You really don’t need to ask for permission to marry the person you love. That’s from the by-gone times when girls were considered to be their father’s property. Although come to think, the same would apply to the tradition of a father walking his daughter down the aisle and give it to her future husband.

How Can We Upgrade Wedding Traditions?

No one thinks about the origins of it, and yet all of us think it’s one of the most emotional moments of the ceremony. Although it’s not always possible- for fatherless brides, for example, or for those who don’t have a strong relationship with them. So, it’s quite reasonable to think about all traditions as a guide only, not something set in stone.

Especially today. Gen Z is maturing, they’ll soon start getting married. Being “individualistic”, “truth seekers”, “accepting” and “realistic”, they are about to break some rules. The wedding industry is listening carefully because for quite some time there has been only one rule- and it’s no rule- on how to get married.

The Wedding Dress

What do you do when you get engaged? You start looking for wedding dresses. While it’s true that all eras had their own particular styles, ours is specific for no particular style is more “in style” than another.

Choose a dress not because it’s the hottest trend, but because you like it and it fits like hell. The color, style, length- it’s up to you. And no, you don’t have to wear a veil.

Bridesmaids and Groomsmen

You absolutely don’t have to have same-sex wedding VIPs. It’s completely acceptable to mix people, just make sure they’re on board with the theme. If your brother is one of the nearest and dearest, go ahead, include him in your bridal party. On that note, bridesmaids don’t have to wear the same dresses or the same flowers. Similar shades are enough to tell them from the rest of the guests.

Blue Against the Evil Eye

In the past, people used to think that by wearing blue charms, they’d fend off back luck. It’s up to you if you’d ditch this tradition/superstition, but it can be fun, leaving space for creativity. People incorporate the shades of blue in thousands of ways, from the expensive sapphire jewelry to the wacky hair color. If you are looking for a luxurious way to avoid bad luck, then buy a delicate pair of sapphire earrings from your local jeweler. You’ll respect the wedding tradition but also look stunning.

Down-the-Aisle Music

Classical music is…erm..classical. But you can choose otherwise. Coldplay fan? Then, Call It Magic. What you have to do is check with your venue beforehand, especially if the ceremony takes place somewhere like this wedding chapel in Houston, and you don’t have to go to the separate church to say the vows. Instead, you’ve found a place that incorporates both. But you’d want to coordinate the sound with the visuals.

Wedding Program on a Paper

Before the ceremony, either offer cocktails to stir up the crowd (wow!) or offer something to attract their attention. Projection mapping is the thing, you can project the program on the walls with bits and pieces of your relationship history. Should you decide to go with the paper version, attach it to something super useful, like fans.

Hand-fasting

Have you ever thought of the tradition representing the unifying of the two people? It’s the moment when hands are tied with the white ribbon. Can you think of any other way of expressing the same symbolism? Some people choose to incorporate the important moment when they met, or when they got engaged. Whatever you choose, make sure you explain it in the program.

Little Ring Bearers and Flower Girls

Children are the cutest, but it absolutely doesn’t have to be kids. Especially if you don’t have any relatives to do it. You can ask literally anyone of any age that you love. People even opt for drones.

Registry- No More Plates, Please

Gen Y and Z don’t wed without living with the partner beforehand. Meaning they already have everything they need. Unless it’s a robot vacuum cleaner or an electric scooter, or cash for their cause. Thankfully, technology is letting us register for it all. Yes, even cash. You just have to add a tagline, something like “help us have a magical sunset in Mykonos”.

Cake It Real

Or not. Apparently, one doesn’t have to cut the cake at all. You can have other sweets, like creme brûlée. Some people have had 3D printed cake, others just have a wow moment with an extremely intricate Styrofoam cake that can neither be cut nor eaten, but then serve plain non-decorated smaller cakes because it’s cheaper.

As long as there’s something sweet, no one would care about the form.

Conclusion

Some traditions are nice, some are questionable. Some are being altered every day, others are here to stay. Ultimately, it’s up to the couple and their personalities to find a niche they fit into- if any.

The point is not to break the rules for the sake of it, but to try to make it reflect on who you are.

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Author Bio: James Barnes is an experienced wedding organizer and blogger at theannexevents.com. He specialized in organizing outdoor wedding events. When he isn’t writing about weddings and marital life, David usually goes swimming or playing squash.