It’s that time of year when every wedding blog has a stab at predicting wedding trends for the next 12 months! I tend to take these articles with a pinch of salt. Often it’s just wedding suppliers being optimistic (how many said 2020 would be the year of the humongous wedding?!) But from the enquiries and bookings I’ve received so far, I thought I’d list a few of the trends I’ve noticed.
1. Small ensembles for small weddings
Everything in 2021 is still very much up in the air. But there may be guest number restrictions for a good while yet. This means 2021 is likely to be the year of the small, intimate wedding. Or ‘micro-wedding’ as industry folk like to call it!
A small guest list often means you can go smaller on other things, from the food and drink order to the size of the dancefloor. Ceremony and reception musicians are no exception. For weddings with less than 50 guests, I would always recommend a solo musician or a duo. A larger ensemble could be overpowering.
Great solo classical options for an intimate wedding are solo harp, solo cello or classical guitar. If you’d prefer a duo, you might choose a classical guitar and flute duo, or a string duo. A soloist will sound simple and elegant, whilst a duo will have a little more depth to the sound.
If you’re into jazz, a stunning vocal and guitar duo would be perfect. They bring that intimate, chilled out vibe, with expressive interpretations of classic songs. The great thing about my jazz musicians is they play with gentle amplification. This means they can turn the volume up or down to suit the space.
2. Going all out on the detail
A handful of couples have told me that having a smaller wedding has led them to become more focused on quality and detail. They want their guests to be wowed by the entertainment! They want to take their guests on a journey, with lots of variety and changes of pace throughout the day.
If this sounds like you, you’re exactly the kind of person I want to work with! I love nothing better than helping you to curate the soundtrack to your wedding day! Between us, we can pinpoint what you would like your guests to feel and experience at different points throughout the day. And I can help you work out how to achieve that through music.
3. Alternatives to bands and DJs
It’s possible traditional evening parties won’t be back on the cards for a while, due to social distancing guidelines. I can offer some great alternatives to a band or DJ.
Do you still want to do your first dance? A string ensemble or harpist can provide a beautiful instrumental piece for you to dance to. This will have much more impact than a recording. It will make that moment unforgettable.
Do you want to create a lively, fun ambience throughout the evening? Then a jazz band or jazz pianist would be perfect. It would be brilliant alongside a 1920’s or 1950’s themed cocktail bar. Add some socially-distanced games, activities, a photo booth, and you’ve got yourself a party!
4. Stand-out spontaneous performances
Some couples have unexpected spare budget available due to having fewer guests. If that’s you, you might consider doing something spectacular! Rather than just the usual background music, why not have a stand-alone performance to entertain your guests?
A perfect time for this is after the wedding breakfast when everyone’s had a good meal. Let guests sit back, relax, and enjoy a spontaneous, sublime performance from some of my world-class musicians!
One of my couples has chosen a mini-opera performance immediately after their wedding breakfast. What a fantastic idea! I’ve suggested a pianist and two singers, doing a short set of solos and duets. It will be elegant and sophisticated. Potentially awe-inspiring too, for anyone who’s not experienced the power and beauty of professional opera voices in real life.
If you’re choosing something like this, you need to make sure your musicians are up to the job. Pick musicians who don’t only do weddings, but also perform on the concert stage, in real opera houses or jazz clubs. Then you know they’ll be capable of captivating the audience and creating something magical.
5. Sticking with what you planned in 2020!
Yes, many couples are rethinking their 2021 wedding plans. They’re going micro, reallocating their budget, and changing their priorities. But at the same time, many of my couples from 2020 simply postponed everything by a year. There are also 2021 couples who booked over a year in advance, before the pandemic began.
Quite a lot of you out there put your heart and soul into planning a big, traditional wedding, and are not prepared to compromise! If that’s you, there’s absolutely no shame in it. Getting married is one of the most important days in your life, and your wedding day should be the way you want it to be.
So, if you know what you want, and it’s what you originally planned, then stick with it! I’m hoping with all my heart that your plans will go ahead in 2021.
