Say ‘I do’ to minimalist matrimony. Couples will make their big day more laid back than ever – starting with smaller venues and no-frills elopements.
With 2021 to be a bumper year for saying “I do”, and Coronavirus restrictions currently still in play, experts are already looking ahead to what might be trending throughout the year. 2021’s theme for weddings is all about intimacy and minimalism.
Pinterest makes this prediction based on search trends on the platform, so it’s backed up with evidence. Searches for “simple wedding cakes” have doubled year-on-year, Pinterest says, while searches for “small back garden weddings” have increased by 160%. Both of these search terms are trending especially strongly in the UK. Searches for “registry office wedding outfit” have also doubled year-on-year, suggesting that couples are planning ceremonies with slightly less formal dress codes.
Petite Weddings, the UKs only platform totally dedicated to small weddings and elopements has also seen this trend as well with a 35% increase in unique users for 2018/19 to 2020/21 and a 32% increase in enquiries and bookings over that same period.
A spokesperson for Petite Weddings said, “We’ve been helping couples plan small, beautiful weddings on budgets that come nowhere near the UK average of nearly £32,000* for 6 years now. We’re seeing a rise in bookings two main areas: couples who are seeking elopement weddings just for the two of them, with perhaps their parents or best friends as witnesses, and slightly larger groups of 15-30 bringing family and close friendships groups together for a few nights stay that includes a wedding day. Couples do have concerns about spending life changing sums of money on a wedding in the current environment and this continues to be a key driver for the wedding market. Equally we are hearing from lots of couples who are actively choosing to spend more per head and have a really special time either just as a couple, or surrounded by their inner circle of friends and family.”
“We do not see demand for these smaller, more heartfelt and personal celebrations of love ending anytime soon. There are so many advantages to small weddings and elopements that the COVID-crisis has made all the more important. For example, micro-weddings offer extended time with closest family and friends (something we’ve all taken for granted in the past and value so much more now); they also tend to cost less than a larger wedding and many couples are under additional financial stress with job loss or uncertainty being a reality for many as the UK economy takes the double hit of Brexit and COVID 19; and, with international travel being difficult, risky and increasingly expensive for some time to come a UK based “destination wedding” seems a fabulous alternative.”
“Every aspect of weddings is impacted by this trend away from “big event” weddings to smaller affairs, be it the rise of; bridal trainers/wellies, bridal denim jackets, smaller, simpler cakes, feasting menus, BBQ’s and wedding day picnic replacing the traditional three-course wedding meal or reducing your numbers so couples can spend more time with those people closest to them. Intimate weddings are never a compromise, they are a conscious choice made by couples who value the uniqueness of their love story over century old traditions.”
* Source: hitched.co.uk 2019 annual survey
So what do you think? Do you reckon a small, more intimate wedding will be the wedding for you?
For more information more on the wedding shown at Fallen Angel, Cornwall:
- Venue: Fallen Angel Cornwall www.fallenangelcornwall.com Instagram @fallenangelcornwall
- Arranger: Petite Weddings www.petiteweddings.co.uk Instagram @petiteweddings
- Wedding Planner: Piccolo Weddings www.piccoloweddings.co.uk Instagram @piccoloweddings
- Photographer: Verity Westcott https://www.veritywestcottphotography.com Instagram @veritywestcottphotography
- Videographer: Tom Frost https://thomasfrostphotography.com Instagram @t.frost.photography
- Bridal make up – Gemma Campbell https://www.gemmacampbellmua.com/ Instagram @gemmacampbellmua
- Bridal hair – Sam, Dukes and Dames https://www.facebook.com/dukesanddames/
- Flowers – Lafonia Flower Company https://lafoniaflowercompany.co.uk/ Instagram @lafoniaflowercompany
- Styling and furniture hire: https://www.stargazeyweddingdecorhire.co.uk/ Instagram @stargazey_hire
- Bridalwear: https://www.stivesbridalboutique.co.uk/ Instagram @st_ivesbridalboutique
- Indulgence Catering, www.indulgence-catering.co.uk Instagram @indulgencecateringcornwall
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This post was written in collaboration with Petite Weddings.
Petite Weddings is the only UK wedding platform that specialises in helping couples find small wedding packages and elopement packages.
Petite Weddings began with one property six years ago and now is Britain’s most popular small weddings site and the only UK platform focused exclusively on elopement and intimate weddings.
Petite Weddings helps couples access information in the best intimate wedding and elopement packages in the UK, and provides a free ‘concierge’ style service to help couples who need a little more hand-holding, including arranging their entire wedding package for them.
