By Livy Beaner // SWNS
NEWS COPY W/ VIDEO + INFOGRAPHIC
According to a new poll, two-thirds of Americans agree that planning a wedding today is more difficult today than it was for previous generations.
A poll of 2,000 people who’ve either recently planned or attended a wedding revealed that the majority (42%) need between six months and a year to plan their wedding.
While only one in five (20%) believe they could do so in less than six months, and 23% need more than a year.
Compared to other generations, the majority (41%) of millennials need between six months and a year and 17% would need one to two years.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Minted, the survey aimed to uncover how today’s weddings mix modern trends with traditional customs, and to see what wedding customs are getting relegated to the past.
One in five believe the practice of the bride wearing a white dress is officially a dated tradition.
Another almost one in five (19%) polled think that mother-son and father-daughter dances are an outdated tradition, with 19% of millennials agreeing.
A quarter of people think that the trend of the bride not being seen before the ceremony is now old-fashioned.
About one in four (23%) believe that the modern tradition of having more than one Maid of Honor or Best Man is here to stay.
And one in five (20%) feel that non-gendered wedding parties are the future.
“More and more we are seeing that couples are prioritizing a celebration that is truly authentic to them and rooted in what they find important. Inclusivity and acceptance have taken center stage. While many couples still honor traditions of the past, they are also incorporating new customs with personal meaning,” said a Minted Weddings spokesperson.
The survey also showed that the perfect number of wedding guests for this summer’s gatherings is exactly 115.
And choosing those guests is no easy task as more than a quarter (28%) say that creating the guest list is one of the biggest obstacles.
According to those surveyed, keeping guests entertained is the top challenge of planning a wedding (30%).
Almost three in 10 (28%) feel that pleasing all family members is another dilemma when planning a wedding, with 43% fearing that some members of their family would be upset if they didn’t have a traditional celebration.
Respondents were divided over whether they’d have a more traditional (21%) or more modern wedding (21%), but were most likely to mix both elements (43%).
Overall, modern couples still seek traditional customs: 23% believe a flower bouquet will never be outdated, more so than seated dinners (18%), and a slow dance for the first song (21%).
In the end, the majority (64%) of people agree that their wedding should be as unique as their union.
“We’re seeing that today’s couple combines modernity with tradition for a unique take that is completely their own. Design is often a main point of self-expression and serves as an avenue to authentically express their love,” said a spokesperson for Minted Weddings
MOST CHALLENGING PARTS OF PLANNING A WEDDING TODAY
Paying for it – 35%
Making sure everyone enjoys themselves – 30%
Ensuring COVID-19 safety – 30%
Choosing the groomsmen and bridal party members – 29%
Enjoying the day myself – 28%
Pleasing all family members – 28%
Creating a Guest List – 28%
Wedding Traditions
What’s In
Small weddings/elopement – 29%
Wedding Websites – 28%
Bright, vibrant colors – 25%
Proposal videos – 25%
Alternative rings – 25%
Non-white Wedding Gown – 24%
More than One Maid of Honor / Best Man – 23%
Non-Gendered Wedding Parties – 20%
What’s Out
Bride Can’t Be Seen Before the Wedding – 25%
Bride’s Parents Paying for the Wedding – 24%
Bride and Groom’s Guests Sit Separately – 24%
Walking down the aisle to “Here Comes the Bride” – 22%
Bride and Groom’s Guests Sit Separately – 24%
Something old, new, borrowed, and blue – 22%
Bible or Religious readings during the ceremony – 22%
White Wedding Dress – 19%