2021 wedding trends: What you need to know in the age of the coronavirus
New wedding trends in the age of the coronavirus
Your wedding day is one of the most symbolic events in our lives, but like much of our daily lives now, weddings too, have been impacted by the coronavirus.
From weddings on Zoom to unique, small venues, weddings in Southeast Asia have definitely changed, says Chaiyen Wong from The Wedding Notebook.
“In an interview last year, someone asked me if they should wait [to have their wedding]. Honestly, [the situation] will not get better anytime soon,” says Wong. “The fact is, things will not be how they used to be. To wait will only make it more disappointing.”
Wong strongly believes that couples should go ahead, plan a smaller wedding than they might have wanted, and make the most of the more intimate positives of the event.
“Make it meaningful. You will look back and be thankful because a lot of couples who yearned for a small wedding couldn’t do it because of family expectations.”
Unfortunately, lots of people have postponed their weddings during the coronavirus, says Wong, explaining that most wedding vendors can count on one hand the number of weddings they produced in 2020.
“I guess the frustrating part about it,” explains Wong, “is to plan and postpone and cancel and redo that whole process. It is emotionally draining for both the couples and vendors, and I know a lot of brides have literally given up planning anything at all.”
However, Wong says that now, in 2021, things should be easier and that there are fewer issues of concern over issues related to the coronavirus impacting weddings. She says that all the major wedding venues, for example, have been doing an excellent job in implementing the new health and safety requirements.
Hot COVID Wedding Trends
1. Small Weddings
Wong says that due to the new maximum capacity rules for safe distancing, couples have been cutting down on the number of invitations. “If you think about it, it’s not such a bad idea to have a more intimate wedding. In hindsight, they will look back and be thankful for it,” says Wong. A smaller wedding also comes with additional benefits like a lower budget and a more personalised experience.
2. No Frills Weddings
Weddings can’t be too elaborate in the age of COVID-19, says Wong, because timetables can change at any moment. Plans that include many staff, like performers, also need to change due to reduced numbers. But this can be a good thing, says Wong. “Cutting out the non-essentials brings you back to the basics of what a wedding is supposed to be. Many women have probably fantasised about a dream wedding over the years, with lots of unnecessary extravagance. Coronavirus has really put things into perspective.”
3. More Interesting Wedding Venues
If you have a huge number of guests, your choices are quite limited, with smaller numbers. However, you can choose from more unique venues options like restaurants or gardens, says Wong. You can even select the restaurant inside a hotel instead of using a ballroom; this will also cut down on decorating costs, too, Wong points out.
4. Vibrantly Coloured Wedding Themes
Wong says that there has been a strong trend for brightly coloured wedding themes during the coronavirus period. “You can see a lot of bright yellow, orange, autumn shades of corals being used,” says Wong, also pointing out that the 2021 Pantone colours of the year - Illuminating (yellow) and Ultimate Gray - have again been popping up in themes. “Couples may unknowingly be wanting to lighten up the mood during this period,” she explains.
5. Simple Wedding Dresses
According to Wong, the trend for simple designs and shorter hems on wedding dresses has been popular in the West for a while, but it’s now turning up in Asia too. “A lot of brands like Grace Loves Lace and BHLDN are offering simpler dresses and more budget options for wedding dresses now,” she says.
6. Sustainable & #supportlocal Weddings
“Couples are being more conscious-minded about sustainability for their weddings, and they are more supportive of small businesses including using caterers or buying wedding favours that support their friends’ businesses,” explains Wong, citing examples like the caterer PichaEats in Malaysia that supports refugees and communities in need.
While these six trends are strong right now, will smaller, more sustainable and simpler weddings continue after the coronavirus? According to Wong, many of these trends have been growing over the last few years. She says that small, 40-person restaurant weddings, home weddings and even backyard weddings have become more popular in the region already.
Uniquely COVID Weddings
While some of the general wedding trends have become more popular due to the coronavirus’ arrival, some uniquely COVID-19 related wedding trends have popped up, mostly related to travel restrictions and various lockdowns.
“I think the toughest thing about getting married during this period has been the travel restrictions and lockdowns,” says Wong. “Something that we rarely thought about pre-COVID, now makes it extremely difficult for people to have family members at their weddings. It makes it especially difficult not having your parents or close family friends able to attend your wedding.”
While these restrictions seem to be easing in some areas, Wong says that it is likely to be quite sometime before travelling easily for a wedding will be possible. These restrictions have also led to the unique Zoom Wedding trend.
“On the creative side, we have seen a lot of fun bridal portraits using Facetime and Zoom, where photographers took images externally from a different location and then it was used as a background for the wedding photos,” explains Wong. “It can be refreshing when your resources are limited, and you are forced to be creative.”
Wong says that ‘in-country’ weddings and bridal shoots have also been popular, replacing the weddings that would typically have been held overseas. “I don’t think overseas weddings will be happening in the next few years,” says Wong, but suggests people look for idyllic destinations in their home countries, pointing out that in Malaysia, for example, spots like Langkawi Beach and the Cameron Highlands are good options.”
Will Weddings Go Back to ‘Pre-COVID Normal’?
Wong believes that many of the new wedding trends will stick around even if society goes back to something like a ‘Pre-COVID Normal’.
“Small weddings are beautiful; the moment couples and guests experience it, they will see the beauty of them, and we believe that trend will be here to stay,” says Wong.
“I do encourage brides to get a wedding planner, however, even if it’s for a small wedding. With the COVID situation being so fluid, you need someone to help manage all the details required for quick changes to new regulations or to move dates,” suggests Wong, saying that wedding planners are resourceful and experienced so they can easily pull together a fabulous wedding in a week if need be.
“Learn to let go and learn to focus on what is important. Most importantly, at the end of the day, you married the person you love.”
For more tips on how to organise a wedding during the coronavirus, see The Wedding Notebook’s issue on COVID-19 Weddings.
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