Wedding Ideas: Things We Need to Stop Doing

High wedding season is in its last month, which means I’m processing all the trends I’ve seen thus far this summer. Some things – like desert bars, less-formal portraiture, and non-strapless gowns – look like they have some real staying-power and could be new wedding staples.

At the same time, there are some elements that are due for some updates and revisions. And some that, in the humble opinion of this wedding lover, we need to just stop doing.

Boutonniere vs. Pocket square

The bride’s bouquet is an important decorative piece of her ensemble. While veils and even white gowns have become optional, the bouquet remains a main identifier of the woman about to be married.

Can the same said really be same of the groom and his boutonniere? I don’t think so. Part of me wonders how much more masculine and chic the groom and his attendants would look without boutonnieres. Maybe pocket squares instead, at the most. Maybe what I dislike is the fact that the vast majority of suit jackets don’t have working button holes in which to put the boutonnieres. This is how boutonnieres are designed to be worn:

from artofmanliness.com

from artofmanliness.com

Instead, they men just pin them to their lapels. The result is somewhat clunky, and doesn’t do much to enhance the suit or the man wearing it.

Tall centerpieces

The purpose of these super-tall centerpieces is so that guests can actually see each other across the table during dinner. But they have become so standard, so commonplace now, that no combination of flowers can look really fresh.

from michelleragoltd.com

They also can be really, really pricey, because they look best when very full. Spray-time florals (like orchid varieties) just make it look like there’s some kind of firework exploding from the table. I’m all in favor of returning to lower, somewhat smaller arrangements. After all… you won’t need tons of flowers if you have other embellishments, such as colored table clothes and not-white dish-ware.

“Ghost Dress” photos

This just… baffles me. Yes, by all means, let’s get photos of the gown before the bride has put it on. But hanging it from light fixtures, windows, and tree branches often doesn’t make a very flattering photo.

Is it a ghost? Hanging it like that doesn’t show off the shape, or any of the detail… why not change it up a little and have your photographer take his inspiration from these:

Laura Ashbrooke photography

“Distance” Photography

What am I not getting, here? Why is it a trend – mostly in engagement photos, but also in some wedding examples, too – that couples have enough space between them for a third person? Are you not in love? Was this a socio-economically beneficial match, yet lacking in sparks? Am I just not up to date on modern photography and the accompanying aesthetic?

Courtesy of Selah Photography

from photolux.blogspot.com

What do you think? What are some trends or staples that you would revise?