Weddings get a modern makeover

A modern-day couple on their wedding day. /Nicole Lopez WeddingsThe personality of weddings is changing. Since couples are waiting longer to get married, many in the wedding industry are seeing more confidence and more financial security in today’s engaged couples. As a result, they are taking control of the wedding planning, a role that traditionally belonged to parents. And since couples are taking the reins, more of their personalities shine through in the details of the big day!

Here are some of the changes industry experts have seen in recent years, and expect to see in 2016:

The locations are personal. Traditionally, people have held their ceremonies in, well, traditional places, such as synagogues, churches and hotels. Ken Berman, of Kenneth Berman Photography, says that now couples are expanding their horizons and choosing places that better reflect their lives together. The beach and the place where the couple met, Berman says, are popular.

The photography is fun. Berman has also observed that couples are opting for engagement photo shoots and for more candid shots. Couples, he says, are choosing places that they like or are meaningful to them, and they have fun with the shoot. Berman is based in Sharon, Massachusetts, so it’s not surprising that he finds Cape Cod is a frequent site for these informal photo sessions.

The food is retrofitted. Neil Morris, from A Perfect Taste, in Stoughton, Massachusetts, says traditional gourmet foods and service are meeting new-age recipes and alternative service styles to bring the best of both the old and the new to the table. For example, gueridon service, where waitstaff push food trolleys containing an assortment of dishes to each individual guest, is making a return. And Morris said that even wedding cakes have changed, from pure white frostings to colorful fondant and buttercream frostings.

The weddings are bigger. The more the merrier, right? This trend has been observed by many in the industry, including Donna Diorio, of the Providence Marriott Downtown. It might have to do with a recent study from The National Wedding Project, based in Virginia, showing that a higher guest count correlates with a happier marriage. Or perhaps brides and grooms just want to start off the marriage with a big party!

The feel is comfortable. This is something that is coming through on many levels in wedding planning. Berman has noted that the weddings are still beautiful, but not necessarily “black-tie,” as they once were. Morris has noticed the rise of “rustic-themed” weddings, including farmhouse ceremonies and comfortable, earthy foods: braised meats and root vegetables are common. Perhaps this is a reflection of the modern notion of the wedding reflecting a couple’s personalities, but, in any case, comfort, Morris believes, is here to stay.

ARIEL BROTHMAN is a freelance writer who lives in Wrentham, Mass.