There has been a dramatic shift in terms of wedding traditions and trends in recent years. In fact, 55% fewer couples have had church weddings in the last five years than 40+ years ago, according to new research from jewellery insurance provider Protect Your Bubble.
The research also revealed a sharp decline in the number of couples expecting the brides’ parents to cough up for the cost of the wedding and those choosing to live separately until their wedding day, which were down 68% and 78% respectively over the same period.
However, some traditions that had previously waned in popularity in recent decades appear to be making a comeback.
Church weddings have dropped but other traditions are on the rise
The tossing of the bridal bouquet has risen in popularity in the last few years, with 94% more couples opting to fling the flowers in the last five years than five to 10 years ago. During the same period, 71% more couples chose to follow the tradition of the bride being given away by her father, while brides opting to wear white rose by 13%.
Other traditions that appear to be on the rise include the groom not seeing the bride on the day of the wedding (up 41%) and the bride wearing a veil (up 12%), while the number of couples incorporating “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” into their wedding saw a slight uplift of 6%.
The trends around rings appear to be changing over time, too. Demand for diamond engagement rings had been in decline for a number of decades, but in the last five years 145% more couples opted for diamond engagement rings than five to 10 years.
Interest in gold and platinum rings – a stereotypical staple for wedding bands – had also dwindled in recent years, but the number of couples opting for bands made of these metals rose 61% over the same period.
James Brown, director at gadget insurance provider Protect Your Bubble, says: “Although you might expect to see couples turning away from wedding traditions as time gone on, our research actually shows that a significant number of seemingly old-fashioned rituals are bouncing back in popularity.
“While demand for diamond engagement rings rose dramatically following a marketing campaign launched by De Beers in 1938, diamonds had since seen a downturn in interest amongst couples. In the last five years, however, this trend reversed, which just goes to show how cyclical wedding rituals can be.
“Regardless of the stone or metal, engagement and wedding rings are bound to hold significant sentimental value. To prevent potential upset should anything happen to either yours or your partner’s rings, you should take out a comprehensive insurance plan protecting from theft, loss and damage.”
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