Celebrating from afar - really the new normal?

I can definitely see it being the new normal

We live-streamed our wedding and honestly it was such an easy set up, I would absolutely hope that people keep using it in the future, especially for families that live in different countries/other side of the country, older people that can’t be physically present or even to be able to invite more people than your venue can hold. It can also make it much cheaper for guests if they don’t have to travel but can still attend!

For loved ones who couldn't come to your wedding, I think sending a box or gift of some kind would be really special!

I'm in high hopes this doesn't become the new normal by any means LOL - like my biggest prayer is that this does not become something we do, unless of course we have to!

I'm big on tradition and would love a world where we don't have to worry with anything virtual when planning your wedding! But I do see this being a pro!

One thing I think will happen, is that weddings will get smaller again and with more home weddings. Since I was a kid they have been growing and growing, with millions and millions put in to pushing spending up and up. Up til the early sixties home weddings were really common. And many wedding receptions had no meal, appetizers, or liquor. And in recent years everyone wants a celebrity wedding, studied sets and props and costumes, mini vacations replacing single evening parties for many.
But in cutting and cutting, a significant number seem to be saying, why did we want to spend a house down payment on 150-300 people? We did not want to go as low as 5-20 guests. But considering how nice this or that small wedding we went to was, why don't more people do them?. ... Meanwhile, the virtual wedding. So far, outside of the immediate family, everyone I have talked to has said, don't tell. But is absolutely was a waste of time. I had as much fun as at a virtual work meeting. I would by far have appreciated a well edited video than watching a bad camera feed live. I did not care that is was live. I did not enjoy it. ... I have been on the fence about two invitations for virtual ones. I enjoyed the 4 small Covid, mask wearing weddings in person this year. And I have seen videotapes, DVDS passed from one would have been guest to another. But I turned off the only 2 virtual weddings I tried to watch.
Boring, no sense of being with other people, and no feeling of wedding. Even my wedding loving tweens got bored and walked away. Hubby went to mow the lawn part way through one, and got up to fix the sink while I was trying to be polite and watch his first cousin's wedding with him.To me, virtual is a complete bomb.

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My experience as a guest at weddings for decades has been similar: on the smaller side with no full meal or alcohol. While I do not see virtual weddings as being the "new normal", I think smaller weddings will be with only those nearest and dearest to the couple. Not the parents' mailman's pastor, as an example of crazy pressure by others to invite those not close to the couple.

View Quoted Comment My remarks weren’t necessarily that entirely virtual would be a new normal, but that we might start seeing these solutions being used for other purposes - like I mentioned, I had several loved ones (two were my siblings) who I knew would not actually be able to attend due to the cost of traveling. I still sent an invitation. In that instance, it would have been awesome to be able to include them.


But I sure wouldn’t mind seeing more intimate weddings return. I remember feeling a little guilty that I wasn’t inviting EVERYONE, which is silly - I have a lot of acquaintances, but they certainly didn’t all need to be at my wedding!

I think virtual wedding options will definitely continue. It’s a nice way to engage out of town guests, who may not be able to make it. I also agree that small, intimate weddings (less than 100) will be the norm for awhile