Covid-19 dealt a blow to countless couples who had planned to get married in 2020 and 2021. (When it comes to destination weddings, resort weddings and, really, ceremonies at just about any wedding venue, might be an understatement to say the pandemic put a damper on things well into 2021.)

 

But you know what they say, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.”

 

That’s what many of those wanting to tie the knot did. And their creativity has contributed to a wave of intriguing new wedding trends.

 

Timely Wedding Trends

As the experts at The Knot say, “There is no better time than now to create your own rules.” (And when it comes to writing your own rules, we would just like to point out that there is no better place than The Florida Keys!)

 

Here at Banana Bay Resort & Marina in The Florida Keys, we have had the privilege and the joy of seeing several pandemic-inspired wedding trends emerge. Here are three of our favorites:

 

1. Micro Weddings

As the name implies, micro weddings are smaller than what you might have originally thought about when you imagined your dream wedding. But, as renowned event planner Stefanie Cove told The Knot, “More is not always necessarily more.”

 

At a micro wedding, the guest list typically maxes out at around 50 people. For some couples, the need to limit the number of guests due to Covid concerns or travel restrictions is a great opportunity to save. For others, however, it has become an opportunity to share a truly memorable experience with the most important people in their lives.

 

In other words, with a micro wedding you can do more with fewer guests. Instead of having to feed and entertain hundreds of guests with your budget, you can spend it all on 50 of your nearest and dearest, creating an unforgettable shared experience that all of you will enjoy.

 

As Cove said, “A microwedding [sic] is for the couple who wants to really focus and spend the majority of their budget on the smaller details, whereas it might be difficult to replicate the same experience for, say, 200 guests.”

 

2. Sit-Down Dinners

Buffet lines have long been a staple of wedding caterers, but the pandemic has ushered in a return to the civility and service of a fully plated, sit-down meal.

 

INSIDER’S TIP: You don’t have to have an elaborate menu – unless of course you want to – it’s the idea of caring for your guests’ safety while also treating them to that extra level of service. For example, when it comes to catering weddings in The Florida Keys, we recommend Irie Island Eats, which specializes in island-style barbecue and, of course, fabulous service. And, for wedding cakes that will delight, you simply have to try Sweet Savannah’s!

 

3. Sequel Weddings

People did not stop getting married during the pandemic. Many of those who went ahead with their vows, however, did so fairly quietly. Then, when the time is right, they can celebrate with family and friends at what has come to be known as a sequel wedding.

 

The Knot lays claim to coining the term in 2019. At that time, it was primarily used in conjunction with couples wanting to have two distinct weddings, usually for cultural or religious reasons. These days, the term is usually used to refer to the overdue celebration.

 

Whether you are looking for the perfect waterfront wedding venue for a pandemic-inspired celebration or a palm-fringed location for the classic destination wedding you’ve always dreamed of, we invite you to consider the possibilities at Banana Bay Resort & Marina in The Florida Keys.

 

From a celebration with a tropical waterfront backdrop or B Wed™ Intimate, a hassle-free all-inclusive wedding package, to a festive gathering for as many as 150 guests, nobody will make more delicious lemonade out of the lemons you’ve been served than Banana Bay Resort & Marina. Contact our wedding specialists for more information and for available dates.

 

Not ready to gather your friends and family together at a resort wedding quite yet? Banana Bay’s tranquil accommodations and waterfront location are an excellent choice if you want to elope. (If you want to bring one very special friend to share in your happiness, your dog will be warmly welcomed.)