While famous magazines like Harper's Bazaar opined for larger scaled weddings in 2021, the matrimonial trends of 2020 brought on by the pandemic may portend a more compassionate world, creating longer lasting memories and family bonds.  In our COVID-19 world, screen addiction has been replaced by family walks after dinner, or fishing together at the nearest lake. 2020 expanded the minimalist lifestyle, trend of micro weddings as couples downsized, worried about their special day becoming a Super-spreader event. But as more Americans become conscious of climate change, and the fragility of our planet sustainability may be playing a greater role in smaller weddings. Couples are staying local, partly out of budget limitations but also for the intimacy of the moment.  Conversely, most countries have relaxed their COVID-19 safety guidelines so destination weddings and elopements are seeing an uptick in 2022. "People are wanting to get out and travel has opened up more," says Karen Rynes, owner of Unlimited Clicks Photography in Janesville.

Jon Jaek, owner of the Fields Reserve a wedding venue in Stoughton sees the minimalist trend through the lens of tradition making and building lasting family bonds. "The smaller scale events are romantic this is now part of their story. It becomes part of your story," says Jaeck. 

Karen Rynes who travels across the state for her clients is scheduled for weddings in La Crosse and Door County to date, believes more couples area getting married this year than in previous COVID-19 ear years. Rynes noted that 85% of her 2021 bookings were shot outdoors. In 2020, Rynes attended an outdoor wedding at a farm in Richland Center. "The outdoors allowed the couple to spread out  chairs for the guests on the property," Rynes said.. Jon Jaeck is seeing couples scheduling their weddings for his barn for on off peak days like Thursdays and Saturday. 2022 for the Field Reserve will host a large number of weddings as those from 2021 have been rescheduled. 

The casual, budget conscious nature of the micro wedding is also trending in floral arrangements.

Sharla, manager of Stoughton Floral is seeing a lot of couples choosing greens (bouquets of leaves) and local prairie flowers over the traditional flora. "I think We’re going back to more casual, intimate weddings family members, really close friends having a party rather than a huge event," says Sharla The micro wedding is a

moment of clarity for couples planning their future she thinks. "Why are we spending all this 

money putting money for their future," says Sharla. And Karen Rynes, knowing how so many couples are struggling financially offers her wedding packages at lower rates than her competitors. She has seen how couples have canceled and scaled back their wedding days due to budget concerns. And not everyone can afford to rent out  a wedding venue at $6000 or $7000 a pop, a price that doesn't include catering, and often times putting down additional cash for table and chair rentals.

The natural aesthetic of the minimalist lifestyle and sustainability has also found its' way to bakeries. 

There’s a new trend with naked cakes. "The theme is going for minimal frosting and a see-through to the chocolate or vanilla interior," Heather, manager of Fosdal’s Home Bakery in Stoughton..

Cupcakes and donuts were also popular in 2020 according to Fosdal's manager. "People were just doing cupcakes for deserts because they could be packaged separately. And donut weddings were popular for the same reason. People would try to have the frosting match color theme of the wedding, added Heather.

Budget Consciousness Decor + COVID-19

Last Fall, because of the COVD-19 restrictions a lot of couple were having small receptions at home, which meant opportunities for creativity and DIY decor.. "A lot of people were decorating their fireplaces, a lot of them

going for the farm house, country look," says Sharla. One wedding Karen Rynes attended featured a DIY, pumpkin centerpiece while another handmade table arrangements using a rope wrapped around a mason jar, and ears of corn. 

Marriage Licenses

Those small businesses that weathered the shutdowns and restrictions should benefit from history. Historically speaking crisis creates a wedding boom. Couples in time of strife realize what matters the most to them, their loved ones. According to a NY Times article published in February of this year the number couples tying the knot in 2020 is up over 2019. Marriage licenses in Little Rock, Arkansas for example, were up were up 28% in late March 2020 compared with the same time the year before. In New York City, there is a back log at the City Hall for couple applying for marriage licenses.

And businesses in this era of Amazon, and Walmart are helping each other to get through the pandemic. Rynes made a point of mentioning a florist shop she spotted in the Uptown Janesville Mall The business, the Creative Corner is owned by Shelly Wason, "she has a lot of great gifts for wedding decor, there's a glass globe with a flower that floats in the middle of it. It can last up to two months," said Rynes.

Ultimately, weddings in 2021 and now in 2022 are a sign-of-the-times.. As Jon Jaeck succinctly put it "brides and grooms are feeling that there’s nothing wrong with different, they’re gonna have a story others before them didn’t’ have. They're getting married in the middle of a pandemic."

Support Local

The Creative Corner

Address: 2500 Milton Avenue Suite 112 

Janesville, WI 53545 

Mobile: +1 608 346-4523     

Door County Photography

62 S Lexington Dr,

Janesville, WI 53545

Phone: +1 608 295 6768

The Fields Reserve

Address: 2479 Glenn Dr,

Stoughton, WI 53589

Phone: +1 608 636 6400

Fosdal's Home Bakery

Address: 243 E Main St,

Stoughton, WI 53589-1722

Phone: +1 608 873 3073

Karen Rynes

Unlimited Clicks Photography

Janesville, WI

Phone: +1 608-295-6768

Stoughton Floral

168 E Main

Stoughton, WI. 53589

Phone:: +1 608 873-6173