Well 2021, what can we say, it has been quite the year - an ongoing pandemic, an important meeting in COP21, and crucially for us, turning our dream of bringing affordable bridal rental to the wedding industry into reality, with the launch of Something Borrowed. It really has been a year of highs and lows, our founder Christie took some time to reflect on the year gone by;
‘The last year has been an unpredictable 12 months making planning for special events such as a wedding day extremely difficult and stressful. At Something Borrowed, we have recognised the need to be flexible and adaptable, both in terms of our brides, who have had to make last minute changes, to us collaborating with our clients to meet their needs to still make their dream day a reality. It has been crucial to focus on the importance of making and maintaining connections with friends and family, putting this at the heart of the planning for the big day. We have all been reassessing our lives, and these landmark events, to establish what is vitally important; physical, mental and financial health, for ourselves and our loved ones. We are committed to ensuring the year ahead brings opportunities for our brides and their loved ones to manifest their dreams and take great pride in offering a service dedicated to quality, affordability and flexibility.’
As we look forward to a year full of beautiful weddings, we wanted to share some of the top trends that have caught our eye - are these on your radar? If not, we think they should be!
Rental
Excitingly we are seeing huge growth in rental for bridal-wear. We know that brides are wanting to manage costs, stick to their budgets and reuse items, and are pleased to report that savvy brides are now aware of wedding dress hire as an option for them to meet these goals. From our community, we have learned that our brides are even more conscientious than ever, with a focus on the true meaning of the day, leading to them questioning the tradition of buying an expensive dress that they will only wear once. If there is one thing that working from home has taught us, is that we do not have room to store items that we do not use, therefore hiring a dress is the perfect compromise. It means our brides can also tick the eco box, knowing that their wedding day is not contributing to the fast fashion crisis. It really is a win win!
Return to Tradition
Along with the reflective times we have been having comes a blast of nostalgia. We expect brides to choose more sentimental venues to hold their ceremonies and more, whilst embracing items from their Mother's and Grandmother's personal collection. Think treasured keepsakes such as vintage jewellery, prized accessories, or even their favourite scent by adorning their signature perfume, the best kind of preloved bridal. The link to family and heritage means more than ever as we all appreciate our dear ones that bit more thanks to Coronavirus.
Transitional Looks
Brides are increasingly looking for a two-piece outfit or a dress that can be adapted to change their look from day to night. Whilst still seeking to look their absolute best, they will want to make the most of the full day by introducing a wardrobe update to keep their guests in awe of their style, give the photographer and videographer something more to capture and really highlighting that switch from a romantic day time to the party vibes of the night.
Micro Weddings
The pandemic has forced couples into having smaller wedding parties due to restrictions, a real blow for some. However we are anticipating a silver lining with brides reassessing their day in favour of smaller, more intimate weddings. An additional positive with a more intimate guest list, is that it opens up opportunities to consider more locations, perhaps the garden of the family home or a townhouse wedding, rented for a small group for the entire weekend. In contrast we still envisage brides wanting to go macro on certain aspects of their day, a lavish menu or generous favours for their dear guests. Essentially finding the ideal balance of intimate yet luxurious - having their favourite things, those special ideas, that amazing dress but in a way that fits with their budget and overall plan.
Sustainability
A true buzzword of the year, with the Glasgow gathering underlining its importance, we know that many of our brides are mindful of how their day might impact the environment and generations to come. Equally, we know that style and beauty are not to be given up whilst on the search for more eco friendly options. Our wedding dress hire allows our clients to still have the dress of their dreams whilst doing the planet a favour. This can also be true if a mindful approach is taken when selecting other elements such as opting for paperless invites, renting, using artificial or dried flowers, opting for locally sourced and seasonal produce throughout your food and drink menu or borrowing jewellery and accessories from a family member. The possibilities are limitless.
Connection with Nature
A wedding theme, whether it be subtle or significant, adds a sense of cohesion to the overall look and feel. Themes such as Scandi, Cottagecore or Natural decor are still high on the trend list for 2022. We feel this is perhaps due to our evolved connection with nature after spending more time outdoors in our gardens, local parks and the great British countryside throughout lockdown times. Our love of outdoor dining, alfresco drinking and evenings around the fire pit will be evidenced as brides and grooms build these aspects into their big day.
Looking forward we recommend taking time now to plan with a flexible mindset, with hope and excitement for the year ahead whilst managing your expectations and keeping safe. Something Borrowed is here to support our community of brides with their plans for their big day, whether that be wedding dress rental or bridesmaid dress rental. We have spoken to so many beautiful brides this year, offering advice and guidance tailored to their individual situation so why not contact us. We love to talk through your ideas and discuss how our flexible service can offer you the quality garments you desire for your dream day, whilst enabling you to keep within your budget and meet your sustainability goals.