The wedding season is underway and Rachel Hamilton-Shaw who is involved in 600 weddings a year for The Hotel Collection tells us what the themes, requests and non-traditional choices couples are opting for this year.
Weddings on Female First
2015 sees some inventive alternatives to a wedding photographer with drone cameras to capture pictures from new heights to achieve images that a photographer simply can't.
Small wearable cameras are being placed in bouquets to film footage from the bride's point of view too. Consequently, the bouquet is rarely thrown now, with only one reported sighting in 2014 from the hotel chain.
People are shying away from the traditional toast in favour of a video or personalised song for the newlyweds.
Some couples prefer to be in charge of what appears on social media, asking guests not to post picture without vetting them first. However others like guests to post pictures- the more the better- just as long as they use a hashtag to pull all the pictures together in Twitter and Instagram.
The fruit cake with marzipan has also become something of a bygone era as more brides and grooms are opting for cupcakes and cheeses to make their day unnique.
The top 10 wedding trends are:
- Drone photography and wearable camera footage
- Wedding Hashtags - #HappilyEverAfterJones #HarrisNewlyWeds
- 'Marrioke'- where a cameraman films reception guests miming to a song chosen by the bride and groom, then edits a montage video with everyone 'singing' the song
- Honesty Bars - raising money for the couples favourite charity
- The decline of brides throwing the bouquet
- Dogs being used as ring bearers
- Speeches delivered in unusual ways (Video content, Personalised Songs)
- Speeches by the maid of honour
- Alternative cakes (pork pie cakes, cakes made of cheese)
- Choreographed first dances
Rachel Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Meetings and Events at The Hotel Collection, says: "The overarching trend we are seeing is diversity. Couples are pushing the boundaries on traditions, and adapting them in a way that makes their day even more special. We are seeing an increasing number of unique requests across our hotels, for example we've hosted a pirate wedding and a punk wedding in the past year. Whether it is a traditional white wedding or a medieval marriage, everyone should feel like their dreams are brought to life on their wedding day!"
Get inspiration for your big day by following The Hotel Collection on Pinterest. Visit our website to book a wedding at one of The Hotel Collection properties, and for late availability packages, see our wedding offers.