Explore how wedding details like engagement rings to wedding catering have changed over the years.
Planning or attending a destination wedding with a multi-day itinerary with varied cuisines and personalized decorations is nothing out of the ordinary today, but 50 years ago, weddings were nothing like we see today. With a single source of income in most families, nuptials were a thing of customs and traditions, focusing on the ceremony rather than its occurrence.
While weddings have been evolving over the years, a major change to them was brought about by the creation and spread of mass media. Thanks to the emergence of the internet and social media, we have instant and constant access to all the wedding-related trends across the globe. From an influencer going wedding dress shopping on Instagram to a Gen-Z bride-to-be vlogging her wedding prep on YouTube, anything and everything new in the wedding arena makes another checkbox in the list of other brides.
Read on to find out how these wedding details differ from then and now!
Engagement Rings: Gold–Diamond
If there’s one ring worn by a woman that everyone is always excited to see? It’s her engagement ring! While earlier elaborately designed gold rings were offered by grooms to their brides on their engagement day, now the wedding details have changed oh-so-drastically. Any woman in a relationship expects a grand proposal with a big diamond ring in the box. The first big diamond ring was worn by the former First Lady of United States, Jackie Kennedy which was a toi et moi diamond and emerald ring offered to her by John F. Kennedy. Since then, celebrities from Aditi Rao Hydari to Zendaya have adorned the new diamond engagement rings.
Weddings: Invitations–Social Media
As I wrote above, social media has been an ace game changer in the world of weddings. Earlier, people used to take a whole week to journey to their relatives’ homes across the country and personally gift them invitation cards and invite them to their child’s wedding. Well, social media has changed life so much that now the invitation travels through the web. Be it an e-invitation forwarded on WhatsApp or a video invitation DM’d on Instagram, all are acceptable forms of wedding invitation.
Read Also: Wedding Announcements Through Social Media
Weddings: Local–Destination
Life, people and their standard of living have changed drastically over the years. From a single bread earner working for a family of four to multiple people working for a family business with generational wealth, times have changed and so have weddings details.
Earlier, families used to organise weddings in their generational homes or temples and the functions used to be for a day or two max. Now, people have the resources to plan and host a destination wedding in national or international locations with a big budget for multi-day festivities. Look at Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani’s multi-month wedding that took place in India and abroad. Or Aditi Rao Hydari’s two wedding ceremonies in Hyderabad and Rajasthan. Big budget destination weddings are ‘it’ RN!
Bridal Attires: Repurposed–Designer
Bridal attires embody one of the biggest changes in the wedding details. I remember my mother adorned her own mother’s wedding lehenga for her big day. Me? I dream of a Manish Malhotra lehenga for my mehendi and a Sabyasachi lehenga for my wedding. From sarees passed on through generations to their mother’s wedding lehengas, brides have come a long way in terms of their bridal trousseau.
Now, a bridal closet consists of varied ensembles from multiple designers in diverse shades and silhouettes. For her two wedding ceremonies with her partner Venkata Datta Sai, PV Sindhu adorned a Manish Malhotra saree, a Masaba Gupta anarkali, a Sabyasachi lehenga, an Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla lehenga, a Sawan Gandhi gown, a Mrunalini Rao co-ord set and a Falguni Shane Peacock lehenga.
Wedding Decor: Minimal–Maximal
From the minimal yellow and orange marigold garlands decorating the wedding hall to a flower-made Krishna idol centred in the wedding mandap. Wedding decor has become way more opulent and grand than ever before. Colourful drapes and floral garlands are the stepping stones with humongous statues and specially constructed wedding venues being the epitome. The Ambani wedding of 2024 was held at the Jio World Center, Mumbai where large decorative statues, personalized hangings and unique architecture shined through in wedding details.
Wedding Catering: Indian–Global
Indian weddings of the past included traditional recipes of the household and region in the wedding catering. Think puri, paneer, biryani and kheer. Now, it’s way different. Multi-table buffets with continental cuisines from France, Mexico, Italy, and China. Now, wedding guests can indulge in freshly baked croissants, tasty tacos, cheesy pizzas and hakka noodles.
Read Also: 6 Scenic Locations for Destination Wedding in 2025!
Couples planning their wedding in 2025 must check out these evolutions in the wedding industry and decide for themselves if old is gold or now is wow!
