matter what customs each chooses to incorporate, these celebrations are ultimately both community events and personalized reflections of both spouses’ creativity, philosophy, and outlook.
There are a number of ways to go about putting a unique spin on your wedding. If you want to break with tradition, one of the best choices to consider is to look at the newest and most popular wedding trends. Canadian couples have been playing with a number of fascinating fads for their nuptials. To make the most out of your big day, take a moment to explore the latest and more interesting Canadian wedding trends and see if any are a good fit for how you envision your celebration.
Hosting Trends- An Eco-Friendly Event
According to recent statistics, younger couples across Canada are more concerned with sustainability than previous generations. If you’re worried about how much of an impact your wedding will have on the environment, you may find it helpful to consider an eco-friendly event. One way to achieve this is by exploring alternatives to traditional plates and flatware. Opting for biodegradable items can greatly reduce the amount of waste your wedding generates. Another worthwhile idea to consider is to skip physical invitations and utilize digital options instead, as most paper invites end up directly in the trash.
Keeping Things Small
Planning a large wedding can often prove to be a huge headache. Since bigger events can be both expensive and exhausting, more and more Canadian couples are hosting smaller gatherings. Not only can a wedding with a shorter guest list help you save money, but it also creates a more intimate experience for you and your loved ones. Instead of renting a giant venue to accommodate all of your guests, deciding to have a small wedding allows you the flexibility to host your nuptials in a more personal location such as a friend’s backyard or your favorite local restaurant.
Incorporating Retro Wedding Elements
Trends come and go rather quickly in the wedding industry. While some fads are viewed as products of their time, others boast timeless qualities that make them a perfect fit for modern affairs. One way to personalize your big day is by looking at retro wedding ideas and seeing if anything appeals to you. For example, many couples are incorporating classic elements like champagne towers into their receptions. Another simple idea to consider is placing disposable cameras around the venue and encouraging your guests to take photographs throughout the course of the night.
Ditching the Cake
A cake can seem like an essential part of a wedding. However, many couples are ditching the idea of the classic cake altogether these days. Instead, younger Canadians are exploring a wealth of more enticing options. If you prefer ice cream to cake, consider having a sundae bar at the reception. Giving guests the option of making their own creamy creations with a plethora of toppings can be far more memorable than serving a basic wedding cake. Other dessert options worth offering can include cookies, cupcakes, doughnuts, and a chocolate fountain.
Picking Bold Flowers
Flowers are one of the most important decorations involved in weddings. Though it was common for couples to select neutral colors for their floral arrangements in recent years, this trend is shifting dramatically. Now, it is more popular for couples to pick flowers that boast bold colors. Whether you’re looking for the perfect centerpieces or want to put together a bouquet that guests will remember for years to come, going big with the color choices of your flowers can be a great way to give your event a personal spin.
Selecting the Best Trends
There are many different ways to go about planning a wedding that feels like it is truly your own. If you want to break with tradition and find some fresh elements for your event, be sure to look at the latest Canadian wedding trends to see what appeals to you.
Plenty of wedding traditions have shifted, changed, or disappeared entirely over the years. Throwing rice, for example, was once considered a staple of a couple’s nuptials. According to historians, rice was thrown at couples who had just tied the knot as a way of encouraging good fortune, best wishes, and luck in the honeymoon bed. However, plenty of problems accompany this ritual. Outside of the mess it can make, uncooked rice is also deadly to most birds because it absorbs all available moisture in their intestines.
Instead of inadvertently killing a flock of local feathered friends on your big day, you may want to find other ways for guests to wish you good luck. Take a look at these popular alternatives and find a much safer fit for friends and family to send you off.
Flower Petals Vs. Rice
Want all of the fun of having something thrown at you without the negative environmental impact? Flower petals make a perfect alternative to rice for many reasons. First, they have a more appealing aesthetic quality. Your wedding pictures will look much more glamorous with colorful petals raining down on you. Second, flower petals are soft and won’t feel like a million little thumbtacks being thrown at your face. Finally, petals are biodegradable. Whatever is thrown will decompose or be used by other creatures quite quickly.
If you’re worried about picking dozens of flowers for this purpose, there are ways to make this entire experience eco-friendly. See if a couple is looking to get rid of floral arrangements from a wedding happening sometime before your own. Have someone remove all the petals and put them into bags to be handed to guests at the ceremony. The petals will create a beautiful scene.
Bubbles vs. Rice
Who says that what is thrown your way needs to fall immediately to the ground? Instead of giving guests ammunition to hurl in your direction, a perfect option to consider instead is handing out bubbles. When guests are blowing little bubbles at you and your partner, it can create a whimsical feeling that requires no additional cleanup. In fact, most of the little soap bubbles will pop before making it too far from the wand, so the entire experience is simple and lacks any of the mess of other choices.
