If you are in the process of planning a wedding, you are likely following the current "trends" - whether they be about style of dress, type of reception or floral bouquets. Since I work with people preparing for marriage, I like to follow these trends as well and have recently observed some interesting themes emerging.
Probably most notable is a scaling back of expenditures due to the current economy. There are lots of articles and advice for how to spend less on each aspect of your wedding. Then there's the "green" trend - how to be mindful of the environment and the "footprint" of your wedding on the earth. Further, I hear more about a more relaxed atmosphere at the wedding - from the joyous, celebratory entrance of the bride and groom that enthralled millions (and made us smile) on YouTube to the less formal, more casual and even downright silly wedding portraits.
Do these trends have anything in common? Are they reflecting some different ideas on the nature of weddings, of marriage and of life in general? I think the answer to these questions is yes and in our difficiult times, there maybe some reasons for optimism.
Prior to the economic downturn, there seemed to be an increasing trend of vast expenditures on weddings and of course among some, there remains a desire to have the most expensive or elaborate designer wedding gown, jewelry, etc. But many of us have been brought back to earth by the tougher times and it has forced us to review our values. We can have a wonderful wedding without going into massive debt; we can pay attention to the environment and feel good about it while enjoying our celebrations; and we can focus on more fully enjoying our present rather than obsess about the perfection in photographs and details.
And as we tune in to these values, we more readily recognize the importance of our relationships with others and the marriage itself. I've noted recently that couples in pre-marital counseling (http://www.smoothrelations.com) seem to be more aware of their values and how their wedding is a reflection of that. I'm also hearing a little less of a singular focus on the wedding and more interest in creating an environment for a satisfying and long-lasting marriage. These are trends I can get excited about.
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