My Favorite 2024 Wedding Trends
As the years come and go, trends will come and trends will go. This saying is true for clothing, home decor, and weddings too. But I’m not gonna’ lie… 2024’s wedding trends are kind of my favorite.
Planning your wedding should be about creating a day that’s perfectly you—and that doesn’t feel like every other wedding your guests have attended in the last 12 months. And that’s exactly what today’s couples are doing. Their weddings are a work of an art all designed to communicate their unique love story and it is coming out through the entire wedding experience.
These are a few of my favorite wedding trends I’m seeing…
Experiential Entertainment
I’m not just talking about bands, DJ’s, and bartenders. I’m talking about live painters, caricaturists, back yard games, bonfires, sketch artists, a cigar bar, ice sculpture artists, classy beer pong tables, taco trucks, soft pretzel bars, photo booths, board games, retro video games, karaoke, fireworks, treasure hunts, magicians, vintage cars, grown-up temporary tattoos, pets, photo scavenger hunts, and traveling escape rooms. You name it, I’ve seen it. Anddddddd I love it.
As someone who has been doing this for 10 years, I’ve watched wedding receptions go from “we are here for the dinner and the first dance” passive participation to “we are here to celebrate you and have fun.” The entertainment and active engagement I see between the couple and their guests at the reception is a welcomed change.
Audio guest books
Instead of having guests write down a few words, couples are having their guests record their well wishes on a vintage phone. The phone doubles as a recording device and provides the ultimate wedding keepsake for the couple. The records are available for download or even via a physical keepsake like a vinyl record, CD, or thumb drive. I mean, who doesn’t want to hear their grandma’s sweet voice giving wedding advice or your college BFF crack a joke for years to come? More info on audio guest books HERE.
monochromatic colors
Say goodbye to Bride’s selecting one or two wedding colors. Now-a-days, Bride’s are choosing entire color pallets and even opting for many shades of the same color (dusty blue, blue, navy blue, etc.) which creates a kind of ombre effect and to be honest, it’s gorgeous!
Private vows and/or letters
You know I’m a fan of the whole “write your own vow thing.” But now, couples are exchanging those vows privately ahead of time before the ceremony. Some couples will do it right after their first look, others will do this without seeing one another. This confidential, heartfelt shift has produced lots of emotions and tears for my couples. Introverts are a big fan, too.
Others have done the traditional reciting of vows they’ve written at the ceremony but then read a letter to one another prior to the ceremony.
I’ve even seen private vows exchanged during the ceremony but with the mic’s off. That way guests get to see the reactions without hearing the words.
Fancy grooms
There’s been a big shift when it comes to Groom fashion on a wedding day. Groom’s are now getting more personal and playful with their wedding day attire and I love it.
Textured fabrics like velvet, linen, tweed, and seersucker are at the forefront of the trend. But, bold colors and patterns are equally as popular. Plaid prints, floral designs, anything goes.
dress code
Couples are getting more specific with their wedding day dress code and I love it. “Cocktail attire” has been swapped with specifics like, “all black preferred,” or “wear Gatsby inspired formal wear.” As a photographer, I love how it brings so much cohesiveness to the images. So, if this trend speaks to you—embrace it kindly. But also, don't be disappointed if people don't follow your dress code to the letter.
unique foods
A cocktail hour with homemade crab rangoons and spring rolls? Yes, please! Sushi stations with additional veggie options for vegan guests and those who don’t eat seafood? Yum!
Wood-fire pizza, grilled cheese sandwich squares with shot glasses of tomato soup, bite sized tacos and mini margaritas.
I’ve even seen a “breakfast for dinner” buffet. Complete with waffles, mimosas, pancakes, eggs, breakfast burritos, french toast, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, and a cinnamon roll wedding cake! A donut wall for guests to grab on their way out the door, of course!
Couples are swapping out traditional wedding menus and embracing fun and unique wedding foods! Honestly, its so fun, enjoyed by guests, and makes for the most adorable photos! I mean, who doesn’t want to eat McDonalds french fries out of a champagne flute?
hold the cake, please
Not a cake fan? Apparently you are not alone. Many couples are choosing to exchange the “cutting of the cake” with something that feels a little more them. Things like crab rangoons, donuts, cookies, pancakes, cheesecake, bundt cake,
Plated & family style dinners
Okay, okay… plated dinners aren’t anything new in the wedding world. However, they are making a notable resurgence. Since COVID-19, many couples have ventured back to the basics and done sit down, plated dinners. I think because there were so many couples who couldn’t celebrate like they wanted to, so people are beginning to embrace the joy of hosting and gathering once again.
So, guests sit at a table and are served each course by wait staff. Usually, they choose their food selection prior to the event either on the RSVP’s in your wedding invitations or on your wedding website.
A few of my wedding couples have even done family style dinners which is a really nice compromise between buffet style and plated style. Waiters bring food to the table in large serving dishes, and these are passed around for each person to serve their own plate. This provided chic, yet casual and comfortable ambiance to the reception. Everything felt so warm and inviting. Plus, I got to know the guests at my table very well and had the BEST conversations.
certificate signing
Signing the wedding certificate has always been a necessary but uneventful thing that the bride and groom do on their wedding day. Usually in a rush as they run to and fro on their wedding day. We usually have to track down the witnesses and have them meet in some horribly lit, undecorated hallway. Its such an important moment done in such a lame way producing mediocre photos. But this year, I had couple who chose to sign their certificate during the wedding ceremony. All attendee’s names were put into a pretty bag and teh Groom drew a name from their guests as his witness as did the Bride. They happened to draw the names of an older married couple. It was adorable. There was so much smiling, laughter, and participation.
I predict that in the next few years, this will become the new normal.
unique favors
Wedding favors have been tradition for quite some time but today’s couples are making sure they are sending off their guests with the ultimate farewell. How? By skipping the monogrammed picture frames and gifting their guests something they will actually use. Many of them even utilizing local businesses. Things like candles, cocktail kits, floral seeds, snacks to go, miniature candles, sunglasses, throw blankets, succulents, coffee mug, and even artwork made specifically for and inspired by each guest.
Lots of couples even take the time to tell their guests why they chose what they chose leaving them not only with an adorable favor but a beautiful story.
mix it up
I think the thing that all of these trends have in common is that couples are mixing it up! Not just in their food, decor, colors, and attire, but also in the arrangement of their day. Some couples are choosing to do cocktail hour before the wedding. Some are doing a small private ceremony on Friday with a large Saturday reception. Either way, YOU DO YOU!