Celebrate Your Love with an Australian Wedding: Modern vs Traditional Wedding Planning
While a union between two people is always beautiful, the little differences that make it uniquely yours are what make it truly special. Every culture has its own wedding traditions. Tea ceremonies are common in Asian cultures, while Mexican weddings often involve a rope or lasso draped around the shoulders of the bride and groom.
But how about here in Australia? The cultural diversity of our country has resulted in the blending of both indigenous and traditional wedding traditions. And for some, they prefer more of a modern twist. Here at Photobook Australia we celebrate both and there’s no other exciting way than to do it the personalised way with our one-stop wedding shop for all things wedding!
The wedding invites
Then: Sending out physical wedding card invitations was the norm back then. Some would create wedding card templates from sophisticated to simple designs and have it sent out months in advance.
Now: Wedding guests are now sending their RSVPs online. Australian couples are opting for digital wedding invitations via WhatsApp, Telegram and Messenger. Saves them a lot of time and money but there’s still some who keep it traditional with physical wedding invites.
The wedding dress
Then: The traditional white wedding gown continues to be a favourite. It’s hard to beat the iconic image of a bride walking down the aisle in a white wedding dress, whether it’s champagne, off-white, ivory or something similar.
Now: Now, brides aren’t afraid to experiment with colours. There are a variety of colours available in wedding dresses nowadays, from blue and grey to pink and rose.
The walk down the aisle
Then: The father of the bride or the eldest male in the bride’s family always walks the bride down the aisle.
Now: Even though most Western countries practise only having the father walk the bride down the aisle, in modern-day Australia, both parents have the privilege to do so. And not everyone has a father or, necessarily, has a good relationship with them, so a bride can have anyone walk her down the aisle, from her sister to uncle, brother, aunt, etc.
The wedding cake
Then: For the love of lamingtons! Who doesn’t love the taste of vanilla cake covered in chocolate and sprinkled with coconut flakes. It’s very much a traditional Australian favourite.
Now: Modern Australian wedding receptions still incorporate lamingtons in their wedding menu. But most would opt for a classic white wedding cake or other flavours like chocolate or red velvet.
The wedding gifts
Then: In the past, wedding gifts were always physical presents, usually aimed at helping the newlyweds set up home. Cash was absolutely a no-no and asking for cash was frowned upon even more so!
Now: Many Aussie couples now request cash that can be put towards something they truly want or need, such as a honeymoon – or, even, a house deposit. Guests also enjoy making personalised wedding gifts for a more personal touch to their gift-giving.
The wedding photos
Then: Traditionally, wedding couples would hire professional wedding photographers and get their wedding photos printed or make their own wedding album.
Now: Everything is up on social media! Couples are creating their own wedding #hashtag so their wedding guests can share all the photos they’ve snapped on their mobile phones via social media. Some would even include some photo props and selfie frames for the occasion.
The wedding favours & bomboniere
Then: A bomboniere is a small gift or known as a wedding favour given to the wedding guests attending the wedding ceremony or reception. Traditionally, Aussie couples would give away honey jars to sweet jam and candies.
Now: These days, more couples want their wedding favours to be unique, creative, and useful. From personal name cards to thank you gifts, personalised wedding favours are perfect as a little token of thanks to their guests.
Other ceremonies
Then: Traditional Australian weddings would try to incorporate traditional ceremonies like The Water Stone ceremony or a Wedding Smoking ceremony. The Water Stone ceremony involves each wedding guest making a wish for the bride and groom before throwing a stone into a large pool of water. A Wedding Smoking Ceremony involves plants and herbs being burnt, and the smoke is fanned onto the wedding couple as a way to ward off evil spirits.
Now: Modern couples don’t practise traditional wedding ceremonies anymore but lean towards a simple prayer with their guests at the beginning of their wedding.
Wedding entertainment
Then: When you hear the sound of Didgeridoo music, you can be positive that an Aussie wedding is in session. The sounds of Australia being played by this aboriginal instrument made of eucalyptus wood produces a deep sound, making the wedding reception’s atmosphere truly special.
Now: Modern weddings are now opting for wedding DJs, comedians and live bands catering to audiences of all ages and music preferences.
Despite all these wedding traditions, in this modern day and age, more and more Aussie couples are deciding to tailor every last bit of their wedding day to their own personal taste. Especially now that multicultural weddings are quite common and same-sex marriage has been legalised, Aussies are putting their own twist on this special event.
If you’re opting for a more personalised approach, here at Photobook Australia, we are offering the best deals on Wedding Gifts, Wedding Decorations, Wedding Stationery and more, perfect for both a traditional, modern and personalised Australian wedding.