Your Guide to a Modern & “Timeless” Wedding
If you’re in the wedding planning process, there is no doubt that you’ve heard couples and vendors alike describe certain aesthetics as both “modern” and “timeless.” Achieving that design can be difficult, considering those ideas can sometimes be contradictory. With the right design and mindset, though, you can achieve a wedding that feels appropriate for the 2020s without soaking up every TikTok trend you see.
Before we lay out your how-to’s, it’s important to remember that no wedding will ever be truly timeless. There will always be aspects of your wedding that will show its age, and that’s okay! Rather than reaching for a “timeless” aesthetic, think of your wedding design as “classic” or “aging well”: this will keep your expectations realistic.
Now to the fun stuff: how do you actually achieve a wedding that is both modern and will age well? Here is your full how-to guide from a New York City wedding planner!
Neutral Palette
Stick with a color scheme of mostly neutrals with pops of color, or go for the classic white with accompanying greenery. Anything too bright or modern won’t age terribly well.
Your florals should be organic and fresh; though the tight white rose bouquets we saw in 2022 were beautiful, they’re already looking aged. Classic arrangements with a good mix of greenery and blooms will never go out of style!
Photo by Chaz Cruz Photography.
Classic Venues
Although the new hip venues with bold and bright design can be very enticing, they’re not for the couple looking to host a classic wedding. Rather than book the new art-deco bar/club/wedding venue in the hip part of town, opt for a venue with classic and old-school beauty. In NYC, spaces like the Harold Pratt House and Burden Kahn Mansions work great for this.
If you still feel like you’re missing a modern twist, opt for a venue that is unique, but still warm and intimate with no overwhelmingly trendy design. Spaces like Aurora, Housing Works Bookstore, or The Beekman Hotel go against the grain of traditional ballroom without overdoing it on the modernity, making them the perfect combination of modern and classic.
What should you avoid? Overly rustic venues like barns or extremely trendy bars or hotels will age quickly.
Photo by Forged in the North.
Photo & Video
Surprisingly, photo and video editing can age a wedding quickly. Opt for photographers and videographers that don’t do heavy editing that will oversaturate or wash out your photos. This will help them age gracefully. When you’re picking your vendors, make sure they can do a mix of classic and editorial/candids. In NYC, we love Eryc Perez de Tagle, Jaymo James, and Loreto Caceres!
Photo by Deirdre & Jon Photography.
Food
Food is one area you can take a lot of liberties with and not worry too much about aging — food is food! But, if you like the classic but want to spice it up, have fun with it! You can still offer chicken, beef or fish options, but in the form of fried chicken, pork belly, and a whole branzino.
For cocktail hour, keep with the classic style of passed-appetizers and food stations, but get creative. Offer mini lobster rolls or taco stations. Lean in to the popular foods of today!
If you want the traditional wedding cake but want to add some modernity, consider having a textured or colored icing design on the outside.
Photo by Meredith Heuer Photography.
For anyone looking to have a wedding that you know will age well, this is a helpful starting point. But, don’t stress too much! Your wedding should be a day to celebrate how you want, regardless of how it might look in 10 years. Happy planning!
