Very few days in one’s life are as exciting as their wedding day. For most, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime day that can they never forget in their whole lifetime. In essence, it is a celebration of love and union, and everything from the table setting to the bridal heels is planned to its last detail. However, for ages, countless other aspects have been associated with the tradition of marriage. In olden times, when survival was tougher, marriage was used as a tool to solidify inter-clan relations. This would strengthen those two clans as well as ensure their survival in hard times. Beneath this, however, the idea of romantic love has always been associated with marriage. From Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth to Romeo and Juliet, love and marriage have been synonymous in past.

In modern times, the political nature of the institution of marriage emerged. With same-sex marriages being legalized in quite a few countries, terms like ‘marriage’ and ‘wedding’ are being redefined. With them, traditions are being redefined as well. As marriage is extremely important in a lot of cultures all over the globe, there are many traditions associated with the act of getting married. However, traditions rarely age well. Thus, a lot of traditional practices tend to evolve with the times. In this article, we will cover some modern twists on old wedding traditions that are prevalent in various cultures. But before that, we have to know more about traditions at weddings. And we’ll be looking at a whole lot of gorgeous examples.  

Traditions in Weddings

Most of what we see in any cultural event are traditions that have evolved. From the bride’s bouquet to the classic “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue”, we are usually surrounded by traditions at weddings. Traditions are often linked to the material conditions and contexts of a particular time. However past and future don't have to have strained relations. More and more couples are finding ways to mix their pasts with their future. While some traditions have overstayed their time, others are nowadays being adapted and used by modern couples in their specific ways. Modern lovers still want to acknowledge the past but they want to add their narrative to their story. This is why we are seeing more couples adding modern twists to the traditional wedding norms, bringing forth an agreeable collaboration that is delightful to witness. Some traditions are still useful and add a quaint charm to your special day. Today, however, we have added modern twists on old wedding traditions that keep them all the more relevant and fun. 

Modern Twists that on Old Wedding Traditions

Listed below are some modern twists on old wedding traditions from around the world:

Splitting the bill
Who bears the financial brunt of the wedding ceremony usually depends upon the cultural context. For instance, in most countries, it is usually the bride’s family that takes care of the bill. However, that is changing, as no one wants to put one family in a vulnerable position. These days, the wedding is often financed by both sides. Modern couples prefer to pay for their wedding together. Everyone is equal in today’s time, and that shows in the wedding traditions as well. The bridegroom’s family paying for the wedding was the norm during arranged marriages in the past. Moreover, it completely depended on the cultural circumstances (mostly the class of the two families). 

The white dress
Since Queen Victoria first introduced women to the white wedding gown, it has become the standard wedding gown color for brides all over the world. Many brides choose a wild and bold-colored alternative to the traditional white on occasion. This is a lot easier these days. Every year, many designers release wedding gowns in gentle, understated tones that don't stray too far from white. With a modest dose of color, you may now easily add a touch of flair to your wedding ensemble. For a different look, try light pinks, blush, blues, or even muted greys. You may avoid using a hue that is too bright for a bride this way. If you're a bride who has to wear white on your wedding day, there are still plenty of ways to shine in your unique way. There are many distinct types of bridal outfits that aren't wedding gowns or are wedding dress alternatives. There are a variety of small white gowns to pick from, as well as bridal pantsuits, which are popular right now.

Gift giving
The practice of gift-giving and gift-receiving is as old as the institution of marriage itself. In ancient times, the system of dowry was prevalent in almost every culture. This practice involved a disadvantaged family gifting some of their wealth to the other family on the wedding day. In certain cultures, the recipient family was usually that of the groom. It didn’t matter much though, as, in every culture, it put one family at a disadvantageous position. That is not to say it wasn’t of any utility during ancient times. This system could also be used to the benefit of both families. For instance, in some cases, the powerful family usually gave dowry to the poor one. 

Today, both the families gift each other out of goodwill. Getting gifts from guests is another norm. This helps the families cover some of the cost of the wedding. Gifting is one tradition that will never go out of fashion. However, one way you can modernize it is by amping up the creativity behind gifts. For instance, you can gift your husband something more emotional such as your artwork. Moreover, more and more families are going the “no gift” route, and are rather interested in their guests funding a charity they care about, or their honeymoon trip.

