Apparently, I’m not as “untraditional” in my wedding planning as I’d Thought
Written by Devin Lacy
Nobody really warns you about how quickly the time between getting engaged and getting married passes. My fiancé proposed in July of 2021 at a u-pick flower field in Pennsylvania. I was about to start the last year of my master’s program, and, despite everything we had going on at the time, I was sure a year would be more than enough time to get things planned.
Wow, was I wrong.
Now that I’ve blinked, we’re about 2 months out from our October wedding, and we are scrambling to finalize the last few details. To share our woes and triumphs, I’m going to bring you along as I get closer and closer to saying “I do.” I’ll share monthly updates on what we’re working on, some reasoning behind our decisions, and tips for your own big day.
This month of wedding planning has seen us finalizing the smaller details of the day—it’s amazing how much you feel like you have done when there is still so much to do! But we’ll get through it one Amazon order and several stressed phone calls at a time, right?
We’ve been taking some time to consider the ceremony in finer detail, and we’ve found some more traditional wedding elements sneaking their way in. Shocking, I know, to anyone who has read my previous posts on all the ways we’re altering tradition.
In honor of being so close yet to so far from my nuptials, I’m flipping the script this month to take a look at some of the typical wedding traditions we plan on keeping, to satiate any curiosity on the matter.
“First” Looks
It’s recently become quite the common practice to do a private “First Look” between the bride and groom before the ceremony begins, allowing the couple a peaceful moment together. My fiancé and I talked about doing this, but ultimately decided to spend the morning apart and save it for the big reveal itself. It’s an emotional moment, seeing the person you love for the first time on such a day of heightened emotions. However, it’s also a big moment for all those loved ones who have gathered together to support you. We want to be vulnerable and share that moment with them.
Giving Them Away
While the meaning behind “giving away the bride” has changed drastically over the years, many couples choose to opt out of or alter the tradition. It’s one that holds much sentiment as a symbol of transitioning from your family of origin into the new one you are making with your partner, backed by the support of your loved ones and represented—typically, though not always—by the presence of your father. The moment is something I look forward to sharing with my own dad, having his steady arm to cling to as I move into a new chapter of life.
Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue
The tradition of the bride carrying something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue dates far back in wedding history and is highly popular. With less than two months to go, I have already collected my items—two gorgeous handkerchiefs, a new pair of my favorite shoes, and a necklace. This has to be one of my favorite traditions and is a sweet, simple way to incorporate small mementos from our lives into the day.
Traditions can change and grow with time, becoming very different from what they were when they began. While we don’t have to forget their origins completely, I think it’s important to consider their modern meanings as well when choosing what to include. Think about what elements are important to you and your partner and ask “Why?” Dig deep. The answer may surprise you!