Gone are the days of cookie-cutter weddings. Experiential celebrations are in — and here to stay. Wedding industry pros, like Nashville-based event planner Bruce Pittman, have observed a shift away from the traditional and toward the immersive, where every element of a couple’s day is expertly tailored to their love story. “We’ve trended from, ‘We want to host a nice event,’ to pushing the limits a little bit further with these experiences,” he says.
By today’s standards, an awe-inspiring wedding engages all five senses — and should reflect the couple in everything from the cuisine to the décor. “If we can find something that represents them, that’s always going to be remembered,” says Bruce.
First Impressions
Bruce often starts his planning process by asking clients a crucial question: “What are we going to do for the wedding that is going to touch your guests’ senses?” He believes wonder should set in at the entrance. Candles or diffusers can draw revelers in with scent and set the mood. Passed Champagne and cocktails upon arrival — maybe presented with tastefully branded trays, lamps and cocktail napkins — also do the trick.
Then comes the ceremony — perhaps the most pivotal first impression of all. “I would equate it to going to a play,” says Bruce. “The curtains are opening, and you’re seeing the first scene of their marriage.” Couples can enhance this moment with personal vow presentations — penned in a shared journal or displayed as art — and projected videos of cherished memories.
Immersive Installations
Nothing sucks guests into the world of a wedding like breathtaking visuals. Immersive installations and elaborate décor help set standout weddings apart from the rest — and offer even more opportunities for personalization. “Social media has changed the norm of what should be expected, or what a wedding does include,” says Bruce. “It’s very important for [couples] to do something different than their friends. That pushes us to do something great.”
When appropriate, tasteful cultural nods can elevate celebrations. To enhance one couple’s Indian wedding, Bruce played with bright colors and lavish florals. For another couple, his team arranged an authentic Persian cake and tea service, where servers wore traditional dresses to further transport guests.
Honoring the bride and groom’s family heritage can also create meaningful moments. At one wedding, a family floral business provided all the flowers. At another, the couple had escort cards crafted out of wood from a family barn.
Custom Bites And Bevs
Who says wedding food must adhere to the age-old question “chicken or beef?” Nowadays, a menu can be just as experiential as the rest of a celebration — and hardly any two couples crave the same culinary lineup. Catering companies have begun prioritizing higher-end offerings with experiential and global flair. These menus are tailored to clients’ wishes and often not found online. Standardization is out, and customization is in.
The bride and groom may want their oysters freshly shucked. Or their cannolis prepared in front of them and delivered on gleaming trays. Maybe they even want their sides to feel a little sentimental. (One couple served asparagus grown from a family farm with every entrée.)
And of course, cocktails offer plenty of room to play. “For every wedding, I feel like we have signature cocktails,” says Bruce, adding that cocktails warrant their own planning meeting. While some opt for a few curated beverages, others create fully customized drink menus. “In Nashville, we’ve caught up — and even surpassed — some other cities on what we offer in the food scene and bar scene,” says Bruce. “When we go out, we’re accustomed to craft cocktails, and we love them. Now our couples want that to be part of their wedding.”
Don’t be surprised if you attend a wedding and find the bride and groom’s signature drink orders on the menu. Or cocktail recreations from their favorite bar or restaurant. Bruce attests that drinks shouldn’t just be tasty — they should be visually enticing. Think a custom cosmopolitan topped with a dissipating smoke bubble. Those who want to go above and beyond can reimagine the bar with a unique drink-serving setup. “We [can] have something built where they’re ringing a doorbell for the beverage,” says Bruce.
Late-Night Snacks
Copious trips to the dance floor can work up an appetite — and once their fine dining digests, many couples want their favorite takeout at the reception. Bruce says the late-night snack is one of the most fun elements to plan, and like everything else, it should be significant to the couple.
Are soft pretzels the bride’s go-to snack? There should be trays and trays of them. Is the groom prone to midnight hankerings for Taco Bell? Add Crunchwrap Supremes to the lineup. “We had one couple a few years ago that were at Vanderbilt University, and their first date was at SATCO,” says Bruce. “We got their favorite two tacos and passed those for the late-night snack.”
Desirable Keepsakes
Bruce argues that the modern challenge is coming up with fresh, enticing party favors that won’t be shoved in closets once the wedding ends. To avoid this unsavory fate, couples can reimagine parting gifts as a way to commemorate each guest’s experience. Customizable trucker hats have become popular in the South, and there’s even been a rise in on-site tattoo artists — a must-stop reception spot once drinks start flowing.
But if having people get inked up at your wedding isn’t your speed, you could instead have a live artist draw or paint custom guest portraits. Rented photo booths provide the same effect — a lasting impression of the friends and fashion that make an evening extra-magical. “These guest portraits and sketches are very popular,” says Bruce. “Photo booths … have morphed into black-and-white glamour shots. We want that very luxe, sleek photo that we look fabulous in.”
And for the newlyweds, an event painter can create the most meaningful keepsake of all — a snapshot of their love being celebrated among their closest family and friends.
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