What easier way to sort through your friends' and family's photos from your wedding than a wedding hashtag. If you've been to a wedding post 2013, then you are probably familiar with this trend among new brides and grooms.
Recently, Vogue.com published an article debating whether or not "Wedding Hashtags" were passé or not. The article goes on to say how couples are now deciding on a hashtag as early as receiving their engagement ring. These hashtags have become a sort of "inescapable ritual" in modern weddings.
"In July 2014, a survey conducted by TheKnot.com and Mashable found that more than 55 percent of couples used a personalized hashtag for their wedding. Event planner Mindy Weiss, who’s organized the weddings of Nicole Richie, Ellen DeGeneres, and Gwen Stefani, reveals the number is actually much higher than that. “I’d say 99 percent of my brides and grooms come to me already wanting a hashtag,” she said over email. “Sometimes the hashtagging starts as early as the engagement ring picture on Instagram.” - Vogue.com
Deciding on a hashtag has become yet another thing for a couple to worry about while planning their perfect wedding. But Vogue goes on to say how this is the hardest part, "What should the hashtag be?" If you and your hubby have a common first or last name then #AndyandSandy4Ever or #MrandMrsAnderson could be out of the question.
"When a couple shares the same name as someone else, their feed could suddenly become populated with photos of recently wed strangers who used the same tag. Rennert, for instance, reently discovered #HappilyEverAdler was not as original as she thought, and a number of intruders had made their way onto her feed. “We’re going to have to change our hashtag even though I don’t want to,” she says. “It’s such a shame because it was such a good one.”- Vogue.com
The problem with hashtags are that they are available to everyone, most couples who choose to have a hashtag tend to just use their initials and the date of their wedding, for example: "JJandAJ1015". Although most brides opt for something more creative, most end up choosing one that happens to be just plain unoriginal, like #JennifersaidYES.
You could imagine how many Jennifer's in this world have said YES to ANYTHING!
What are some other millennial marriage passés?
Two immediately come to mind.
1. The dreaded first dance routine.
In more recent years, (starting even earlier then the hashtag) couples have been "remixing" their first dances. If you're confused still, these videos should clear it up.
Yeah... these things...
As fun and creative as these videos are, I still don't see why anyone would want to do them anymore. I mean, going to a wedding I'm more surprised when a couple doesn't have a choreographed dance with their bride/groom/entire wedding party. It seems like something of the past, and to be honest, they're pretty tacky. I would much rather watch a semi short romantic dance between a newlywed couple. Watching one of the bridesmaids mess up the dance because she's too drunk just isn't my cup of tea. Call me old fashioned!
The second one is just as cringe worthy.
2. Crazy WEIRD wedding photos.
WHY ON EARTH, would any bride or groom want to have something as crazy as this to remind them of the day of their marriage? It's ludicrous!
The problem with these videos and pictures and hashtags is that it almost commercializes a couples' special day. Most couples probably are not choreographing a five minute long dance because they both love to dance. It's likely they want a memorable video out of it. Same goes for the pictures, more views, originality, creativity. Though the more it becomes popularized the more it becomes unoriginal
If you ask me...
I say just stick the traditions. Today the most original thing you can do is to keep it simple. So stick to basics, maybe a rainbow bouquet or a "no heels rule" to spice things up. However once your pictures involve throwing up raw chickens, I think it's safe to say creativity has it limitations.
