What is a Sequel Wedding?
Sequel weddings have been commonplace for a long time in many different cultural and religious traditions and involve hosting multiple ceremonies to celebrate your marriage. The concept was made more popular in recent years in part due to wedding events that had to be postponed or canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. This two-part hitch offers the best of both worlds: a small, intimate ceremony to say your vows followed by a larger, epic bash to truly let loose and celebrate with everyone you love.
Sequel Weddings: Double the Joy, Double the Fun
While elopements, micro and sequel weddings are nothing new, the rise in intimate wedding ceremonies has skyrocketed in the last few years in part due to the Covid-19 pandemic which forced many couples to slash their guest lists and pivot to micro weddings or postpone gatherings all together. So, what exactly is a sequel wedding? Think of it as a two-act play for your love story. Act one is a private, meaningful ceremony with your closest circle, maybe an elopement, a microwedding, or a quick courthouse visit, and act two is the grand finale, the full-blown party with all the guests and all the bells and whistles.
Why are sequel weddings becoming so popular? There are plenty of reasons:
Pandemic pandemonium: Many couples had to put their big wedding plans on hold due to lockdowns and gathering restrictions. Sequel weddings allowed them to officially tie the knot then celebrate properly later.
Flexibility and freedom: No more cramming traditions and expectations into one event! You can have a simple ceremony focusing on the vows and commitment, and then go wild with the reception, tailoring it to your tastes and budget.
Twice the fun: Two sets of outfits, two sets of memories, two chances to dance the night away, what’s not to love?
Micro-weddings, which generally involve less than 20 guests, are super intimate and relaxed, involving the bride and groom and just a handful of friends and family. This was a major trend in 2020 and beyond, all about celebrating with the people that matter most. More and more partners are celebrating their union in smaller gatherings, and for couples planning a small-scale wedding ceremony, many also plan a post-elopement or a sequel wedding, which could also be described as a delayed wedding reception or an event after the actual nuptials that invites a larger group of friends and family to celebrate the newlyweds.
Is A Sequel Wedding Right for You?
A sequel wedding is like a traditional matrimony but split into two parts. Every couple chooses sequel weddings for a different reason. Some opt for dual celebrations so all cultural traditions can shine, and for others, their big day was so nice they decided to do it twice. Doubling up on the nuptials can be a lovely opportunity to accommodate all family members and honor every ritual. The trend is popular with celebrities too; Justin Bieber and Hailee Baldwin, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, Karlie Kloss and Josh Kushner, all celebrated their marriage more than once.
Sequel weddings also have their own considerations:
Double the work: Planning for two celebrations can be double the effort, so managing your time and energy is key.
Guest expectations: Some guests might be confused or even offended by the idea of two weddings, so clear communication is essential to set the right expectations.
Budgeting blues: Two celebrations can mean larger costs, so planning carefully and prioritizing is crucial.
Ultimately, sequel weddings are about celebrating your love in a way that feels authentic and meaningful to you. So, whether you dream of saying “I do” on a mountaintop followed by a backyard barbecue bash, or exchanging vows in a candlelit ceremony and then rocking out at a dance club with your crew, embrace the sequel trend and create your own unique love story.
Historic Acres of Hershey offers a variety of wedding packages, which include micro-weddings, elopements, and smaller gatherings. Give us a call at 717-298-6340 to discuss options or contact us to check out our beautiful spaces and availability.