Getting hitched in 2023? We’ve got all the lowdown – complete with advice from industry experts – on the wedding trends set to take next year by storm.
16 Wedding Trends You Need to Know for Your 2023 Wedding
Post-pandemic, weddings in 2023 are set to be more unique and individual than ever before, with endless ways for couples to customise their day. 2022 was a mega year for weddings, with the most since 1984!
And, 2023 is set to be another bumper year, so we looked to the annual Pinterest Predicts report to discover the coming year’s trends. Plus, Lauren Goodman, wedding planner and owner of Bluebird Creative, shares her favourite emerging trends for the year ahead. If you’re planning for next year, these 2023 wedding trends are sure to help you plan the perfect celebration.
Disco Balls
Maximalism is set to be big for 2023 and 2024 weddings. If you’re planning for next year, these 2023 wedding trends are sure to help you plan the perfect celebration. Lauren Goodman, wedding planner and owner of Bluebird Creative says that disco fever is well and truly IN!
“Bringing another dimension to your decor, disco balls are a great way to fill space and create funky lighting patterns for your photographs! We recommend chatting with your photographer ahead of your big day about how you can utilise them for evening photos.
“Not only are they sexy, but they also come in loads of different sizes and can be added to any part of your decor and styling to add extra pazzazz!”
Champagne Towers and Fountains
“To continue with the maximalism themes, we recognise champagne moments as another huge trend for the year ahead! Easy to create but super effective, a champagne fountain is an amazing picture and video op and a great way to engage your guests!” says Lauren.
Micro Weddings
Many brides are still predicted to opt for micro weddings come 2023, with Google searches for the phrase exploding in popularity since 2020.
Micro-weddings save money, cut down on planning and eliminate guest list agony as you simply invite only those who absolutely must be there.
Orange is the new Blue
Forget something blue, orange is set to be the new colour expected to take 2023 weddings by storm, with Pinterest searches increasing by as much as 700% over the past year.
Based on the Pinterest searches from Millennials and Gen Xers this year, orange tones will be used in various ways in 2023 weddings, in everything from floral arrangements to bridesmaid dresses, with Pinterest searches for “burnt orange wedding theme” up by 695% this year, while the term “terracotta wedding bridesmaid dresses” also increased year on year by more than 230%.
There were also more couples looking for “orange wedding centrepiece” inspiration, with 150% more searches in the last 12 months.
Floral and Mix Match Bridesmaids Dresses
Another big trend for 2023 bridesmaids is mix matching. “TikTok has driven brides to be a bit more adventurous with mix-and-match bridesmaids dresses.” says Lauren. “Not only mixing up colours but also patterns and florals, allowing bridesmaids to really put their own stamp of style on their outfits and dresses! Not to mention, allowing the bride squad to dress to their body type and feel empowered and beautiful, instead of wearing something they aren’t comfortable in.”
Alcohol-free Weddings
Another finding by Pinterest found more of an interest in low or no alcohol drinks than ever before, driven by Gen Z’s disinterest in the drinking habits of the generations before them, with more mocktails and low-alc options set to be on offer than ever.
This trend appears to being growing in popularity into 2023, as Pinterest searches for “fancy non-alcoholic drinks” were reportedly up by 220% this year, and there was 75% more interest in “mocktail bar” inspiration by users too.
The latest National Wedding Survey revealed serving booze to guests wasn’t as important for many, as 1 in 10 weddings last year were revealed to be completely dry, serving no alcohol on the big day at all.
New Traditions for 2023
The biggest trend for 2023 will be alternatives to traditions couples don’t enjoy, as half of couples say they are nervous about the first dance, while more than a fifth admit they are “dreading it”.
This isn’t the only tradition couples are choosing to skip, as a a fifth of couples in the National Wedding Survey chose to also ditch the traditional cake cutting ceremony, opting for an alternative wedding dessert for their guests instead, and only 12% of weddings last year included the classic bouquet toss.
Intimate weddings have been on the rise since the pandemic, but newlyweds Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker certainly helped to put elopements back in the spotlight. Since their surprise Vegas ceremony in April, searches for ‘destination weddings’ and ‘elopements’ have soared, with interest in private ceremonies up more than 200% since before their Vegas wedding, with 128.7k Google searches for ‘elopements’ globally in the month of their wedding alone.
