Hot wedding trends

There are things, of course, that rarely change about weddings. Over decades and even centuries (yes, centuries…), there are classic wedding traditions that are so deeply embedded in our culture that we never question them. And talk about classic: the idea of wedding rings goes back around 3,000 years to ancient Egypt! (Read more about that.) All of that said, there’s a lot of change over the years too. Hot wedding trends might not stand the test of time but they are fun while they’re here.

A gentle reminder: no matter how “classic” you think your wedding is, there will be a day, maybe far off in the future, when you look at some of those photos and giggle. There will be elements that are so very of their time that they might make you laugh until your sides hurt. Think of the big puff of shoulders on early to mid 1990’s wedding gowns. Unmistakable. And kinda redonk, like, are those flotation devices or what!? (says this Gen Xer).

All wedding dates are, in one way or another, marked by telling trends, so instead of trying to beat that reality, just embrace it. You can embrace it even more deeply by allowing for fun and playfulness and trendiness right up front. Maybe see your wedding as the eventual time capsule that it is.

Hot Wedding Trends

Keep in mind that, of course, one of the main drivers of wedding trends right now will be Gen Z. They’re the ones who are entering into their big wedding season generationally. And a key to Gen Z is that they love “discovering” things from the past. They love vintage. (And if you’re over about the age of 35, you’ll find things you love in their categorization of “vintage” and it will feel a bit stabby to your aging heart. Get used to it.)

The wedding itself

Which brings us to hot wedding trends when it comes to the ceremony itself. Gen Z is loving simpler and by simpler we mean City Hall or courthouse or eloping; we mean small and intimate. Civil ceremonies are high on their list as opposed to religious.

But they are also turning this into a whole aesthetic (as they are known to do) and not just bringing a traditional wedding look into this location; they’re diving into researching things (per Pinterest) like “courthouse wedding dresses.” You know… lots of shorter dresses; dresses that are “on the go” ready.

These weddings don’t mean there’s not a big party to come later (and remember that your photographer is glad to meet you wherever they’re needed).

Hot wedding trends: the ring

Engagement rings are getting… more, well, more. In every way. Mixed metals. More bands. Multiples. Bigger. More elaborate. Different shapes and antique silhouettes. And more color! Colored stones are extra hot right now, especially pink diamonds but also all the other precious and semi precious stones out there. (Can we say Princess Diana?)

And this counts even for the wedding ring itself. They aren’t waiting for a ten year or more anniversary to start adding an ever increasing amount of sparkle. A really big wedding trend is that those fingers are getting stacked right up front.

The dress

Speaking of the 1990s, this is one of the eras that Gen Z is bringing back down the aisle. Vintage Vera Wang is a hot wedding trend right now. (If you saved your dress or know someone who did, you know…eBay might be a good idea. HA)

You might already know that drop waists are one of the most ubiquitous wedding dress trends right now… to the point where a lot of young women are trying to avoid them.

Menswear is not going untouched either. It’s not uncommon right now to see more color on the tux, including forest green, burgundy, and champagne. (I feel like I’m suddenly in a John Hughes film…) Grooms are also playing with separates instead of the standard tux, which allows for more fun with colors, patterns, and textures.

Unplugged weddings

A lot of young couples want their wedding day to be digital free. They’re asking guests to have their phones, at the very least, on airplane mode. To, most definitely, not take them out to take photos at any time during the ceremony. Gen Z is thought of as living online but even they need a break now and then and this is one time they want it.

Don’t be surprised if you get asked to not have your phone out at all (unless there’s an emergency reason to have it on you).

If you’re interested in this kind of wedding, check this out. (And don’t be surprised if there’s some resistance. People are so used to having their phones on them at all times.)

Some more hot wedding trends

• Silent discos. Instead of having loud music that can interfere with socializing, some people are opting for headphones for anyone who wants to hear the music and/or dance. This can actually be really nice.
• You’ve likely already seen some weddings with food trucks and that will probably keep happening for a while.
• In Erie, we’ve forever been used to a cookie table, of course, but the idea of a dessert table is spreading (finally!) so it’s not just the wedding cake but can be anything from cookies to donuts to candy. With boxes for some takeaway.
• Speaking of music, some Gen Z are going for crowd sourced playlists for the wedding. This would be easy to create on Spotify.
• Charcuterie boards are so big that they’ve spilled over to weddings and give us grazing tables. Snacks! (We approve of that.)
• And it seems like this should have happened long ago but mixed gender wedding parties are getting more and more popular.
• Bubbles instead of confetti. We’ve had one of these recently! (See that photo!)
• And instead of just a band, more people are including a variety of entertainers, from tarot card readers to drag performers to lawn games. Anything goes!