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10 wedding traditions that are ‘old-fashioned’ according to Gen Z
A recent study has quizzed 2,000 Gen Z couples and has found that several long-held wedding traditions are slowly starting to be viewed as old-fashioned.
The tastes and beliefs held by society are constantly shifting and even age-old traditions arent safe from the never-ending march of change. Even marriage itself, something which has been around for over 4,000 years, is on the decline, with fewer couples choosing to tie the knot now (14.9 marriages per 1,000 women) than a decade ago (16.3) according to the US Census Bureau.
10 wedding traditions that are ‘old-fashioned’ according to Gen Z
In a survey carried out by Perspectus Global in February 2024, 2,000 people in relationships and aged between 18 and 27 years old identified 10 wedding traditions that are becoming old-fashioned and outdated.
Among them are several traditions involving the brides father which wouldnt feel out of place in a period TV drama. According to the survey, these include asking the fathers permission before proposing (with 43% believing this to be old-fashioned), the bride being given away by their father (29%) and the brides father paying for the wedding (54%) ceremony.
The full list of wedding traditions that are becoming increasingly viewed as outdated is as follows:
- The brides father paying for the wedding | 54%
- Asking your partners father for permission | 43%
- Sleeping apart the night before the wedding | 38%
- Taking your partners name | 35%
- Being given away by your dad | 29%
- Tossing the bouquet | 27%
- Being carried over the threshold | 26%
- Promising to obey in the vows | 25%
- Wearing a veil | 19%
- Wearing a long, white dress | 18%
In todays modern society, the fact that taking your partners name is viewed as old-fashioned by 35% of respondents is hardly surprising. What is more eyebrow-raising, however, is that promising to ‘obey’ in the marriage vows and wearing a veil during the ceremony are viewed as outdated by a much smaller percentage at just 25% and 19% respectively.
Wearing a white wedding dress looks to be a tradition that will remain for the foreseeable future but the fact that almost a fifth of respondents viewed it as outdated suggests wedding dresses are likely going to get a lot more colorful in the years to come.
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Proposal traditions
The survey also asked its Gen Z participants about various proposal traditions.
Almost half of respondents (47%) revealed they were planning to propose or get married in the near future with more than a quarter (27%) planning on recreating their first date in order to pop the question.
Meanwhile, 24% of couples say that they would involve their pet in their marriage proposal.
A particularly timely tradition this time of year, with 2024 being a leap year, is that February 29 is viewed by some as the only time a woman can propose to their partner.
However, a whopping 86% of respondents felt that this tradition was becoming tired, too, and that women should be able to pop the question as and when they wanted.
A spokesperson from Churchill, who commissioned the survey by Perspectus Global, said: Following in the footsteps of famous female celebrities, women are increasingly choosing to propose to their partner. What was once a leap year tradition is now becoming commonplace. Young [people] remain committed to the idea of marriage but are rewriting the rule book from the proposal to the big day itself.