Vegan Weddings
The number of vegans in the UK increased by 445,428 (40%) between February 2020 and February 2021, according to The Vegan Society and Finder. This is set to increase every year – a change which in turn will have an impact on the menu couples choose for their weddings in 2023.
The demand for vegan weddings – from meat-free grazing tables and plant-based buffets to meat alternatives and cashew cream wedding cakes – has exploded and the options are numerous and sophisticated.
If you already follow a vegan diet, you should have a good idea of what to avoid, but if it’s a fairly new thing for you, things to watch out for in your caterer’s menus are meat and poultry, fish and seafood, dairy, eggs and bee products, including honey, bee pollen and royal jelly.
Sustainable Weddings
If in line with average, your wedding could potentially generate 14.5 tonnes of carbon, and making your big day as eco-friendly as possible is a trend that shows no signs of slowing down in 2023. With more brides than ever predicted to follow in the footsteps of Carrie Johnson – who famously rented her dress for just £45 during her 2021 wedding to BoJo – a sustainable day is a priority for many couples.
Shop local and in-season, gather wildflowers, forego gifts in favour of charitable donations and let your bridesmaids choose their own dress – minimising the chance of a wear-once-and-throw-away situation. Think online invites, eco-friendly tablescapes, vegetarian brides, English-produced champagne and guests camping at the venue.
Relaxed & Colourful Dress Codes
Etsy’s 2023 trend report reported a 32% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “floral wedding dress”. Weddings that traditionally might be formal, black-tie affairs have become an opportunity to create joyful and unexpected outfits.
So, we expect 2023 wedding invites to include a dress code particular colour palette or motif (such as florals) or a particular era. This is likely to translate into more unusual wedding dresses, too.
Show-stopping Ceremonies
While micro weddings may be on the rise, 2023 is also likely to see the rise of macro weddings – i.e. show-stopping celebrations. Think big receptions, wedding weekenders and full-to-the-brim guest lists.
Fiancées will be absolutely itching to ‘go big‘ as much as possible to finally celebrate their much-anticipated day. Proper blowouts; extra attendees, glitter galore, bouncing balloons, exquisite bouquets of flowers throughout, and all those classic crowd-pleasing tunes.
Weekday Weddings
With some brides still feeling the effects of postponed weddings, you can expect Saturdays in 2023 to be booked up with nuptials as the post-Covid delays spill into 2023.
This means people will be continue to opt for weekday weddings in 2023 to help with costs and avoid clashing dates and any further delays of their big day.
Elopement Weddings
Some couples may forego a big white wedding altogether and opt for the ultimate romantic wedding by eloping, another trend set to continue in 2023. Speaking about the growing trend Jane Caterer from Petite Weddings in Cornwall explains it’s all about keeping things small and intimate without compromising on quality.
“If you’re planning a small wedding make sure you choose an experienced specialist to ensure it’s just the size of your wedding you are compromising on.
“With the opportunity to re-evaluate and access anything from unique gardens, barns, and even castles, foodies often will upgrade their menu, or have that picnic on the beach ending with a sunset sail.
“You have flexibility to create your style of wedding and reception, memorable for all the right reasons.”
Feathers
Last year it was pearls, this year it’s feathers. Nadine Bejou, Founder of IDINA Bride, discusses how they were everywhere on the 2023 bridal catwalks. “Feathers are playful and romantic. We saw Liz Martinez double down on a few feathered looks paired with elaborate beading and sheer silhouettes.”
We’re loving brand Eliza Jane Howell for its stunning array of feather dresses that would work perfectly for your wedding.
Evening Party Wedding Dresses
It is the best and biggest day of your life so why not do an outfit change? Lauren says “we see an evening party outfit change as a huge trend for bridal dressing – whether it is a summer bash in which the bride transforms into a mini moment or a slinky winter outfit change, we know brides everywhere are looking for a wow moment to dance the night away!”
Read More:
- How to Plan the Perfect Eco-Friendly Wedding
- Wedding Table Styling Ideas: 17 Stunning Tablescapes
- The Effects of Covid-19 on 2022 Weddings
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