Bridgerton-inspired dresses and mocktail menus: Here’s what’s in store for weddings in 2022
A movement of ‘eco-conscious’ and ‘money-savvy’ brides has led to an increase in rented bridal dresses
Lifestyle changes during the pandemic, an increased focus on sustainability and Netflix’s chart-topping period-drama Bridgerton will shape the weddings of the future, experts have predicted.
Following a year of lockdowns and restrictions on social gatherings, on 21 June, Prime Minister Boris Johnson finally lifted the limitation on the number of friends and family members that couples in England could invite to their weddings.
It was cause for celebration for both those hoping to get married and the wedding sector, with more than 132,000 couples reportedly postponing their weddings in 2020.
As plans for nuptials resume, wedding planning website Hitched has identified the biggest trends it expects to see in the coming year, including an increase in rented dresses, “sober curious” ceremonies and a slight change in preferred colour schemes.
“After 18 months of restrictions couples are sparing no expense as they plan an unforgettable wedding day to celebrate with their friends and family,” Sarah Allard, editor of Hitched says.
“Now that restrictions on weddings have fully lifted in England, and the rest of the UK will hopefully soon follow suit, it’s really exciting to look ahead at what trends we can expect to see over the next 12 months. With so many different ideas and options, the possibilities are endless when it comes to wedding planning,” she adds.
In May, Mr Johnson surprised the UK when he revealed that he had married his partner Carrie Symonds in an intimate ceremony at Westminster Cathedral. A picture of the smiling couple after the event showed the bride wearing a floral headpiece and an ivory tulle and silk gown.
But instead of forking out £2,870 for the tiered gown by Christos Costarellos, which featured floral appliques and latticework, Symonds chose to rent the dress for the occasion.
Recent studies have presented arguments both for and against the environmental consequences of renting on your big day. Researchers at the Ulm University in Germany and the University of Tokyo in Japan found that rental fashion could significantly lower the carbon footprint of our clothing, especially in the case of formal garments that are less likely to be reworn.
Separately, a study published in the journal, Environmental Research, concluded that hidden factors like delivery, packaging and dry cleaning of rental clothes could make them worse for the environment than buying new clothes.
According to Hitched, Symonds is the latest to join a movement of “money-savvy” and “eco-conscious” brides, with 14 per cent of people telling the website they would now consider hiring a dress for the occasion.
Agatha Kowalczyk, the owner of London-based wedding dress rental store The Bridal Gallery, told The Independent that she has seen a huge influx in the number of brides since restrictions were lifted in June.
“Hiring dresses is cheaper and much faster than buying a dress, and having to wait six months for it to be altered,” she says.
She thinks the sudden uptake may also be due to fears of a rise in coronavirus cases. “Many people have already rebooked their weddings three or four times, so they are very worried they may not get married before another lockdown happens,” she adds.
The next year may also see a decrease in the amount of alcohol being served at weddings. According to a survey of 4,400 adults in Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, carried out by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, the pandemic has had a significant impact on people’s attitudes towards self-care.
Of those surveyed, 65 per cent said they are more likely to consider their health in day-to-day decision making.
Similarly, Hitched predicts that consumers will choose to avoid or reduce their alcohol intake for personal or wellness reasons. Expect an increase in mocktail menus and alcohol-free beers at weddings across the UK next year, as 89 per cent of couples say they will be hosting guests who do not drink.
Another theme that has emerged in recent months and is expecting to continue into 2022 is the rise of the Bridgeton-themed wedding. A month after its release in December 2020, Netflix revealed that 82 million households had streamed the popular Regency-era romance series that follows the lives of London’s high society.
While eBay has reported a 205 per cent rise in searches for “puff-sleeved wedding dresses”, wedding planner LaToya Patel, the CEO and co-founder of wedding planning service SW Events, says the grandeur of Bridgerton is inspiring the types of venues people are choosing.
“We have seen more people wanting manor house style weddings. They want huge manor houses, with manicured grounds and lawns,” she tells The Independent.
Hitched also predicts that the pastel blue colour worn by the show’s female protagonist, Daphne Bridgerton, will make its way into wedding décor, while empire-waist wedding dresses and gloves could also become popular.
Patel says that ongoing restrictions on travel and the uncertainties attached to the UK’s traffic light system are also affecting the type of wedding people are choosing.
Couples who may ideally have opted for a destination wedding are now trying to recreate the feel of being abroad by adding a “staycation” to their plans.
“Where they want to be in the UK, they want to have their wedding events and then invite guests to stay overnight at a venue that has accommodation on sight,” she explains.
“Rather than a hotel suite, they are looking for more self-contained venues so they can essentially feel like they are on a destination wedding, but at home,” she adds.
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