This trend of being a minimalist doesn't have to be so confusing and complex, especially when it comes to the Big Day. Let's explore what it means to be a minimalist bride.


Thinking of ditching the idea of an extravagant wedding concept for your own Big Day? (Yes, we're putting both words in caps here because it deserves it!), then the term "minimalist bride" has probably come to mind. The thought of a more simple wedding filled with a minimalist aesthetic might be more your vibe, but you also just might be finding yourself overwhelmed about where to start. Sound familiar?

We're here to tell you that this adventure into more simplicity doesn't have to be so complicated.

Minimalist wedding 101

The term "minimalism" or "minimalist" has been en vogue for a while now. Whether it's home decor or wedding decor, lots of people are striving to perfect the art this trendy aesthetic. Is that what it's really about though, the aesthetic? What does being a minimalist really mean in the context of your wedding?

A simple wedding concept doesn't have to look so plain and simple, and it certainly doesn't have to be perfect. That's the thing about perfection, sometimes a little imperfection can make their way in there – that's part of the beauty. And your wedding will be beautiful no matter the theme. Just like when it comes to sustainable bridal fashion, a few small steps in the right direction is always the way to go. :)

What does it mean to be a minimalist bride?

For starters, if you're basically throwing/hosting/creating a minimalist-type of wedding that technically makes you a minimalist bride. We're gonna break down what being minimalist really means, so you can see whether or not that's your bride vibe or not.

But if striving to be or just look more "minimalist" means too much chaos then please, ignore these tips and do your thing! It should feel natural and (at least a tad) authentic. Organic. And if it's not, don't be so hard on yourself, k?

So if you want to go more on the low maintenance side with your wedding, here's the road to what being a minimalist bride looks like.

Photo credit: Kateryna Galiamova

Overconsumption out the door



Sure, a big event like a wedding is typically filled with material things, but does it have to be? Even if you want to have all the basic elements of a more traditional wedding, from a rehearsal dinner to a reception and more, try and be mindful of all the external resources used to curate these events.

To plan your wedding events, does this mean buying and shipping a bunch of things in from across the world? Making Amazon 24-hour delivery orders almost every day for 6 months? This isn't very minimalist, even if the decor, dress, and everything else about your wedding gives that simple (more like modern and clean) look.

These next two tips will help you be a more conscious consumer when it comes to wedding planning and unleashing your inner minimalist bride.

Working with a lower wedding budget

Or just staying on budget, really. Weddings can be pretty expensive no matter how you swing it. The standards have gotten so high that people with lower budgets for their wedding might even think it's not in the cards for them to throw such a big bash.

Even a wedding in the more "budget-friendly" range can still be seen as extravagant and expensive for some. In this context, a minimalist wedding can be your ticket to feeling good about your Big Day by eliminating some of that financial stress.

Using what you already have

Time to get a little creative here, guys. Creating a minimalist type of wedding really starts with thinking outside the box. When it comes to anything from your table decor to a simple and sustainable bouquets for yourself and your wedding party, start your planning from the ground up. Ask yourself: What do I have in my in my spaces that can be used? Have an old case of mason jars just hanging around? Use them for the tablescape or somewhere else in the decor.

If you don't have a case of jars, gather emptied old wine bottles (clean and sanitized) and paint them a bold color to match your wedding theme to use as vases for your table setting. Planning this a few months ahead (and maybe asking some friends and family to save their used bottles rather than just throwing them in the recycling bin) means that you can gather enough for your table settings in no time and get to a fun weekend craft project!

A minimalist wedding is all about buying less and making use of what is already there. And, you'll save money and other resources along the way.

What is a minimalist wedding dress, exactly?

Don't stress yourself out too much here, because your gown doesn't have to look all Plain Jane and Simple Simon to be a minimalist wedding dress. As we love to emphasize, the wedding dress shopping experience should be thrilling and fun. Of great memories made. That’s why our top tip is to just make sure you have enough time to shop for your bridal gown and not wait until the last minute. All the stress and tasks to do in a pinch isn't very minimalist.

When it comes to the wedding dress style for a minimalist bride, go with a gown that looks – and more importantly, feels like you. For your bridal accessories, start by seeing if you have any family generational gems that you can wear to match your gown. Choose eye-pleasing accents that will make you look and feel fantastic on your Big Day.

Are you going the minimalist route to cut down on your wedding waste? Purchasing a preowned wedding dress is one of the most minimalist things that you can do, because it doesn't involve the sourcing, making, shipping, etc and all that's needed to create an entirely new dress from scratch.

5 wedding ideas for the minimalist bride

Have you already planned for quirky fun, and simple look with sustainably-sourced materials for your wedding table decor? You might be doing a minimalist wedding or being a minimalist bride without even knowing it.

Thinking of all the major parts of your Big Day and their design, here's some ideas to help make your wedding more minimalist.


The wedding cake

Isn't the most important thing about the cake is that it's delicious? The cutting of the wedding cake is arguably one of the big Kodak moments of the reception, you can still make the presentation of your cake aesthetically-pleasing while keeping it minimalist.

Just ask for a clean design here with one shade for the icing, and top your cake with fresh local flowers on one side.

Wedding flowers

Flower-wise, your minimalist wedding will be much easier to plan starting with a sustainably-minded approach.

Less is more here, so we suggest working with a local florist to source some of the best seasonal and locally-sourced flowers to help you add freshly-cut batches of love to decorate parts of your ceremony and wedding reception.

Minimalist wedding bouquets

Instead of ten different types of flowers to make one colorful bouquet for the bride and their party, use some freshly-cut tulips if you're planning a spring wedding. For wintertime, local dried grasses and evergreens will create that perfect minimalist aesthetic for your bouquets, boutonnieres, and add any extra material as accents to your centerpieces and place settings.

You can read more here in this post on sustainable wedding flowers, which features some amazing tips from a local Hammonton florist!


Theme

You can still throw a pretty minimalist wedding and not have a typical minimalist look as your wedding theme. The key here is to not overthink it – and not over-do it!

Just keep in mind the golden rule of “less is more.”

Wedding registry

Some minimalist brides choose to ditch all the stuff-getting and ask their guests to make donations in lieu of a wedding gift.

But if you need stuff, by all means use your wedding registry to acquire some of those practical things that you'll need to build your life with your partner. That can mean the beautiful cast iron pan you've been eyeing for months now should be on your registry (and fun fact: one good pan can last a lifetime! Super sustainable).

Your people will be happy to get you something that you need, so use that wedding registry how you and your partner would like it to be used!

Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal

Looking for something a little different in a bridal shop? We’ve got you at Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal. With a mission to offer sustainable and affordable gowns to brides of all shapes and sizes, our New Jersey bridal shop has been serving blushing-brides-to-be in the NJ area and beyond since we opened our doors in May 2022.

If you’re in the market for a designer preowned wedding dress or looking to sell your gown on consignment, contact us and book an appointment today!

Sustainably Yours,
Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal
xoxo