3 Southern Wedding Traditions
Now that the holidays and Valentine’s Day are over, it means that the engagement season is winding down. It also means that newly engaged couples in the Triangle are beginning to think about planning their wedding day and wondering what they will do to make it special.
Some of the 2020 wedding trends include:
Personalization – Couples are looking for ways to make their wedding day an authentic representation of who they are. This can be: paying homage to their cultures, adopting a completely plant-based menu, serving a signature cocktail, including pets, and (of course!) establishing a wedding day hashtag.
Environmental Consciousness – Limiting the carbon print by using sustainable products and hiring only green certified vendors is increasingly an added consideration.
Post-Reception Snacks – After partying all night, guests have worked up an appetite and appreciate a pick-me-up before heading home. More and more, the food provisions extend beyond dessert and now include midnight snacks. They can be as simple as warm cookies and specialty coffees to the couple’s favorite food truck.
Quite possibly these 2020 wedding trends will fade. However, they just might become wedding traditions for generations to come.
Three of my favorite traditions that are typically found in Southern weddings are:
Bridal Portraits – Historically, bridal portraits were oil paintings of European royal families’ brides. It’s not known when it became an American Southern wedding custom; but, it’s one that I love. It’s an irreplaceable keepsake; and, on her wedding day, every bride is regal.
Groom’s Cakes – To be perfectly honest, the bride is the center of attention. However, the groom deserves some love, too, and the groom’s cake does just that. It typically highlights the groom’s personality or favorite hobby; and, while it used to be shared with just the wedding party, it’s now offered to all attendees.
Burying a Bottle of Bourbon – The warm weather season is a bit longer in the South; and, as such, there are more opportunities for outdoor weddings. This tradition is supposed to ward off bad weather. According to folklore, exactly one month before the big day, the couple should bury an upside-down, unopened bottle of bourdon exactly where the ceremony will take place and this will ensure perfect weather. I’ve not found any statistics to confirm that this actually guarantees sunshine; but, the rest of the tradition is to dig up the bottle shortly after the ceremony and enjoy the libations. So, even if it doesn’t work, it’s not a bad idea.
There are so many customs and wedding trends and couples can become a bit overwhelmed. My suggestion is to adopt those that hold a personal meaning and forego the others when planning your wedding.
It’s really those meaningful, special touches that will make the day amazing. If you have any additional questions, I would be honored to answer them. Please feel free to contact me with your wedding planning questions!