Many couples are celebrating the New Year (and the New Decade) by getting engaged and beginning to plan their wedding. We’ve brought together ten of the biggest wedding trends experts say will make an impact this year. We’ve also highlighted three trends that have passed their expiration date.
Sustainability
While being Earth friendly and eco-conscious isn’t a trend, necessarily, taking it into active consideration has definitely gained momentum. From venue options to floral arrangement, sustainability is where it’s at. Many florists are doing away with the floral foam used for generations as it is neither recyclable nor biodegradable. Many venues are also featuring tables, chairs, tents and other setting options built with reclaimed and otherwise sustainable materials. Living centerpieces and decorations are also becoming more important to couples.
Non-Traditional Bouquets and Flowers
Building on the sustainability trend is the rise of non-traditional flowers and bouquets. Dried flowers, succulents and living bouquets have seen a sharp rise in popularity across social media and wedding planning websites. As this is a fairly new trend, it is prone to producing both jaw-dropping gorgeous bouquets and quite a few flops. So it’s important to work with a professional to get the balance, color and look just right.
Materials used for bouquets now include almost anything you can imagine, including:
- Dried flowers
- Pinecones
- Wild grasses
- Paper flowers
- Folded origami fabric and/or paper (in any shape)
- Vintage items or parts (Typewriter keys, camera pieces, etc.)
- Jewels
- Potted plants
Going with a non-traditional bouquet as well as other floral arrangement items lets couples use recycled and sustainable materials as well as broadening how unique they can make them. This can be especially important to grooms who may want to add a bit of flair to their wedding suit. After all, a floral boutonniere is fine and all, but how about one made with music?
Specialty and Customized Drinks
Couples who want to customize everything can create their own specialized mixed drinks. Couples interested in creating a custom cocktail can work with local bars or even contact a small brewery to see if there are craft beer options. Couple who want to be a bit more hands on can easily create their own signature cocktail. You can either start from scratch and work with tasting and pairing different flavors and ingredients or simply add your touch to an existing cocktail. Just don’t forget to give it a catchy name!
Niche Bars
Personally, I think it started with Cupcake Bars but, honestly, setting up an interactive station at weddings isn’t entirely new. It is, however, something that has become increasingly refined. Of course, cupcake bars and stations remain a popular Go To idea for couples, but now there’s really no limit to what you can feature as a specialty station:
- Liquors – Small batch, niche or imported whiskey, tequila other other liquors and spirits.
- Popcorn – Go beyond Kettle and caramel to include everything from pepper jack and hot sauce to ranch and even cookies and crème!
- Grazing Tables – Do you love cheese and charcuterie boards that feature the staples of snacking? Expand the idea to an entire table and include cheese, fruit, meats and more to give guests a chance to nibble while they wait.
- Donut Walls and Stations – One of the best things about donuts is that they can be displayed vertically which helps space wise. Work with a local bakery to get all the classic flavors and some fun twists!
Videography
This may seem like a no-brainer to some but the truth is that many couples still see video as a bit of an “extra” extra when it comes to wedding planning. While it does add to the budget, having a video is becoming increasingly standard. Videographers are often included in photography packages or through wedding planners. Wedding videos aren’t just about covering the service and grabbing quotes from guests and shots of Uncle Merle’s dance moves. Instead videos feature a kind of mini-documentary of your whole day. So going back and watching your wedding video becomes a way to revisit all the special moments of that day, making you way more likely to enjoy it in the future and even share clips online via social media. Videos can also be gifted to guests who couldn’t make it or friends and family who may want a copy.
Go BIGGER
This is a trend that could easily go too far but that’s kinda part of the fun. Simplicity has taken a back seat as couples splash out and go the extra mile for everything from engagement photo shoots in exotic locales to receptions that are more like festivals. While going BIG may not be everyone’s cup of tea, couples who want to make a real statement are limited only by their imagination these days.
Veils are Evolving
Speaking of going BIG, let’s talk about veils. Wedding veils have long been seen as two things:
- Meant to be small, demure and light.
- Absolutely mandatory.
In 2020, expect both those points to be blown out of the water. Thanks to several celebrity weddings, veils are now doubling as trains and even pulling triple duty as jaw-dropping statement pieces.
If you are looking to have a gorgeous shot of your veil as it goes down the aisle, be sure to work with your photographer and videographer not only on the best way to get the shot, but also on how to design the veil to fit the aisle perfectly. When Priyanka Chopra married Nick Jonas in 2018, her veil required the help of six dedicated attendants to get it down the aisle with absolutely stunning results. A bonus to using a veil that doubles as a train is that you can remove it from the dress after so you aren’t fighting with fabric if you didn’t plan to change for the reception.
Having said all that, there are plenty of brides who are choosing to skip the veil entirely. Veils were once so common they seemed mandatory but that simply isn’t the case anymore.
Custom Printed Fabrics
It has become easier than ever to create custom fabrics which is changing the game when it comes to ways to craft a wedding. Linen napkins or a tablecloth with your old love letters, for example, are clever ways to add an extra level of customization.
Bold Colors and Popping Pallets
Sure, pastel weddings are nice but expect a lot of bold color choices and print mixing in 2020 according to experts. Couples with a favorite color used to sprinkle it in or use it as a statement color backed with neutral or pastel colors. This year, experts predict couples will instead double down on their favorite color and use it as the clear foundation for their entire wedding, pairing it with complimentary bold options.
Smaller, More Intimate Guest Lists
For many years couples have invited far flung relatives or friends from a sense of obligation. A bloated guest list not only results in a higher cost for the couple to shoulder, it pretty much guarantees you’ll spend your reception time going from table to table in order to thank everyone for coming.
Smaller, intimate wedding have become increasingly popular as couples opt to keep things small in order to splurge on high end touches or catering options. Keeping things small allows a couple to really connect with their guests and still have the flexibility to enjoy the celebration. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Wedding Trends We Can Retire in 2020
With so many new and developing trends on the horizon, it’s important to clear out the old. Here are the three trends we hope finally fizzle out in the 2020s.
Camo Weddings
Using hunting as a theme for your wedding day is a weird flex to begin with but, more to the point, the color scheme is just terrible. Depending on how you (try to) pull it off, it’s either a mishmash of colors meant to blend into each other resulting in a muddled look or colors (camo and high-visibility orange) literally designed to clash. If you want to celebrate a love of country life and outdoor pursuits, there are better ways to bring it together.
Ball & Chain / Now Your Life is Over Jokes
Why is this even still a thing? Pictures of the bride or groom being carted off by their partner, cake toppers that show one of them shackled to an iron ball and just anything that implies life is over once you’re married doesn’t deserve space at your wedding. Yes, we know it’s a joke. It’s just not funny.
Actual Food Trucks
This trend exploded in the wedding scene and for good reason. It supports local business and delivers amazing food. Having the wedding party and guests line up at a food truck may make for some great photo shots, but it makes for awful time management. Instead, ask the food truck owner to cater the event. You still get to support local business owners, the guests get amazing food and no one has to miss their favorite dance song because they were waiting outside for their paper plated meal.
