Brian Jeffrey
No cocktail hour? Our POPSUGAR UK editor Gemma Cartwright dishes on the variations between American weddings and British weddings. Some are fairly stunning!
1. We Have an All-Day Breakfast
Kind of! The meal at a British wedding is named the “wedding breakfast,” even in case you eat it at 5 p.m. Apparently this harks again to when the bride and groom would quick earlier than they married within the morning. Now, it is simply a kind of quirky traditions we refuse to let go of.
2. Speaking of Mornings . . .
It’s common for the gown code of a extra conventional wedding ceremony to specify that morning gown is inspired. This refers back to the “daytime formal” males’s apparel that features a high hat, waistcoat (vest), and tailcoat. It’s worn by many grooms and groomsmen however solely sometimes by all company. In truth, I went to at least one wedding ceremony that particularly said that morning gown for company was not welcome!
3. We Don’t Have a Cocktail Hour
Until I began studying Martha Stewart Weddings, I had no concept the marriage cocktail hour even existed, however it’s one of many US wedding ceremony tendencies I hope comes over to the UK. That stated, we want no indication that it is time to drink at a UK wedding ceremony. The Champagne has already been poured!
4. You Can’t Marry in Your Back Garden
In the UK, wedding ceremony venues should have a license, which is granted by the native council. There are all types of guidelines that should be adopted, together with one that claims the proceedings are freely open to the general public. So until you are keen to depart the backyard gate open (and fill out an entire load of paperwork), choosing an already licensed venue is the one possibility. Luckily, most inns, nation homes, occasion areas, and sports activities venues have licensed rooms or areas.
5. We’re Animals on Our Last Single Night Out
What you name a bachelorette get together, we name a hen get together (or a hen do, in case you choose). Bachelor events are stag dos. Traditionally, these contain numerous laughter, numerous alcohol, and loads of ritual humiliation, although increasingly more brides are shifting away from the “L” plates, “Bride to Be” sashes, and penis straws and choosing one thing somewhat extra subdued like a day tea, spa day, or dinner. Weekends away in Europe are additionally fashionable, both someplace scorching and sunny or someplace the place the alcohol is dust low cost. Some Eastern European cities welcome 1000’s of British stag events annually!
6. Bridal Shower, Schmidal Schmower
Though we have been launched to this nice custom via the wonders of Pinterest, the bridal bathe is not a factor within the UK. We spend sufficient cash on the hen get together, the present, and the marriage itself! Holding yet one more get together for the already busy bride hasn’t made it onto our agenda but.
7. An Open Bar Isn’t a Given
I’ve most likely paid for my very own drinks at about 50 p.c of the weddings I’ve attended. Often drinks with the meal (and Champagne for toasts) will likely be lined, however the night reception could have a paid bar.
8. Hats Are Still a Thing
There was a time when a hat was just about a requirement for a church wedding ceremony within the UK. This has positively modified, however you may nonetheless see hats at society weddings and conventional ceremonies. Now they’re extra of a token, principally worn by grandmas, the mom of the bride, and ladies who love dressing up. The basic rule is the posher the marriage, the extra hats. Younger ladies will typically go for fascinators or headpieces as an alternative.
9. You Get a Sweet Doggie Bag
The British wedding ceremony cake is historically a fruit cake lined in marzipan and royal icing. It’s sliced up by the caterers after the bride and groom have performed the official first minimize for photographs. It’s then wrapped in napkins and given out to company to take dwelling. I can not let you know the variety of instances I’ve discovered a smushed-up wedge of cake in my clutch bag the morning after the evening earlier than.
10. You Have to Be Careful What You Wear
The customary guidelines (do not put on white; do not put on black; do not put on something too quick, tight, or low minimize) apply at most British weddings, however there’s an entire minefield of different locations you may go fallacious as a visitor. Some folks think about inexperienced unfortunate; ditto peacock feathers (so that point I wore a inexperienced gown and a peacock feather in my hair was simply nice). Some brides marrying in church could request that each one feminine attendees put on tights or stockings and/or cowl their shoulders. And then there are those who specify a shade scheme, or worse, “fancy dress” (not your nicest garments – this implies costume!).
11. We Don’t Have a Zillion Bridesmaids, however We Do Pay For Them
Royal weddings apart, having a great deal of bridesmaids is not actually that fashionable within the UK, with most brides choosing two to 4 grownup bridesmaids and maybe one or two flower ladies. Perhaps it’s because historically the bride (or her household) can pay for his or her outfits. This is altering (thanks, Internet), and it is now extra fashionable for a bridesmaid to purchase or contribute to her personal gown or to purchase her personal footwear and equipment, however many nonetheless count on that if they’ll be shoved into unflattering avocado taffeta, they are not going to have to purchase it themselves!
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