Tradition plays a large role in wedding planning, influencing everything from the wedding rings you choose to the food you eat. Some of these traditions may be important to you and feel like a natural fit for the wedding of your dreams. But others could seem unnecessary or irrelevant to what you want your wedding to be. And you might choose to bypass those entirely.

In this post, we’ll look at eight traditions you may follow or skip when planning your nuptials.

 

The bride must wear white

 

 

Tradition dictates that the bride always wears a white dress on her wedding day. Even if you exclusively wear black as a rule, you may find that friends, family, and colleagues still expect you to walk down the aisle in a flowing white dress.

However, according to Britannica, the tradition of brides wearing a white dress began with the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840. It caught on among other couples, and soon the white dress became the go-to option for brides the world over.

Some of the most famous women in the world have married their partners while wearing non-white outfits, ranging from yellow trouser suits to pink gowns. It’s more and more acceptable for the bride to wear whatever she feels comfortable in today.

But if you love the idea of going traditional and wearing white, that’s still a hugely popular choice for women. You can go as pared back or as extravagant as you like to celebrate one of the most important days of your life. As with choosing wedding rings and writing your own wedding vows, it’s down to you.

 

Eating a multi-tiered wedding cake

 

 

One of the many joys of a beautiful wedding day is devouring a slice or two of delicious cake. We tend to expect wedding cakes to be glamorous concoctions consisting of several tiers, intricate decorations, and lots of white. And they can be hugely expensive, especially if you feel like you need to have enough for every single guest.

It’s easy to forget, though, that you can have any type of wedding cake you want to. You might prefer a dark chocolate cake that’s just one or two tiers tall. Or maybe you love the prospect of tucking into a huge sweet pie instead of a cake.

Once you start to let your mind wander, you can stumble upon all kinds of exciting concepts. Here a few to inspire you:

•  Dozens of cupcakes (one for each guest)

•  Cookies with a variety of dips

•  Multi-tiered cake adorned with macarons

•  Lemon cheesecake

•  A selection of cheeses

As you can see, the possibilities reach far and wide. You could even have a traditional wedding cake to share among your guests (or just your most immediate family and key friends), with a special cake exclusively for you and your partner.

 

Cutting the cake before the first dance

 

 

Following on from the previous tradition, consider the cutting of the cake: how do you feel about it? It’s generally thought of as a must-have photo opportunity, with guests gathering to watch the happy couple make the first cut.

However, you might prefer to skip this part altogether if you have a lot to pack into a short space of time (e.g. if your ceremony starts late in the day). And if the cake is just for you and your partner, perhaps you want to wait until you actually plan to eat it before you start cutting it up.

As with all wedding traditions, such as picking a honeymoon destination or buying wedding rings, you have more freedom than you may realize. If you both want to skip the cake cutting, do so. Guests may not even notice, especially if they’re having a great day.

 

Wedding ceremonies must be big and formal

 

 

Weddings cost money. In some cases, they cost a lot of money. But just because it’s tradition for weddings to be large, formal, expensive occasions doesn’t mean yours has to be.

If you’re working to a tight budget or simply prefer the idea of a small, intimate gathering with the most important people in your shared lives, don’t put pressure on yourselves to plan a bigger occasion than you need to. Focus on creating a wedding day that you can comfortably afford and that feels right for you both.

Want to get married in your favorite park dressed as anime characters you both love? How about tying the knot at a local hotel with a dozen guests and spending most of your budget on your honeymoon instead?

Look at your budget and weigh up your options carefully. Be open about what you both really want your wedding to be, instead of what tradition tells you it should be.

 

A formal, multi-course wedding breakfast

 

 

The tradition for wedding breakfasts is a formal multi-course meal with table service and a limited menu. That can make the deal feel lavish and extravagant, especially if you book a high-end venue. But that may not appeal to you for a number of reasons.

For instance, you might prefer to eat light instead of consuming multiple consecutive courses, or you would rather not fill up on food before you spend much of the evening dancing to your favorite songs.

If you want to try something different, and your venue allows it, here are a few ideas to consider:

•  Hire a few food trucks to offer guests more variety with informal dining.

•  Set up self-serve buffet stations with hot and cold food, so people can choose their own dishes and portions.

•  Scatter your eating throughout the day, with canapes early on and more finger food later on, followed by small cakes and sweet treats for the evening.

•  Try a customizable afternoon tea, with a few options to suit different tastes and dietary needs.

One of the highlights of a fantastic wedding is great food, so as long as they have something tasty to enjoy, your guests may not care too much about how it’s served.

 

The married couple’s first dance

 

 

Along with exchanging wedding rings and posing for pictures, the first dance is considered a critical step in any couple’s big day. Friends and family will watch while the newlyweds enjoy a romantic dance to their favorite song, usually a track that means something special to them.

For many couples, the first dance is a beautiful tradition they’re happy to honor. For others, though, it can be a little … well, awkward.

If you’re not prone to dancing or public displays of affection, engaging in an intimate dance with your partner in front of dozens or hundreds of people could make you anxious. You may even feel nervous about it all day, when in fact you should be free to focus on enjoying each moment as it comes.

Sound familiar? If so, don’t be afraid to jettison the first dance and get everyone on the dancefloor as soon as the evening celebrations start.

 

Going wild on your bachelor and bachelorette celebrations

 

 

The bachelor and bachelorette party is a long-held tradition, offering a chance to mark the end of being “single” (despite being engaged). The stereotypical concept is heavy drinking, dressing up, and hitting big nightspots. Even people who don’t like drinking and going on wild nights out may still feel pressured into letting their best man or maid of honor arrange a raucous celebration.

But things have changed. More and more brides are choosing luxurious wellness retreats over the traditional drinking-and-dancing events. And crucially, millennials and Gen-Z drink less than previous generations, driving demand for non-alcoholic drinks.

That means younger brides and grooms are more likely to opt for alternative celebrations, with mixed-gender dinners or relaxing breaks at wellness retreats.

So, if you want to mark your transition into married life with a day of mini golf and arcade games, or a quiet dinner with your parents, go for it.

 

Wedding rings must be glitzy and elaborate

 

 

Picking wedding rings can be one of the more difficult, time-consuming parts of preparing for your big day. You and your spouse-to-be will be wearing your wedding rings far beyond the ceremony, so it’s crucial that you choose wisely.

But it’s vital that you look for wedding rings that suit your personal style, reflect your taste in jewelry, and feel good on your finger. There is an expectation that wedding rings must be studded with numerous diamonds and feature elaborate designs — the flashier, the better.

However, what if you prefer simpler wedding rings with an understated aesthetic? You have a huge range of wedding rings to choose from, with diverse metals and designs on today’s market. It’s easy to customize wedding rings and create unique pieces, too, by adding bespoke engravings.

MADANI Rings has a huge collection of beautiful wedding rings and bands to suit modern couples, ranging from traditional designs to truly modern pieces. We cater to diverse styles and tastes, and offer various customization options. Browse our range of wedding rings and bands today.