It is hard to believe that we will be starting a new year in just a few weeks and that means we have a new year of wedding trends to look forward to! After the year we have all come through and changes none of us would have believed, some of these new trends are really exciting and may stick around far longer than most.
Our trend research comes from reputable wedding industry bloggers, blogs from Brides Magazine, the Knot and Wedding Wire, as well as from our industry vendor partners, and our own brides and grooms. We are delighted to pass these along!
Brides magazine reports that 81% of couples said that the pandemic has changed the way they intend to plan their wedding. The days of 200+ guests with jam-packed dance floors may be over for the foreseeable future while couples opt for the following:
Micro-Weddings With Live Streaming
Couples are planning more intimate dinner events of immediate family and friends of 50 or less in person, while offering “live stream” or “watch parties” for those who cannot travel. Having a virtual wedding with a livestream broadcast has been a great way for couples to say their “I do’s” and still have their nearest and dearest watch, even from overseas!
At Home Weddings
At-home weddings are a more budget-friendly alternative to the traditional wedding venue, and wedding trends this year indicate even more couples will be tying the knot at home. With the cost savings, couples can bring in luxe decor and have gorgeous backyard ceremonies!
Entertainment/Photography
There are entertainment companies who are getting creative, too! Some will do virtual live music, bring large screen TVs to your home for Zoom parties, guests can dance from their location, offer toasts and well wishes as though in person! Not only that, couples are looking for unique entertainment such as comics, dancers, food trucks, baristas, and mixologists.
Photographers are capturing the couple as more of a “photo shoot” rather than typical staged wedding poses, as couples see glamorous wedding photos on social media. The photography has been stepped up! Also, many now offer multiple video camera angles of the event and drones as well.
At Home Decor – Big and Bold
Tents with large flower installations, concept lighting displays, unique tables and mismatched seating are way in! For flowers, while whites with greenery is still a thing, but there is a shift toward bold colors like purple, yellow, and orange, and even colorful nostalgic themes like the 70’s! Even those 90’s babes are going all-in with music and snacks like juice boxes and Dunkaroos.
Weekday Weddings
Because so many 2020 couples were forced to move their date into 2021, venue availability is not easy to come by. Many couples are choosing to get married during the week, where they can have the venue they want at a much lower cost. What may have been unaffordable on a Saturday is completely in budget on a Thursday! And with that savings, they are opting for more luxurious details, such as premium alcohol, food/appetizer choices, and opulent table settings.
Celebration Boxes
Of all the wedding trends, this might top the list! An amazing way to involve your guests, even those not physically present, couples are giving out/mailing celebration boxes! The boxes can be customized, stamped with the guest’s name, the couple’s names, wedding hashtag, or anything! A great way to give everyone what they need in one place and socially distance. The box could include a program, mask and hand sanitizer (custom labeled, of course!), table number, a custom cocktail kit or mini bottle of champagne. even treats like a mini wedding cake or cookies!
Going Big With Flowers
Because of the popularity in micro weddings and the cost savings associated, there is more flexibility for other details! Couples opting for this choice (as well as livestreaming/Zooming) want to set the scene with dramatic flower arrangements as backdrops and statement altars as focal points! This can include large rectangle and/or moon gate structures with full floral coverage, huge floral installations, ceiling installations, and flower walls.
Flower wedding trends are incredibly fun, but this new one is so fun! Florists and event designers are spray painting ordinary flowers to create amazing displays! Baby’s breath is one of the most popular ways to get onboard, since it’s affordable and holds its shape without drooping or falling apart during the painting process. Anthuriums, pampas grass, palm leaves, plumosa ferns, and succulents are a few other options that look amazing when painted. Use colors like powder blue, lilac, and pink, for a cheerful aesthetic, or stick to metallics for an earthy, bohemian vibe.
Watch for sun palms to show up in many bouquets in 2021, edible flowers in wedding cakes and cocktails, and encased floral displays!
But Really… It’s The Dress
Ruffles, tiers, layers of lace, or a plain crepe slip dress, they are ALL in. Wedding dress trends for 2021, however, are sleeves, short dresses, and dresses with double looks.
Sleeves have evolved recently into something wonderful, the detachable ones (that come off the dress from the shoulder or top of bodice), along with the ‘not-attached’ sleeve that merely rests on the arm. Whimsical, romantic, and billowy, this accessory piece is a definite 2021 thing!
The double look dress can take many forms. It can be a traditional dress with a detachable train, it can be a ballgown with a removable skirt that becomes a short dress or a jumpsuit, it can be a short dress with a demure jacket that when removed turns into a sexy, dance the night away dress (as in photo above!). Or this one that turns into a long sleeve romper:
We have also seen a shift toward a mid-range price point. Brides aren’t looking to spend $5,000+, but not everyone is looking for that cheap, on-line wedding dress either. Brides want quality, and a dress that represents her uniqueness. She also wants an experience with her bridal stylist that she will always remember as the day she found her dress. That is worth paying for!
Wedding trends for the men lean toward suits, and colorful suits as well. From pinks, blues, Mulberry, and hunter green, there are quite a few choices. We are also seeing a higher demand for tweed vests worn with bowties, or even a more casual look with suspenders and a long colorful tie. While the traditional tuxedo will always have its place, in 2021 we expect more of the laid-back, fun filled vibe as the “traditional” weddings evolve into more intimate events.
Wedding trends come and go, however the year 2020 has brought about a few “trends” that may become the norm. It’s been a scary kind of year, full of uncertainty, but sometimes that’s what it takes to shift into a new way of doing things. Small in person events with unlimited guests “in attendance” across the globe is an amazing event to plan. From the flowers and entertainment to the attire, weddings are still going to be spectacular!
About the author: Wendy Ianieri is co-founder and co-owner of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, now in its eighth year in business. In that time the store has grown from a small bridal boutique to a full service bridal store serving not only Bucks County, PA but the surrounding counties and even border states. With the customer experience in mind, Ms. Ianieri steers the company by offering the best designers and wedding attire while creating a caring, family atmosphere. A life-long Bucks County native, she currently resides in Warrington with her husband and co-founder/co-owner Franco Salerno, and their two daughters for whom the store was named, Daria and Deanna.