Replacing cake-cutting
The custom of breaking a loaf of bread over the bride's head to represent fertility can also be traced back to ancient Rome. Guests would sweep up the leftover crumbles for good luck as the newlyweds shared a few nibbles. The bride and husband in medieval England had to try to kiss over a pile of tiered spiced buns, scones, and cookies—a predecessor to today's tiered wedding cakes—supposedly ensuring a rich future if they could do so without tumbling the whole thing over. The wedding cake has come a long way in recent years, but it is still quite popular. But more and more couples are going for wedding cake alternatives. One such delicious twist is opting for ice-cream cakes instead of the normal vanilla. These cakes may not work well for weddings in hot climates. However, if kept in the right condition, these cakes can increase the appetite of your guests very well. You can also not opt for a cake entirely. Go for a donut cake, cookie cake, or cut something else like a brownie or an apple pie. The possibilities are endless and the sky’s the limit. 

Saving parts of your cake
The top tier of the wedding cake was traditionally retained and kept frozen so that the bridal couple may enjoy it again at their prospective child's christening. Many people used to anticipate that the couple would have a kid within a year, so they would save money by conserving the wedding cake and not having to buy fresh dessert to mark the pregnancy or birth. Now, however, on their first anniversary, some couples choose to simply return to the bakery that prepared their wedding cake and get a cake with the same flavorings so that they can reminisce the moment.

Ditching the bouquet toss
The bouquet toss is one tradition that has got itself a bad rep from depictions in popular culture. It is meant to symbolize who will get it gets to marry next. The bride throws the flower bouquet behind her, and whoever catches it would be the next person to get married. That is the belief and it was a popular tradition that people looked forward to in the past. However, the popularity of the concept of marriage has dwindled over the years. And therefore, certain individuals have become touchy regarding the subject of marriage. Thus, even a tradition like this can be upsetting making their experience of a wedding negative. Thus, you should do away with this tradition for the sake of their sensibilities. If this tradition holds a special place in your family, ask your guests beforehand if they want to participate in it. If you have their consent, you’d have no problem having the bouquet tossed after the ceremonies. You can also consider throwing a bouquet of loose flowers so everyone gets a flower instead of just one person.

Twists on toasts
Toasts don’t always have to be about the bride and groom. They can be about the guests as well. To ensure that your guests feel like they’re being paid attention to, toasting them could be the solution. Focus on any guest who might be feeling especially left out. Maybe, a toast could make their night? Of course, a wedding day should be about the bride and groom. However, a wedding that is organized with the guests in mind is the one that succeeds. Such a wedding becomes a positive experience for everyone involved. Thus, you can make toasts to guests. Or, have them make toasts to each other. They can also make toasts to the bride and the groom. Having a space where anyone can speak at your wedding can be a really good idea to lighten up the atmosphere.

New interpretations of “Something Old”
One of the most famous American wedding traditions is – “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue”

The bride has to wear something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. The tradition itself isn’t that complex. However, most brides tend to go with traditional jewelry for the first three categories. However, you can take the more creative path with the interpretation. You can arrive in a blue car. Or you can borrow heels from your bridesmaid on the spot. You might want to carry a toy from childhood to have something old with you. The possibilities are many. Think of something very important to you and your significant other on an emotional level. For something new, you can wear something gifted by them.

The getaway vehicle
The getaway vehicle doesn’t have to be a flowery car. It is a tradition for the couple to leave in a vehicle after the wedding. This is prevalent in quite a few cultures. In some cultures, one family even gifts a car for this very purpose on the wedding night. Your getaway vehicle can be a flashy new motorcycle or even a bicycle. As the world is going greener, it might make a bold statement to have a bicycle as your getaway vehicle. You can even opt for walking back from the venue, provided that your hotel is nearby. On the other hand, if any of the family has an old motorcar tied emotionally to the family, they can have that as the getaway vehicle as well. 