Noisemakers
Though noisemakers are associated heavily with celebrations surrounding New Year’s Eve, you may want to think about using them as an alternative to rice. There is no rule saying you need to give the guests something that needs to be thrown or launched or carried on the wind. Noisemakers like whistles, kazoos, and other toy instruments can create a cacophony of sounds that come together joyfully and chaotically. Obviously, this option is only possible if your event is taking place at a venue without noise restrictions.
Smoke
Finally, there’s a perfect option for couples who like to make dramatic entrances and exits. If you want to use an alternative to rice that will make for captivating, flamboyant images, consider smoke bombs. Colorful plumes of smoke bursting around you as you exit the venue can create a moment that you and your guests will not forget anytime soon. Of course, this may require more strict coordination, as handing smoke bombs to anyone in the crowd could lead to disaster. Plan accordingly and check fire regulations before setting anything in stone.
Wedding rituals change at a pace that can be difficult to follow. If you want to find an alternative to the classic tradition of throwing rice for good luck, there are many perfect choices worth your consideration. Get creative and see what fits the vibe of your wedding best to discover a tradition that makes the most sense.
When couples plan their weddings, they must decide what traditions to include. How do Canadian weddings stack up in the 21st century?
When couples plan their weddings, they must often decide what traditions to include. These celebrations incorporate basic ceremonial elements such as exchanging vows, but many also feature customs that add layers of meaning or are passed down through families or cultures. Meanwhile, some trends become new traditions while old customs slowly fall out of favor. How do Canadian weddings stack up in the 21st century? You may be surprised once you find out.
The Role of Gender in Western Weddings
It’s no secret that many wedding customs were influenced by older social norms. As cold as this sounds, marriages were less about love and more about finances, inheritances, and sometimes political concerns. Unions were arranged in many parts of the world, with women frequently losing any legal rights they had once the ceremonies took place. The Encyclopedia Britannica explains the concept of “coverture,” in which married couples were considered single legal entities, with husbands wielding the most power and decision-making responsibilities. The idea was introduced into English law after the Norman Conquest beginning in 1066. The Canadian Encyclopedia mentions that British cultural influences on marriage and property statutes codified coverture into Canadian law in many areas.
Some wedding traditions are leftover legacies from these societal realities. For instance, you may remember that the bride’s family used to pay for the wedding. Vogue’s Priya Rao reveals that this stems from old dowry customs in which the bride’s family provided physical wealth before a marriage could take place. The Spruce’s Nina Callaway adds that the practice of fathers giving away their daughters during wedding ceremonies is also tied to dowries. This act was a sign that the father was pleased with the marriage negotiations and gave his blessing.
As Societies Change, So Do Weddings
Money Versed writer Liz Collins offers a basic breakdown on wedding traditions that are slowly being abandoned. Unsurprisingly, she listed customs that were once commonplace even in the 20th century:
The bride’s family paying for the wedding
Grooms not seeing their brides before the ceremony
Gendered wedding showers
Bouquet and garter tosses
Wedding Wire’s Alice Prendergast discusses more ways in which Canadian nuptials have changed. For instance, more couples are living together before marriage and fewer choose religious ceremonies. At the same time, a few recent trends are slowly becoming traditions. For instance, the Emily Post Institute details that high-tech weddings are the norm. That’s not a surprise to anyone getting hitched in 2019 or 2020, but what’s interesting is how this resulted from the development of some key innovations over the last few decades. Wedding websites began appearing in the late 1990s, but Pinterest and Instagram were both launched in 2010. Technological developments in photography, music playback, and even e-commerce have roots back in the 1990s or earlier.
Not All Traditions Have Disappeared
While many customs change, others remain the same. In her Wedding Wire piece, Prendergast discloses a few traditional practices that are solidly here to stay. The white wedding dress continues to be a staple, although it’s being reinvented with new details and silhouettes. The first dance is a timeless classic, along with asking for parents’ blessings and popping the question. You’ll also find alcohol at nearly every reception, with everything from signature cocktails to Canadian craft beers. Honeymoons remain popular, although some busy or cash-strapped pairs opt for mini-moons or staycations.
Customized Nuptials Are the Norm
Canadian weddings can be traditional, modern, or somewhere in between. While some old practices remain, couples craft their nuptials to fit their values, purposes, and lifestyles. No matter what customs each chooses to incorporate, these celebrations are ultimately both community events and personalized reflections of both spouses’ creativity, philosophy, and outlook.
