Soon-to-be brides have taken part in a new social media trend which has shocked some viewers and ruffled feathers online.
The “my wedding non-negotiables” trend where brides list their rules and must-haves for their special day has revealed couples are looking to step away from tradition when planning to personalize their experience.
Non-negotiables listed by brides commonly related to aspects of the big day including guests, food, dress and speeches.
One Aussie bride has been labeled a “bridezilla” after sharing her list of “non-negotiables” in a TikTok video.
Queenslander Kara Hansen opened the video by warning viewers her wedding rules may “p*ss a few people off.”
The first non-negotiable Ms. Hansen mentioned was no children under the age of 16 present at the wedding ceremony or reception.
“A wedding is not the place for them,” she said in the video.
“There is loud music, they don’t eat the food, they don’t drink the alcohol, they don’t party, their parents have to leave too, it just feels like it’s not the right place for them.”
The response to the rule was split among TikTok users who commented on the video, with some praising the choice and others condemning the exclusion.
“Yes to no children,” said one user.
“Kids at the ceremony for photos then they gotta go,” agreed another.
One user advised that Ms. Hansen carefully consider keeping children away from the wedding.
“I had no children at my wedding five years ago and it is one of the biggest regrets of my life,” she said.
Ms. Hansen’s second non-negotiable was that there would be no dessert included as a course for the food.
“I am not paying for a third course when I have already paid $400 for a wedding cake, I don’t care about keeping the top tier of my wedding cake, you guys can just eat it all,” she said.
Other rules Ms. Hansen included were “short and sweet speeches”, with the fiance suggesting longer speeches were “boring,” a short dress for her reception as she “hates wearing long dresses”, having her husband see a photo of the dress before the day and spending time with her husband before the ceremony.
“I want to hang out with him the morning of my wedding, morning coffee with just us two,” she said.
The response to the list as a whole was divided with some saying it was “fair” and “freaking brilliant” while others judged Ms. Hansen for her choices, saying her “husband has his hands full.”
Other brides have also jumped on the trend, revealing some more out-of-the-box rules for their wedding.
Podcast host Anastazia Dupee agreed “unannounced” children and plus-one guests could not be present at the wedding.
She also stated that all guests attending must eat the food given to them on the day.
“I expect you to eat, I have done too many food tastings to make sure the food is perfect for it to be untouched,” she said in a TikTok video.
Ms. Dupee’s final rule was that there would be no open microphone on the night as people tend to “get quite drunk.”
“No Open Mic, no big announcements unless we’ve asked you to make a speech, you can’t grab the microphone and make your own speech,” she said.
Other brides have said in their lists “men are not allowed to wear shorts, short sleeves or open toe shoes,” their mother will walk them down the isle, the couple will have a private last dance and bridesmaids will pick their own dress.
Having an “unplugged ceremony” where no cameras or phones are allowed to be used was also commonly listed in brides’ videos, including a viral video from another Australian woman who listed strict rules she will be enforcing at her wedding.