Whether we like them or not, weddings remain one of the most thriving businesses ever. There are many ways to organise the celebration, with rituals and traditions changing depending on the area, but as in any industry, there are also growing trends in the field of ceremonies.
Weddings today: less pomp (and less food)
It has been a long time since those tall wedding cakes, doves released in the air, midnight plates of spaghetti and endless dinners. Customs that - let's face it - are not so missed. But what characterises weddings of the new generations? Certainly, a greater attention to waste, a general tendency towards simplicity: heartfelt ceremonies - often the symbolic rite is preferred to the more formal one of the church or the town hall - less pomp, fewer frills. In short, weddings bring the focus back to the most authentic sense of the ceremony: affection at the centre, everything else is secondary. Food included: leaner menus, light proposals that allow guests to get to the cutting of the cake without too much effort. But there is much more: here are the major trends in modern weddings.
Modern wedding trends
Reinforced aperitif
A trend that is becoming popular among young couples in the United States, who prefer a nice buffet to the traditional dinner. A rich aperitif, with cold dishes and warm bites, abundant but less demanding than a conventional meal. But will we Italians ever give up the classic meal served at the table?
Edible favours
Already in vogue for more than a decade, there continue to be many newlyweds who choose to present their guests with a gastronomic wedding favour. Among the most popular products are ceramic jars with extra virgin olive oil, jars of honey and liqueurs. But couples can also opt for gifting beer bottles with personalised labels, bags with seeds to plant on the balcony to create a small vegetable garden, brined olives or other types of preserves. For 'out-of-town' couples, a nice way to leave a sweet souvenir for their guests is to go in search of a speciality from their own country.
Cakesicles
They look like magnum ice-lollies, but are actually single-portion cakes on a stick. A fun idea for those who don't like the tradition of a wedding cake, allowing each guest to have their own 'slice' to eat while on the dance floor.
Local food
There is an increasing focus on sustainability and food. The locations preferred by newlyweds are now with in-house kitchens, even better if they are agriturismos or farms that also specialise in ceremonies. In short, with home-produced or zero-kilometre food, one celebrates with more taste and less guilt.
Donut wall
Literally, a wall of donuts. But American donuts are not just any donuts: with shiny icing and coloured sprinkles, filled with different creams and stacked on a white or wooden board, these delicacies will impress even the most cynical guest.
Food and wine trucks
Street food has also arrived at weddings. There are plenty of options to choose from, from pizza three wheel Vespas to regional or foreign proposals such as fried dumplings or hot dogs. There is no shortage of beverage trucks: even wine is on wheels, with dedicated vans for wine enthusiasts. Other original proposals in recent times are candyfloss stations or ice cream carts at the end of the evening.
Naked cakes
There are many wedding cake trends, but the naked cake is the cake of millennials par excellence. Layers of sponge cake alternating with light creams, usually Chantilly flavoured or enriched with fruit, nothing else: no icing, no decorations, each layer remains clearly visible, perhaps decorated with a few fresh flowers that echo the colours of the floral arrangements.
Sweet table
A colourful alternative to the classic Italian sugar coated almonds, or simply an extra pampering for guests. Of course, if there's a dessert buffet, it may be overkill, but it is certainly suitable for weddings with lots of children. What are we talking about? A table offering sweets arranged in an orderly and scenic manner: macaroons - often personalised with the initials of the bride and groom - marshmallows, pralines, lollipops and various decorated bonbons (abroad, Ferrero Rocher are very popular).
Collection of unsold food and doggy bags
In the case of weddings, the risk of food waste is always very high (remember, however, that professional caterers and more experienced venues know how to regulate quantities well according to the number of guests. In any case, it is better to consider this in advance), which is why many brides and grooms resort to associations that take care of recovering surpluses. At the end of the aperitif, volunteers collect the leftovers from the buffet and take them to the nearest soup kitchen. Another way to avoid waste is to organise a doggy bag station, perhaps by having beautiful customised boxes made (it is a wedding, after all...): it is better, however, to contact the venue first, because for food safety reasons this may not always be permitted.
Wine weddings
A trend that started in the United States but that has also successfully landed in Italy. Among the most evocative locations now in vogue are vineyards: after all, what could be more romantic than saying 'I do' surrounded by rows of vines? Even better: organising an all-wine themed wedding, from the seating chart to the final wedding favours.
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