Millennials themselves aren’t exactly known for upholding the conventions of previous generations, and over the years, their weddings have begun to reflect this. “Gone are the days of religious ceremonies, rice showers, and cans tied to cars,” wrote the authors of the Jean Dousset Wedding Traditions Survey,” with new research showing that these seemingly outdated symbols have been replaced by millennials with wedding traditions of their own, such as first looks and sparkler exits,
Researchers at the jewelry design company spoke to more than 1,800 newlyweds to learn about other wedding traditions that millennials are leaving behind, in addition to how much they typically spend, who foots the bill, and which (if any!) spouse chooses to change their last name. Here, we break down the results of the survey.
The most important one, though? 93 percent of respondents said their big day lived up to their expectations.
Traditions
The Most Popular
Even with the rise of trendy desserts like donut walls, macarons, and other sweet alternatives, wedding cakes aren’t going anywhere soon — more than 70 percent of millennial couples said they kept the tradition of a cake alive. The second-most-popular maintained tradition was a white wedding dress, followed by a flower girl and a first dance. Every other tradition was only implemented by less than half of the surveyed couples.
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The Least Popular
Receiving lines — a custom in which the bride, groom, and oftentimes their parents, greet every single guest before they enter the reception — are certainly old fashioned, so it makes sense that a mere 16 percent of couples opted to greet guests in this formal manner. Divided/assigned seating was the second-least-popular wedding tradition, just barely beating the age-old “shower of rice” that takes place as the couple leaves their reception. Roughly 30 percent of millennial couples also axed the garter toss and the mother-son dance (meanwhile, 40 percent still included a father-daughter dance).
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Additional Statistics
Parental Involvement
Getting permission from a partner’s parents before getting engaged is still important for many; Just two in five couples didn’t ask for a parent’s blessing.
The ‘rents aren’t as involved as they used to be with the rest of the planning process, though.
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“Wedding traditions aren’t the only thing millennials are saying goodbye to,” the study’s authors wrote. “Less than one in five millennial weddings are paid for by the bride’s family – instead, that cost is more often shouldered by the couples themselves.”
Paying the Bill
So how exactly are couples splitting the cost of their wedding? Evenly, per the survey. This even includes the wedding dress, which 1 in 4 couples funded together. Other costs split 50/50? The
As for the average amount couples spent on the entire wedding, the average cost came out to be $10,966.
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Religious Involvement
Tradition and religion go hand-in-hand, and like the former, the latter seems to be resonating with fewer and fewer couples nowadays. In fact, according to the survey, three in four millennial couples favored non-religious venues. On top of that, less than half of the surveyed couples even incorporated religious ceremonies into their big day.
Last Name Changes
The bride remains the spouse most likely to change her last name after getting married (and by a long shot!).
Trends
Wedding trends come and go, but they seem to resonate with many modern couples. The most popular? Throwing an afterparty.
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According to the study, “honeymoon funds are also growing in popularity.” One in five respondents said they asked guests to donate money in lieu of gifts.
Do you relate to any of these wedding planning trends? Let us know in the comments section below!
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