Glittery unicorn themed ceremonies, karaoke marriage vows and a wedding breakfast at McDonald’s are among Scotland’s wackiest modern-day wedding traditions, a new survey has revealed.
The poll by jeweller, Beaverbrook, revealed a list of the most unusual wedding day celebrations, including a Star Wars -inspired theme where the bride walked down the aisle to ‘The Imperial March’, and a ‘witches wedding’ that required all guests to be dressed in black.
And according to the survey, one brave couple even hosted a nudist wedding, with all guests, and bride and groom completely naked. Another pair of non-conformists tied the knot submerged in an underwater tank.
Themed weddings also featured prominently on the list, with Disney, pirates, cowboys, Harry Potter and superheroes all appearing as modern wedding trends.
One couple celebrated the most romantic day of their life by sharing their vows in a ten-pin bowling alley, and another insisted on uniting in holy matrimony with the bride and groom wearing blindfolds.
Sustainable, eco-friendly weddings were also revealed as an emerging trend for environmentally conscious partners. In fact, Pinterest searches for ‘sustainable weddings’ increased by a staggering 181 percent last year.
The study, commissioned by Beaverbrooks to celebrate its 100-year anniversary, also explored how wedding traditions have changed over the years, and the pastimes at risk of dying out.
One of the least important traditions according to the research was a morning suit for the groom, with just 9 percent of respondents saying it mattered to them.
Having groomsmen was considered of low importance (9 percent), as was the best man and not the maid of honour doing the speech (10 percent), followed by the bride wearing a traditional wedding veil (14 percent).
A tiered wedding cake (16 percent) and getting down on one knee for the proposal (18 percent) were also seen as trivial pastimes, as was throwing confetti (19 percent).
But despite the changes in attitudes to weddings, some traditions are still seen as important to Scots, with having a ring for the proposal coming top of the list at 34 percent.
33 percent still liked the idea of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding, and 29 percent said having a best man was a must.
26 percent think wedding bouquets are still an important tradition, a quarter still like bridesmaids, and 24 percent think asking the bride’s father’s permission is a custom worth keeping.
Lorna Haddon, head of diamonds and jewellery at Beaverbrooks, said: “Whether traditional, or unconventional, we’ve loved being a part of our customer’s magical wedding day memories for 100 years.
“And while it’s clear from our research that many traditions have changed over the last century, with more and more couples opting for unique ways to tie the knot, it’s also nice to see that some traditions remain important to people across the country.
“Whether you opt for a themed ceremony, or a quirky and unusual venue – it’s about finding what’s personal and meaningful for you and your partner, so you can create the perfect day that both of you will remember forever.”
