2023 WEDDING TRENDS

WHAT'S IN?

Midday Ceremonies

The most spontaneous—and memorable—part of the whole wedding weekend is often the after-party. But if the idea of an eight-hour relay race from ceremony to cocktails to dinner to dancing to the after-party gives you pause, you can make sure your guests are ready to go all out by having a midday ceremony. With the afternoon to rest up, everyone comes together that evening with a full tank of gas. And then, who knows where the night can go? —Bronson van Wyck, Van Wyck & Van Wyck

In the early 20th century, it was common to have your wedding ceremony in the morning and reception in the evening—Jackie and John Kennedy, Princess Diana and Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate, they all did this. We are seeing our clients wanting to take this classic route. Choosing a morning ceremony followed by a thoughtfully curated lunch and inviting guests back for an evening reception with dancing and dessert lets couples truly have a unique celebration all day long. —Bryan Rafanelli, Rafanelli Events

Wild Welcome Parties

The majority of brides are hosting destination weddings which require entertaining guests on Friday and Saturday. A raucous, kicked-back welcome party is en vogue. Embrace the locale: How about a bacchanalia at a Tuscan castle-cum-vineyard in Napa? —Rebecca Gardener, Houses and Parties

From a classic field day, to ranch Olympics, to a beach soccer match followed by a DJed BBQ lunch, to an epic beach day, gathering guests for a daytime event has been a welcomed addition to our destination wedding weekends. It’s a great icebreaker for all ages while also offering your traveling guests entertainment at every turn. —Augusta Cole

Dramatic Ceilings

More and more couples are opting for design impact by incorporating dramatic ceiling installations through florals, lighting, draping, and more. —Beth Helmstetter, Beth Helmstetter Events

Statement Aisles

The “S-shaped” or serpentine designs were ideas our clients embraced. I especially loved planning a Palm Beach wedding this spring at the Four Seasons with a gently curved aisle. The effect was elegant and fresh. —Jennifer Zabinski, JZ Events

The grandeur of a long aisle sets the tone for an elegant and memorable ceremony. Our brides are also opting to walk down the aisle solo before being greeted halfway by their mother or father or both, adding a heartfelt and personal touch to the ceremony. —Bryan Rafanelli

Color

While this is not a new idea, what is fun to report is that it’s lasting! Couples are not shying away from color, but instead, we are seeing our couples embrace thoughtful color references through patterned textiles, illustrations, floral concepts, custom décor moments, and their bridal fashion. —Augusta Cole

My clients want unabashed color, wild patterns, luscious flowers, and moments of unexpected delight. A playful palette encourages fun. —Rebecca Gardener

Intimate Ceremonies

Our clients are opting to keep the ceremony itself uber private and reserve the big display of affection for the reception. This mitigates some of that pent-up anxiety that can be felt before professing your love in front of hundreds of people, and helps protect the intimacy of a ceremony. —Lisa Vorce

Grace Kelly-Inspired Bridal Style

Our clients are choosing more clean and timeless wedding styles, and brides’ inspirations are driven towards Grace Kelly’s wedding dress, the epitome of classic bridal style. They’re also loving a longer veil. —Bryan Rafanelli

Tableside Charcuterie

Grazing boards and charcuterie are not going anywhere. We see both oversized displays at cocktail hour as well as more manageable boards incorporated into the tablescapes of our wedding celebrations. —Beth Helmstetter

Speakeasy-Inspired After-Parties

We’ve been adding this to our after-parties as a way to surprise and delight guests and create yet another food and beverage experience. We’ve designed secret doors to a hidden lounge scene with a specialty bar station (i.e. espresso martinis). This is a fantastic way to break up the evening and allow for some spontaneous, authentic post-party photos. —Lisa Vorce

WHAT'S OUT?

Wedding Hashtags

Wedding hashtags are yesterday’s news. It’s all about stories instead of posts now, and story hashtags disappear after 24 hours. Dropping the self-promotional hashtag says influential rather than influencer. Which would you rather be? —Bronson van Wyck

Uniform Bridesmaid Dresses

Big wedding parties standing up at the ceremony. Let your loved ones sit comfortably and be totally present in the ceremony, but honor them beforehand by spending the morning getting ready and taking some special photos, exchanging notes, and reflecting on memories made in life together. So much more special! —Lisa Vorce

Standing Wedding Parties

More and more couples are opting for design impact by incorporating dramatic ceiling installations through florals, lighting, draping, and more. —Beth Helmstetter, Beth Helmstetter Events

Welcome Bags

Forgo extravagant welcome baskets and write each guest or couple a handwritten note exuding thoughtful elegance. Hotels always have bottled water and no one needs another branded canvas tote bag. —Rebecca Gardener

Extravagant Escort Card Walls

No more over-the-top escort card walls. Instead, opt for a more classic display organized beautifully on a table which encourages guest interaction and mingling. White-glove service from the waitstaff is always a favorite, but we also love sophisticated envelopes nestled in a floral bed. —Lisa Vorce

Signature Cocktails

Rather than passing one special cocktail, couples are leaning into the drink experience. Think Bemelmans-inspired tableside martinis, a roaming gin cart with an exotic array of fixings, dinner courses paired with sipping tequila, or a full-on tequila bar. Dare I say the martini ice luge will make an afterparty comeback! —Augusta Cole