In the least surprising news of recent times, it’s been reported that the pandemic and ongoing cost of living crisis has caused couples to re-evaluate their finances, and has encouraged many of them to spend less on their nuptials.
Recent turbulent times have caused couples to think long and hard about what they want from their big day and this has resulted in some new trends emerging. Here are some of the most popular post-pandemic wedding trends happening in the UK right now.
Downsizing
During the pandemic, weddings were either banned or permitted but only with a small number of guests. While people complained at the time, couples have since embraced this idea of downsizing, shedding some of the frippery associated with traditional weddings in favour of something more streamlined and – whisper it – fun.
Indeed, as Nimble Fins report, a poll below, ‘’budget-conscious Britons are spending less on their weddings since the coronavirus pandemic.’’ As the company goes on to reveal, there has been an increase in people hoping to keep their big day budget under £10,000.
Rather than seeming stingy, this might be a masterstroke for ensuring the marriage is a long and happy one; it’s been said that couples who spend less on their big day are actually more likely to stay together. Because no one wants to begin their married life mired in debt and misery, right?
Engagement Ring Trends
Engagement ring trends have changed markedly over the past two years, too. Following the first UK lockdown, there has been much anecdotal evidence of an increase in interest for engagement rings for men. This indicates that more women are proposing to their partners and more same-sex couples are planning to wed.
Another engagement ring trend is colourful gemstone rings. After two years of uncertainty, couples want a ring that will make them feel bright and happy. Oval diamonds are also popular right now, and we’re very much on board with this trend of cutting loose and thinking outside the box.
Tim Ingle, co-founder and director of industry experts Ingle & Rhode agrees; “The trends that really stand out at the moment are the demand for very delicate rings set with large oval diamonds; the continued renaissance of rose gold; and a growing love for hidden halos. To be fair, oval diamonds have always been popular in engagement rings, with their elongated shape being very flattering on the finger, but what we’re seeing now is the growing interest in having these set in very slim rings which really show off the stones to the max.’’
He continues, ‘’Rose gold started to see a resurgence in demand about six or seven years ago, which seems to have been prompted by Apple’s launch of the rose gold iphone, however, this trend is showing no sign of abating! However, the demand for hidden halos, where a ring of metal underneath the main diamond is studded with very small diamonds, is really something that’s only taken off in the last couple of years.”
Fascinating stuff.
Outdoor Weddings
Outdoor civil ceremonies were temporarily made legal in England and Wales in 2021. They became so popular that they’ve now permanently been legalised. With 2022 being a huge year for weddings due to so many being postponed during the pandemic, as well as new couples wanting to get wed, this new legislation has allowed wedding venues to make the most of all their facilities and accommodate as many couples as possible.
56% of the British public even say that they’d be happy to get married in their back garden. This trend is popular for a number of reasons, including not worrying about losing money if a venue is forced to close due to further restrictions. Not only a great way to reduce costs, but you’ll also have more flexibility when it comes to dates and timing.
Weekday Weddings
Speaking of flexibility…
Weddings once seemed solely reserved for Saturdays. However, since the beginning of the pandemic, more couples are choosing to get married during the week. Glamour reports that “the proportion of Saturday weddings has declined from 57% in 2019 to 53% 2020, according to Bridebook, and even further among engaged couples. 17% of postponed couples will marry on a Friday and 11% will marry on a Sunday”.
We expect this change to expand further, with weddings shifting from a weekend focus into the midweek.
Not only is it cheaper to marry midweek, but cancellations of weddings over the past couple of years have meant that weddings all over the country are being rescheduled. As such, weekend weddings are like gold dust and the prices….well, it’s not worth thinking about.
Post-pandemic weddings are looking very different, indeed. Couples are now less precious about having a weekend wedding, with the pandemic providing the perfect excuse to host the event on a more affordable day. Choosing to have a weekday wedding with fewer guests means that couples don’t have to wait another year – or longer – to get married. Moreover, they are more likely to get the wedding photographer, caterer and florist of their choice.
As such, keep those calendars clear, and don’t be surprised to receive a weekday wedding invitation soon.