Wedding Trends That Are No Longer Cool In 2022

The last few years are ones that no one ever could have planned for — not even the most prepared brides and grooms. When the country first went into lockdown in March 2020, many states issued restrictions on larger gatherings. As a result, wedding season was virtually non-existent. Large ceremonies were downsized, postponed, or cancelled and small weddings were on the rise. Before long, a wave of mini-mony's and micro-weddings were ushered into existence.

Jump to two years later. It's 2022. The Wedding Report is predicting that 2.5 million couples will get married this year, marking a 15% increase from previous years, according to NPR. Large gatherings are permitted once again, people can travel safely, and happily engaged couples have finally reached the light at the end a long tunnel. But the real question is: where are lovers walking down the aisle? What decorations are surrounding them as they say "I do?" What wedding rituals are people still partaking in? If you are planning a wedding this year, here are some outdated trends that most couples are passing on.  

There are many tough decisions you have to make when planning your wedding, from choosing your wedding venue to your wedding date (if you are still pondering over what day you want to get married, here are the unluckiest days to get married in 2022 according to a celebrity psychic). Without a doubt, one of the hardest decisions you will have to make is who you invite to your wedding. If you have a lot of friends and family you want to include in your special day, we have good news for you. Big weddings are back and better than ever, while smaller ceremonies are on their way out. "After COVID-related gathering restrictions loosened up, couples were eager to celebrate with loved ones, paving the way for the reemergence of larger guest lists," Kim Forrest, a senior editor at WeddingWire, shared with Insider. 

That said, some couples are not ready to leave the mini-monies behind. According to The Atlantic, several couples who originally planned to have a bigger bash are still moving forward with a small ceremony. These easier-to-plan parties will allow couples to more quickly begin the next chapter of their lives. 

From color schemes to flowers, lights and other decor, there are so many ways you can customize and beautify your wedding. But before you begin buying balloons and twinkling lights up the wazoo, you might want to think again. According to Insider, balloon arches are being replaced by flower walls and arches. As for twinkle light ceilings? "They were beautiful in time, but rather than drawing design upward, we're metaphorically in the moment, drawing attention to the tables and dance floors — to the present," Mindy Weiss, a world renowned wedding planner and author, shared with Vogue.

After two years of stalled ceremonies, people are ushering wedding season back in with bright hues and vibrant color schemes. According to Stefanie Cove, a Los Angeles-based event planner, less people are opting for white, ivory, and green color schemes. "As lovely as white is, couples want to pick a color and go for it. As the saying goes, go big or go home," Tara Fay, a luxury destination and Ireland wedding planner, also shared with Vogue.

Whether you have attended a lot of weddings or you have watched a lot of faux ceremonies take place on the big screen, you are most likely familiar with classic wedding traditions. From the father-daughter dance and the ceremonial cake cutting, to the best man and maid of honor speeches, a lot of small moments make up a typical wedding day. While these wedding rituals may have been practiced for as long as we remember, some of them are on their way out. Wedding planner Tory Smith refers to this movement as the "anti-trend trend." "The whole industry is moving away from cookie-cutter weddings and we're here for it," the Smith + James event planner shared with Brides.

Amidst the "anti-trend trend," there are also particular traditions that are becoming less common. For instance, people are moving away from including toasts at the reception. According to Vogue, many couples have preferred scheduling speeches and toasts for the night before the wedding, when there is a smaller and more intimate crowd. Couples have also been doing away with the bouquet and garter toss. "Couples do not want to clear their dance floor for these outdated traditions," Thomas Beaman from PA Unveiled shared with Insider. "We planned and photographed 47 weddings last year and only four or five couples did a bouquet/garter toss." 

An increasing number of couples are moving towards hosting more sustainable weddings. According to Esther Lee, a senior editor at The Knot, couples who are part of the Millennial and Gen-Z generations are "more mindful about sustainability and the future of our planet," meaning that they will "approach wedding planning with deeper care and concern," Lee told Insider.

A shift towards sustainable weddings means that printed save the days are out and so are buffet style dinners, as noted by Vogue. Instead, people are opting for virtual invitations and table service meals. According to Don't Waste My Energy, there is typically more food waste left over from a buffet compared to individually served dinners. It is much easier to portion out individual meals for each guest than it is to host a family style free-for-all. Figuring out your wedding menu? Your fairytale wedding needs these sweet and tasty treats.

Happy couples are also cutting down on handing out lavish goody bags. "As we all try to be more sustainably conscious, couples are now offering a simple yet thoughtful treat or gift for guests to enjoy, perhaps a nod to the wedding location," Stefanie Cove, an event planner in L.A. shared with Vogue. Brides are even choosing to rent their wedding dresses, as noted by Who What Wear. As it turns out, spending exorbitant amounts of money on a dress you will only wear once is one of many wedding fashion trends that is no longer cool in 2022.