The wedding vows
In the past, the wedding vows were the most sacred part of a wedding. They were pre-written and had to be taken very seriously. However, much has changed since those times. Today, weddings are not as religious as they were in the past. Thus, a lot of couples have added the modern twist of including personal elements in their wedding vows. Some couples prefer to write their vows. It can be emotional, funny, or reminiscent. Your words have the most power when it comes to expressing the feelings inside you. Writing your wedding vows provides just that. You can write a poem or a Haiku with everything that you want to say in it. Words written by your loved one surely hold more magic than anything else.

The veil
The custom of wearing a wedding veil traces back to ancient Rome, when a bride would walk down the aisle with a veil over her face to hide from any evil spirits out to ruin her big day. Spirits were a big deal back then! Wedding veils are now available in a variety of styles and lengths, and some choose to ditch the veil altogether to have more mobility and to do justice to their wedding look. 

Giving away the bride
This wedding ceremony custom stems back to a time when arranged marriages were common, and the bride's "giving away" denoted a transfer of ownership. Young women have been used as collateral and given up in exchange for a dowry or "bride price" back then. Thankfully, this ritual has evolved from its medieval origins and is now a loving, affirming moment for a father as he escorts his daughter down an aisle to meet the person she will marry. However, you can add your fun twist to the giving away the bride moment by having your mom do it instead of having both of your parents, or your sibling do it instead. It's an emotional moment so the person who holds value in your life must do it!

Tossing rice
At the end of the ceremony, rice is tossed to simulate rain, which is considered a sign of wealth, fertility, and good fortune. More lately, wedding meddlers have advised against flinging rice since it is said to cause harm to the unwary birds who swoop down and consume it after the crowd has dispersed. While rice tossing poses little immediate threat to birds, other materials such as bubbles or fireworks are more commonly used in the sendoff.

Garter toss
The origins of the garter toss custom can be traced back to England and France. Guests would try to get a piece of the bride's dress for good luck, making the woman apprehensive and tense during the ceremony, fearful that her clothing would be torn to shreds by the enthusiastic crowd of wedding guests. As the newlyweds made a hasty exit from the reception, the groom began flinging out a piece of the bride's bridal dress to distract the visitors and calm the bride's nerves. For more reasons than one, garter toss is being skipped by many modern couples. Not only does it feel a little inappropriate, but it is also a wedding tradition that can make the bride or the guests a little uncomfortable in contrary. If the garter toss isn’t your cup of tea, you can throw the boutonniere instead. 

Modern guestbooks
Guestbooks have evolved into something other than what they were originally intended to be: books. Nowadays, many couples opt for something that may be displayed more prominently in their houses, such as a custom-made sign on which guests can write notes or an empty custom wine bottle filled with messages from the guests. A minimalistic painting that links to the couple that visitors may write on using metallic, permanent markers, or perhaps a photo of the two printed on a canvas, is another unusual guest book idea to explore.

Matching bridesmaid dresses
Matching bridesmaid dresses could be a little out of style these days, but matching attire was a typical wedding practice in Roman times. People used to believe that malevolent spirits would show up during the wedding to curse the bride and husband. Bridesmaids posed as decoys and dressed similarly to the bride to confuse the spirits. The notion was that the spirits wouldn't know which one was the bride, so they'd leave her alone and let the pair marry. You can achieve a coordinating theme without feeling stiff by having your bridesmaids wear the same color but different outfits. To create a coherent but more intriguing image, members of the wedding party can wear matching accessories instead of clothing.

All in all, weddings are a personal affair. You get to do what you want, which means you get to cherry-pick the rituals and traditions that you do want to keep and do away with the ones which don't align with your lifestyle and beliefs. Love the concept of “something borrowed”, but no a big fan of veils. Do you, girl! After all, it's your special day, and it's your love story. It is your memory that you will be looking back on for decades. Almost every wedding tradition can be modernized by just adding a small twist to it. You only have to get creative. Moreover, you should have the courage to add your personal flavor to norms and traditions prevalent in society. Love is free, there is no reason your dream wedding day should be anything less!