Drones, Hashtags, ‘Marrioke’ and the Death of Throwing the Bouquet
As wedding season gets into full swing, Rachel Hamilton-Shaw, who oversees over 600 weddings a year for hotel group The Hotel Collection, has revealed the top modern weddings in 2015*. A wedding is now seen as a statement of who you are as a couple - with this comes unusual requests, unique themes and a move away from tradition.
2015 could be the year where ‘Dronies’ usurp ‘Selfies’. Wedding photography is being taken to a whole new level as couples are finding new ways to document their big day from unique angles. Drone cameras are increasingly capturing footage from dizzying heights relaying stunning aerial images from angles that no other photographer can get.
Small wearable cameras, such as the popular Go Pro are also starting to turn up in unusual places such as floral bouquets to capture point-of-view footage.
Whilst new uses for the floral bouquet emerge, older traditions seem to be in decline. The medieval custom of the bride throwing their bouquet towards eagerly awaiting single guests has fallen significantly, with only one reported sighting throughout the hotel chain in 2014.
Gone are the days of the traditional toast too. In this digital age people are increasingly creating video content and even personalised songs to celebrate the happy couple.
Whilst there are some couples who request that their guests go offline at their wedding. More and more, there are those who are making tying the knot into a social extravaganza and are being particularly strategic about capturing it . The rise of the wedding hashtag and importantly - crafting the right one - is proving an essential ingredient to ensuring that guests use one phrase to roundup their day on social media such as Instagram and Twitter.
The tradition of the wedding cake has also taken a turn for the more unusual as people shun fruit cake and marzipan. Last year towers of cupcakes and stacks of cheese were extremely popular but this year we have seen even more unusual creations such as one couple who had a tower of pork pies!
The top 10 wedding trends for 2015 are:
· Drone photography and wearable camera footage · Wedding Hashtags - #HappilyEverAfterJones #HarrisNewlyWeds · ‘Marrioke’– where a cameraman films reception guests miming to a song chosen by the bride and groom, then edits a montage video with everyone ‘singing’ the song · Honesty Bars - raising money for the couples favourite charity · The decline of brides throwing the bouquet · Dogs being used as ring bearers · Speeches delivered in unusual ways (Video content, Personalised Songs) · Speeches by the maid of honour · Alternative cakes (pork pie cakes, cakes made of cheese) · Choreographed first dances
Rachel Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Meetings and Events at The Hotel Collection, says: “The overarching trend we are seeing is diversity. Couples are pushing the boundaries on traditions, and adapting them in a way that makes their day even more special. We are seeing an increasing number of unique requests across our hotels, for example we’ve hosted a pirate wedding and a punk wedding in the past year. Whether it is a traditional white wedding or a medieval marriage, everyone should feel like their dreams are brought to life on their wedding day!”
The Hotel Collection has 20 unique and romantic venues across the UK with beautiful function rooms in stunning settings and offers a dedicated event coordinator who provides all the necessary services to ensure the day runs smoothly. From venue hire and catering to all-inclusive packages, the team works hard to ensure the happy couple have their dream day turned into a reality.
Get inspiration for your big day by following The Hotel Collection on Pinterest. Visit our website book a wedding at one of The Hotel Collection properties, and for late availability packages, see our wedding offers.
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