How Wedding Expectations Have Changed Over Time

A recent survey discovered that the duties involved in weddings leave one-third of bridesmaids in debt, so can you imagine the state of the brides and groom's bank balance?

Widely thought of as the best day of your life, over the course of the last few years the pressure to put on a wedding that is extravagant and over the top has increased. People almost expect it. However, I have some good news for you, as wedding trends in 2019 are much more budget-friendly than in the past. From simpler gowns bought from a department store or made yourself on a budget to gorgeous women’s court shoes without all the fuss that take brides from the day ceremony to the evening party. With ever-changing fashions, the expectation of showmanship and expenditure surrounding a wedding has altered over time. Let’s take a look at wedding expectations over the years compared to those of 2019.

Weddings through the 20th century

From 1910 to the 1920s

With the turn of the century came the advent of the wedding gown as we recognise it today. During the 1910s, wedding dresses were more flowing than their structured predecessors. This was also the decade in which dancing became a wedding tradition and the 1920s brought the jazz age and slinky dresses, think The Great Gatsby.  Bouquets got bigger and dresses became more glitzy and glamourous. Weddings in this era started demanding a much bigger budget.

The 1930s and 1940s

During the 1930s and 1940s crisis hit the country and, in turn, wedding arrangements due to the great depression. This meant that brides looked for affordable material and rayon became popular as it was a cheaper alternative to silk. Your wedding date was more likely to depend on your groom’s army schedule than your own desires. Wedding rings became popular for men as a visual way to show your connection to the bride.

The 1950s and 1960s

After the war ended and the economy picked up, wedding expectations began to rise. The chosen styles were still casual with short dresses or tea-length gowns. Grace Kelly’s iconic 1956 wedding set a high standard for this era. Following her lead, gowns started to get more flouncy and elaborate as the decade went on.

The 1970s and 1980s

The 1970s brought a wider variety of wedding styles. Brides of this decade threw expectations out the window and embraced every wedding look from floaty hippie gowns to pantsuits. When the ‘80s came around, Princess Diana’s wedding to Prince Charles in 1981 set the bar. Her famously massive fairytale dress was the envy of brides-to-be across the country. This maximalist style would influence weddings for the rest of the decade.

The 1990s and 2000s

Thanks to the growing number of weddings in pop culture, weddings became bigger and bigger events. Films such as Father of the Bride, Four Weddings and a Funeral and My Best Friend's Wedding all from the 90s cultivated growing expectations around the big day. Typical wedding locations began to change over these decades, with an increasing amount of couples opting for an exotic place to tie the knot. Furthermore, the rise of stately homes and country clubs as a wedding setting added a lot of money to the price tag.

With the rise of social media, weddings began to take on a competitive aspect — the bigger (and the more ‘likes’) the better!

The expectations and trends of 2019

After that whirlwind of wedding day expectations over the last 100 years, the trend for 2019 is a sway towards more low key events.

After the towering expectations of ‘perfect’ days and luxurious events, brides have recently been opting for a more down to earth wedding vibe. Outdoor locations have risen in popularity. Think of boho barn weddings and relaxed park venues. Even beach weddings abroad, where honeymoons are combined with the cost of the wedding don't have to be expensive if you invite a handful of people and have a wedding meal in a local bistro or taverna.

Wedding attire is less formal and more natural, with wavy beach vibe hair, minimal makeup and an unstructured dress. With this more relaxed look generally comes reduced expenditure too. Even engagement rings have become more affordable, with many preferring alternative gemstones to the traditional diamond. Sapphire engagement rings have soared in popularity for example and white sapphires, Moissanite and even cubic zirconia are viable alternatives instead of the traditional diamond ring.

If you are looking into tying the knot but are getting anxious about the cost, fear not! In 2019 you can be perfectly on-trend on your wedding day without breaking the bank. A simple scheme can be beautiful and elegant if done right — you really don’t need all that extravagance, just a beautiful setting and a wonderful atmosphere.

Let me know, if you are married what type of wedding did you have? 

*Collaborative post