Wedding Etiquette in an ever-changing culture

If you're looking to be up on the recent wedding trends or just wanting to try something different for your own wedding, here's a brief but useful list of new trends that are being used today:

1. Writing personal wedding vows.

Many people today are opting out of using the traditional "With this ring, I thee wed" vows. It's becoming quite popular to write and recite personal vows that have to do with experiences that only the couple has had or oaths that are specific to their mate-to-be. These certainly don't go against standard wedding etiquette, but it isn't "traditional".

2. Destination weddings

Weddings that occur far away from home (and often in different countries) are increasing everyday. It's convenient for the bride and groom because they usually just honeymoon at the location of their wedding, but it's often less convenient for those attending. Because of this, destination weddings often have less attendees.

3. Changing color schemes

Traditionally, everything wedding was white- the outfits, flowers, invitations, announcements, wedding cakes, etc. Today, colors are "in" and are used frequently!

4. Walking the bride down the aisle

Typically it has been the father of the bride who walks his beautifully adorned daughter to the altar, but not so much anymore. It is now proper etiquette to even have the mother and father walk her down or to have her walk down by herself.

5. Honor Attendants

In weddings in the past, there would usually be a bride and groom, best man and maid (or matron) of honor and then the rest of the bridal party. Today, there are sometimes two more people added to the wedding party. A special male friend will sometimes stand beside the bride as a "man of honor" and a special female friend will be next to the groom as a "best woman." This is something totally new to weddings today!

6. Tweet of Honor

There's a new position in the wedding party! It's trendy, it's social and it's brand new to the wedding scene. A tweet of honor essentially tweets the wedding to the guests that are unable to make it but would still like to participate. The "chief twitter" might also share well wishes and comments from other tweet-guests following the wedding. The tweet of honor needs to be proficient at using twitter and a good communicator in public.

There are many more wedding trends to stay up on, and the following books can help: