insideKENT Magazine Issue 83 - February 2019 | Page 43

WEDDINGS
insideKENT’S
TOP WEDDING TRENDS
FOR 2019
PLANNING A WEDDING IS AS DAUNTING AS IT IS EXCITING; BRIDAL MAGAZINES,
INSTA STALKING, PINS COMING OUT OF YOUR VIRTUAL EARS AND MORE
DECISIONS THAN EVER TO MAKE ABOUT THINGS WHICH – LET’S FACE IT –
AREN’T ALWAYS THAT IMPORTANT AND CAN BE INSTANTLY FORGOTTEN IF
YOU GET IT WRONG. by Samantha Ready
So off the back of not one but two royal weddings, a shift in consciousness to
sustainability and the now acceptable move of doing things ‘your way’ rather
than the ‘traditional way’, here are insideKENT’s top Wedding Trends for 2019.
Scrapping Traditional Etiquette
In keeping with making your wedding your own, don’t be a slave to traditional
wedding etiquette; instead embrace a new w edding world of Groomsgirls,
Bridesmen and Flower Grandmas. Consider seeing each other before the ceremony
– get your first look away from your guests to create a treasured personal moment.
How about commissioning an original song to walk down the aisle to, or for your
first dance? Be creative with your speeches – who says they have to be made by
the men after dinner? Choose the most important people to speak on your day,
embrace pictures and performances and avoid the pre-speech nerves by having
them before food is served. And why not ditch the favours? Ask any wedding
coordinator and they’ll tell you that they will spend the end of the evening binning
half of the forgotten favours left behind (and dare we say it, often intentionally);
instead get cr eative, per sonal or
charitable. R eplace fa vours with
personalised gifts such as sleep masks
or hangover kits, make mini bouquets
from your wedding flowers to giveaway
to loved ones, or better still, make
a donation to c harity on behalf of
your guests.
Eco Conscious and Sustainab le
We should all be making the move to
be mor e eco-friendly , and y our
wedding is no e xception. Seek out
venues with r enewable energy who
are committed to recycling and who
are environmentally aware. Plan a
zero-waste reception that ditches the
plastic, uses linen napkins and bans
foam in the flowers. Think food miles
and food waste by choosing suppliers
who use locally sour ced ingredients
and will provide quality over quantity.
Banish unnecessary paper and instead
opt f or digital in vites and RSVPs;
utilise customisable wedding websites
where guests can select menu choices,
song r equests, view y our w edding
list and e ven upload pictur es after
the event.
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