12 Nov Top Wedding Trends to Watch for 2021
The year we’ve all been waiting for! We’re inching closer to 2021, and I’m hoping it will bring more weddings and the return of larger celebrations. As a professional event planner and a 2021 bride (I postponed my original August date), I’m sharing my predictions for the biggest wedding trends of 2021.
Wow-Worthy Websites
With wedding plans up in the air, the focus will be on creating an amazing digital presence to keep guests updated. It’s a super efficient way to communicate with attendees about rescheduled dates, new safety measures and updated hotel info. I’m guessing more people will invest in a custom domain name instead of using the free URLs from companies like The Knot or Zola. I also think we’ll see couples putting in extra time and effort to create a beautiful and user-friendly site design that acts as an extension of their printed invite.
Bold & Bright Colors
The green & white color palette has seen its day. We all need a bit of cheer, so 2021 is all about bold, bright and unexpected hues for everything from the flowers and decor to stationery and linens. I also expect the color palette will be expanded beyond just 2-3 main colors. Rather, couples will choose 4-5 different shades to work with to add more dimension.
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Modern Ceremony Music
Goodbye “Here Comes the Bride” and “Canon in D!” I’m seeing more and more couples choose contemporary songs for their processionals. Why not walk down the aisle to a number by John Legend or Taylor Swift? String musicians can make any newer song sound classic and traditional. I once helped out at a wedding where the couple used the theme song from their favorite TV show, Friday Nights Lights, for the recessional, and it was a great personal touch.
Clear Top Tents
Everyone has been embracing and appreciating nature more than ever, so I’m predicting that clear top tents will have a big moment. With more events heading outdoors in general, these tents will be trending over the beloved Sperry Tent. The clear top helps guests feel immersed in the outdoors while still providing comfort and weather protection. They also look extra beautiful when they’re lined with rows of simple twinkly lights.
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Photo Lounges
Instead of photo booths, more weddings will soon have photo lounges. A professional photographer takes gorgeous editorial-style photos of guests that are much more high-end than a photo booth could produce. The area can feature a simple backdrop or be built out with rented lounge furniture and props. Typically the photographer edits them and the Instagram-ready final versions are emailed out to guests the following day.
Sustainable Vendors
Caring for the planet is such a big issue at the moment, and this will carry over into weddings. As I wrote about in this post about eco-friendly events, couples will be factoring sustainability into their vendor selection process. People will choose the caterer that composts leftovers and the florist that donates flowers to a local hospital even if it comes with a slightly higher price tag.
Vintage Stamps
With USPS discontinuing its popular custom postage programs, vintage stamp collections for invitations and save the dates will be the way to go. There are limited options currently available from the post office that feel wedding appropriate, so business will be booming for companies that curate decades-old stamps into pretty little sets.
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Party in the USA
While Italy and France make for jealousy-inducing destination wedding locations, 2021 will be all about exploring spots in our own backyard. International travel may still be iffy, so already popular wedding spots like Newport, Miami, Southern California and Charleston will be in high demand. People are also prioritizing outdoor activities for guests to partake in during their free time, so any place with hikes, beaches, pools and golf will be extra busy.
Customized Dance Floors
With concerns over social distancing spilling into 2021, I think dance floors will naturally become larger. Even after the pandemic is over, people will crave more space to spread out. With that comes the decline of the standard wood dance floor and the rise of unique versions and custom wraps. Since it’s even more of a focal point, couples will choose to splurge on a pretty monogram decal or an eye-catching custom design to match the decor.
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All About Amenities
Taking care of guests will be a top priority for anyone tying the knot next year. An easy way to do this is by providing everything they need to enjoy the evening from individual hand sanitizer at every seat to flip flops for tired feet. Some hosts and hostesses will take it a step further with elaborate in-room gifting to thank guests for traveling.
Specialty Food Carts
We’ll be swapping the gorgeous grazing table of 2019 for specialized food and beverage carts. Imagine how much fun your guests will have with a taco stand during cocktail hour or an ice cream cart for dessert. Specialty bars, such as a tequila tasting station or whiskey and cigar bar, will be trending, too. When these carts are staffed, they’re also much safer than self-serve food stations.
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Same Day Editing
Relive your special day before it’s even over! I’m anticipating this photo and video feature will be a major 2021 wedding trend. It involves an editor working throughout your wedding to either select and edit photos or put together a highlight reel. The best part about this is that you can put up a slideshow of pics from the day during the reception or have a reveal of your video at the end of the night. Guests will be amazed that it came together so quickly.
Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses
Many trusting brides are choosing to let their friends pick out their own bridesmaid dresses within a specified color palette. Over the summer, I’m predicting we’ll see a lot of gals dressed in loosely coordinated floral maxi dresses, and during the winter, we’ll get a wave of ladies in various black floor-length dresses.
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Glam Beauty Looks
No more masks = the triumphant return of lipstick! After going au naturel for most of 2020, people will be excited to go glam for a special occasion. Brides will start to veer away from the no-makeup makeup look and choose bolder bridal beauty. Colorful lipstick, longer lashes and a little bit of sparkle will be back.
Low Centerpieces
While these have been in vogue for a few years, I fully expect this trend to continue into 2021. Gone are the days of couples needing height to make an impact in the room. Low round arrangements with lush, seasonal blooms or full runners with luxury flowers can look just as extravagant and expensive as tall centerpieces. As an extra bonus, it’s easier to chat across the table and connect with friends and family.
Cozy Fabrics
Couples want their guests to feel comfortable, so warm and cozy fabrics will be big for upcoming weddings. Textured linens and woven waffle-style napkins will be used everywhere. Draping will make a large space seem intimate. Comfy blankets and fluffy throw pillows on the lounge furniture will make people feel at home.
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Doing Whatever You Want
One of the biggest trends will be all the rule-breaking! Have your wedding on a weekday. Have two weddings. Downsize the guest list. Serve brunch instead of dinner. Have ice cream instead of cake. Buy a non-wedding dress. Secretly elope. Ditch the bridal party. Have your BFF walk you down the aisle… the possibilities are endless and anything goes in 2021.
Do you agree with my predictions? What trends do you think we’ll see in 2021? Let me know in the comments!
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