Your Guide to the Most Popular Types of Weddings
Photographer: Miya Jones Photography
You’re probably familiar with the traditional weddings, the elopements and the destination weddings - but did you know there are several more types of weddings to choose from? While traditional weddings are still very popular (as well as elopements and destination weddings), these four other wedding types are rising in popularity.
Before getting into the seven wedding types, just a note that these are recommendations and your wedding is an extension of you and your partner. Use these as a starting point to begin your wedding planning journey and create your perfect wedding day.
Traditional Weddings
The most common and popular type of wedding, a traditional wedding is a single-day celebration rooted in tradition. While traditions vary (depending on religion and culture), the typical format is: ceremony followed by cocktail hour and ending with a reception.
The ceremony is traditionally at a church, temple, or mosque (but doesn’t have to be!) and includes vow exchanges surrounded by between 150 and 200 guests. Post-first kiss, the couple takes pictures with their wedding party while guests enjoy cocktail hour. Then, everyone gathers for a reception filled with dances, dinner, and desserts. Attire is customarily black-tie (aka floor-length gowns and tuxedos) while the bride is in a white dress & the groom is in a tuxedo.
A traditional wedding is great for couples who are motivated by cultural or religious beliefs.
Destination Weddings
Often associated with flying to some remote, exotic location, destination weddings are actually weddings that take place somewhere other than where you reside. Meaning a destination wedding can be a villa in Tuscany or an 18-acre estate in Florida.
Destination weddings often follow a similar cadence to traditional weddings but since many guests are traveling to the location, couples tend to make it into a full wedding of activities - such as a rehearsal dinner day one, welcome party on day two, ceremony & reception on day three, and brunch on day four. And because guests have to pay for travel and accommodations, destination weddings are typically smaller than traditional weddings. As for attire, destination weddings are often more casual than traditional weddings.
A destination wedding is perfect for couples who love to travel or share a significant location such as a significant trip or engagement spot. Pro tip: make sure to schedule at least one in-person site visit prior to your wedding to make sure everything is on track!
Wedding Weekends
Though a similar format to destination weddings, wedding weekends can be thrown at a local venue, not just a faraway destination. A wedding weekend is defined by their duration and scope, which typically includes: a welcome dinner or rehearsal dinner, ceremony & reception, and post-wedding brunch. Other activities can be included, of course, depending on how long guests are in town. The guest list is usually smaller than a traditional wedding and the attire is more on the casual side, depending on the venue.
Wedding weekends are perfect for couples who love to entertain! Since you’ll be spending time with friends and family as well as planning multiple events, social butterflies will thrive having a wedding weekend! They do tend to be more in terms of budget, though, so be mindful if you have a strict budget or don’t want to spend a lot of money.
Small/Intimate Weddings
Like the name, small weddings are defined by their size. Small or intimate weddings traditionally have around 30-60 guests - often the couples closest friends and families. Micro weddings, a subset of small/intimate weddings, tend to be even smaller - around 30 people or less.
Small weddings are typically single-day celebrations either on a weekend or weekday and are shorter than traditional ceremonies/receptions. Couples will share vows at the ceremony, enjoy a dinner or light bites with guests, and sometimes include dancing. Small weddings allow for more venue flexibility since there is no worry of exceeding the guest limit.
Intimate or small weddings are great for introverts or couples with a limited budget. However, because your guest list is smaller, you can really focus on the micro-details and provide guests with a truly luxe experience. Pro tip: since small weddings have fewer guests, be strategic about your guest list as it could cause some drama in the long-run.
Elopements
Technically a small wedding, an elopement is slightly different as it traditionally includes only the couple and the officiant. Elopements are simple and allow the couple to focus only on their union. Couples tend to have their elopement at a significant location such as a special place, city or city hall. It usually begins with a ceremony followed by lunch or dinner and is quite casual in attire.
Elopements are perfect for couples who are introverted AND spontaneous as elopements aren’t often planned events. Whether you’re super spontaneous, want to get married last minute, or not a big fan of the spotlight, an elopement is perfect for you!
While they are quite spontaneous, there is a bit of planning required - especially if you’re eloping at a destination - including your bouquet and vows. Additionally, you can host a bigger celebration post-elopement to celebrate with your friends and family.
Courthouse Weddings
You may think courthouse weddings and elopements are the same, but a courthouse wedding is not always an elopement. In a courthouse wedding, couples legally marry each other during a (nonreligious) ceremony at city hall by a judge, justice of peace, or notary.
Post “I do”, newlyweds sometimes take photos and throw a reception with their friends and family. And since it’s not a traditional wedding, the attire can be anything you want!
Courthouse weddings don’t typically involve a lot of planning and are also quick and efficient, perfect for busy couples. Pro-tip: hire a photographer! Even though there aren’t a lot of moving parts, you’ll want to capture your big day.
Themed Weddings
While any of the above wedding types can be themed, themed weddings are a unique subset of weddings that provide you and your guests a truly unique experience. Focusing on a specific aesthetic, themed weddings can be anything from Halloween-themed, carnival-themed, or even Harry Potter-themed!
Most will follow the traditional wedding timeline but will vary in location, attire, and activities. An enchanted forest wedding, for example, will traditionally take place at a forest-like venue with ethereal attire and decor with a family-style meal with guests.
Themed weddings are great for those who love to be unique, love a specific genre, decade, or pop culture event, or who just love a theme! Couples who have themed weddings often go all-out to make sure every detail is curated and cohesive.
For a themed wedding, make sure it’s a theme that’s authentically you. Picking one just because it’s “trendy” will come off as inauthentic. Hiring a planner will certainly help with keeping all the details straight as well as provide guidance and support throughout the process.
We know this is a lot to take in but remember this is simply a starting point and can help you narrow down the type of wedding you and your partner want.