2020 was quite a year – a year that has hit the wedding industry quite hard! Many weddings were forced to either downsize, postpone, or completely cancel due to the ever-changing restrictions released throughout the year of 2020 here in Pennsylvania. Some weddings were even forced to downsize drastically or completely change venues with DAYS until their wedding day. Oof!
Personally, I had 21 weddings scheduled for 2020… and only 13 were actually able to happen. The rest either postponed to 2021, or cancelled entirely. For brides who are getting married this year who might be wondering what weddings look like now in the “Covid era,” I’d love to share what I’ve learned with you from the weddings I photographed over the last year!
1. Outdoor spaces are king.
As you probably could surmise… outdoor spaces have become king as of late, even here in the great state of Pennsylvania, where the weather is totally unpredictable! Outdoor ceremonies and outdoor receptions have increased (at least for my own weddings!) this year, and it has been SO MUCH FUN! There’s something about outdoor weddings that feel more fluid and more open. On a beautiful day, there’s more space for guests to walk around and spread out.
2. Pittsburgh cookie tables CAN still happen! (You know you were wondering about this one!!! ;) )
It’s true! The infamous Pittsburgh cookie table CAN still happen even in this day and age, when all might not be super comfortable sharing a giant table of cookies with 100 strangers/aquaintances… and I’ve seen it done successfully over the last year a few different ways!
A mix of cookies in different boxes or bags on the cookie table, so guests can take a box back to their table.
A plate of cookies per table (works well if households of people are seated together).
I’ve also seen individually wrapped cookies – this one might take extra time and effort, but still works!
3. Smaller, more intimate wedding days with fewer guests can be just as fun as big weddings.
Some of my favorite weddings 2020 were weddings with less than 25 guests! What’s great about these weddings is that everyone TRULY wants to be there, celebrating the couple – not that they don’t at a “normal” wedding, but there are always some people at larger weddings who might not know the bride or groom (or both!) well, and are mostly there for the food and the party. These smaller, more intimate weddings really foster a greater connection between the couple and their guests… plus, the bride & groom can really spend more time talking with each guest, instead of being stretched thin between a ton of people!
4. You might get more guests who RSVP with a “no.”
The majority of my couples have experienced an increase in guests RSVPing “no” to attend their wedding day, in opposed to past years of weddings. Another chunk of guests might only come for the ceremony, opposed to staying for both the ceremony and reception.
5. Backyard weddings might just be the best.
I hope the “backyard wedding trend” is here to stay! I’ve seen low-key backyard weddings, and elaborate back yard weddings this year, and ALL of them have been unique and so personal to the couple. There’s something special about getting married in your parents’ backyard next to the pool you grew up swimming in, or in a relative’s front yard that you’ve always adored. It adds that personal, unforgettable touch.
6. “Live” wedding broadcasts/streams might be here to stay.
A live stream of your wedding is certainly a great option for elderly guests who might feel safer watching your ceremony from the comfort of their own home or space. And, honestly? I think this is a GREAT idea! Almost every single wedding I photographed this year had a live stream to either a private Zoom group, or a Facebook group. Live streams are typically so easy to set up nowadays, that this might be a no brainer addition to wedding days moving forward! If you have a phone or access to a phone, you can live stream your wedding day!
7. Couples seem more… relaxed?
This was a surprising observation to me. I for sure thought that more couples would be stressed and anxious going into their wedding days… and while I’m sure there was stress and anxiety in the decision making phase (Should we postpone? How many people should we have? Who do we uninvited due to the state mandate?), couples ON their actual wedding days have been so much more relaxed! Most seem to be just thrilled to actually BE getting married and having any sort of wedding. Which leads me into my last point…
8. There has been a renewed focus on what really matters.
This one is my favorite. For all of the couples who have gotten married in 2020 and 2021, most of them have just been excited to BE married. Is it a bummer to not have the wedding you’ve dreamed of/planned for over the last year and half? Absolutely. It is SUCH a bummer. And I would never want to downplay the disappointment that I know so many couples are experiencing this year. But, simultaneously, I am so excited to see couples focusing more on the pending marriage. That has been a true joy to see and experience!
If you’ve been to a wedding in 2020 or early 2021, what have you experienced? Are there any great ideas you’ve seen put into practice that couples might be able to benefit from moving into 2021?
