Getting married this year? It may be time to give the boutonniere the boot, according to Melissa Samborski, owner and principal planner of Toronto’s One Fine Day Events Planning and Design. Here’s her take on what’s hot in contemporary weddings.

Skip the sit-down
Cocktail receptions are gaining popularity over formal, sit-down dinners. “People prefer food stations and passed hors d’oeuvres,” says Samborski. “It creates a more social atmosphere. And you also don’t have to bother with seating plans and the dynamics of who sits with whom.”

Lose the crowd
When it comes to guest lists, smaller is better, says Samborski. “Fewer people means a more personal ambiance, plus, in cities like Toronto, a smaller guest list means more venue options.” Instead of having to restrict yourself to large banquet halls, you can consider a loft, boutique hotel or even an intimate backyard setting.

Follow social media
Today’s brides and grooms are taking to Instagram and Pinterest for a world of ways to personalize their weddings, says Samborski. “They’re looking at everything from serviettes and flower arrangements, to hand-written notes to make their weddings their own,” she says. With the visual aids that social media provides, it’s a snap to access ideas anytime from anywhere.

Bridesmaids revisited
Remember those matchy-matchy, frumpy dresses brides used to foist upon their so-called friends? Well good-bye to all that. “We’re getting away from those traditional bridesmaid dresses,” says Samborski. Instead, the bride might choose a colour but let her bridesmaids find a style that flatters them—and that they might actually re-wear.

Forget wearable flowers
Got a great tux? Then don’t bother with the boutonniere, says Samborski. Ditto for the mother of the bride and mother of the groom. “They’re already wearing lovely evening gowns and everyone knows who they are,” she says. “They don’t need a corsage too.”

What hasn’t changed when it comes to weddings? Don’t expect the classic tuxedo to disappear anytime soon, says Samborski. Ditto for wedding cake. And, of course, there’s one tradition many brides and grooms might like to ditch: “Parents will always want to have a say in the budget.”