Bridal Reprisal

By Kristen Castillo

December 7, 2022 5 min read

What's old is new, or so the saying goes. Weddings are no different with trends coming and going. Nowadays, couples are incorporating many wedding traditions from the past. Bringing back these traditions can add a lot of fun to the big day.

"There are several wedding traditions that have fallen out of favor, but I would love to see some of them come back," says Ellie Durbin, founder and planner of The Aisle Assistant, a virtual wedding planning service.

Durbin is fond of the cake pull, a tradition where small charms tied to ribbons, representing different fortunes, are baked into the wedding cake. "During the reception each single woman or bridesmaid pulls a ribbon to reveal their fortune," she says, noting the tradition is particularly popular in Louisiana.

She also likes the idea of returning to the simpler time of a cake and punch reception.

"It used to be common for couples to keep things very simple and invite their guests for cake and punch at someone's home or at the church or temple following the ceremony," says Durbin. "Not only is this simple and sweet, but it's a huge money saver."

The tradition works well following an early afternoon ceremony, so that the reception is well before dinnertime. She says couples can elevate the idea by serving light snacks, such as pastries and tea sandwiches.

*"Something Borrowed, Something Blue"

Wedding photographer Tanya Volt of TanyaVoltWeddings.com says she's "seeing a big comeback" of the "something borrowed, something blue" tradition. The wedding website Brides says the full quote -- "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, a sixpence in your shoe" -- is a superstition rooted in England in the late 1800s. It's supposed to signify a lucky, fresh start for a bride when she marries.

There are a lot of different ways to meet the requirements of the tradition. You can even combine a few traditions into one. For example, your "something old" can also be "something borrowed," such as vintage jewelry from a loved one. It's probably easy to have "something new" such as your gown, shoes or flowers. Adding a touch of "something blue," meant to symbolize fidelity, can be as subtle as a blue ribbon sewn into the underside of your dress, holding blue flowers, wearing blue shoes or something else. When it comes to adding a sixpence to your shoe, these days a penny will do. And if you don't want to wear it in your shoe, Brides suggests adding it to the ring bearer's pillow.

*Vintage Cars

Back in the day, couples exited the ceremony or reception in a decked out old car with a "Just Married" sign in the window with tin cans clanking from the bumper. Now, according to AutoSlash, the old trend of newlyweds driving away from the wedding in a hot ride is back, and renting a vintage car is easier than ever. They say you can rent a car from an exotic dealer in your area or a big-name option such as the Hertz Dream Car Collection. You can even rent a ride for your big day from a car sharing marketplace like Turo. Need a chauffeur? Some other sites like BookAClassic let you rent the car and hire the driver at the same time.

*Daytime Weddings

Saying "I do" during the day used to be popular, but over time, more couples chose evening nuptials. But Durbin says daytime weddings have a lot of appeal including being budget-friendly, especially since the bar tab is typically lower during the day.

"Couples can enjoy a romantic dinner alone that night or do a fabulous send-off and go straight to their honeymoon," she says.

*Cheers!

Volt is a fan of champagne tower pours, explaining, "It's cute, looks great, and then you have loads of champagne!"

Brides has spotted the champagne revival, too, and says couples can mix things up by having a martini tower. Texas Weddings, who says the trend is all about bringing back wedding glamour, advises letting the bartending or catering staff handle the pouring, since it can get messy and glasses can break.

Take lots of pictures with the champagne, and toast both your wedding and the start of your life together!

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