Guest List: Optional

Originally written for the Weber Forecast

Here comes the… sunglasses and cigarettes. ​

The anti-wedding is having a moment. Think city hall, chic short dresses, and dinner reservations over banquets. Who needs a champagne tower and a 200-guest headcount when you can throw on a vintage suit, grab your person, and head to the courthouse? ​

While the headlines love Jeff Bezos turning Venice into District One of the Hunger Games and Eve Jobs turning the Cotswolds into a celeb-spotting safari (pizza included), the real power move is the microwedding. ​

Pinterest reports a 190% spike in searches for “registry office elopement”, and it’s no mystery why. With the average U.S. wedding now costing $33K, couples are ditching the overwhelm in favour of simplicity, intention, and style. This isn’t just budget-driven; it’s cultural. From Charli XCX’s low-key Hackney Town Hall nuptials to Lady Gaga’s dream of a courthouse ceremony followed by Chinese takeout, the shift is clear: less spectacle, more soul. It’s also deeply nostalgic, channelling the timeless cool of Carrie and Big, Marilyn Monroe, or even their own parents. ​

Modern Couples are yearning for the simplicity of just two people and a signature and with it comes ease, elegance, and a little rebellion. ​

Insight: Celebrate personal style and intentional choice, this isn’t about rejecting tradition but embracing the freedom to define love on your own terms, a narrative brands can authentically align with.

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