Weddings just don’t stand still – they’re ever-changing and wedding trends change fast.
The last year has been enormously difficult for the wedding industry and brides and grooms across the globe who’ve had to reschedule their special day. But there’s hope on the horizon with restrictions lifting in a matter of weeks.
So, whether you’re just beginning the planning process, organising a smaller Covid-secure day or you’re looking for some final touch tips then you’re in the right place. We’ve pulled together 9 of the biggest trends for this year.
1. Sustainability is everything!
The single ‘trend’ you’ll read more about this year than any other is sustainability. Cutting down on plastics, waste and carbon footprints in weddings is the biggest wedding theme of 2021. The main areas to consider are flowers, transport, food waste and plastics – and remember, the smaller your guest list, the less the environmental impact your day as a whole will have.
Sustainable weddings promise to be naturally beautiful. Gone are cheap plastic trinkets (table diamonds and glitter confetti are OUT!) and they’ll be replaced by flickering soy candles, recycled paper place names and growing plants along natural wood tables – all with a soft, organic colour palette.
2. Nature and natural materials
Sustainability is also transforming the styling and look of our weddings in the loveliest of ways! Bringing the outside in with greenery and natural materials will be key to wedding styling in 2021. Consider plants in pots rather than cut flowers to style your tables. And scale it up, with trees in pots, or tropical houseplants to create a big green splash of eye-catching colour!
Perhaps you could source or even make a dried flower bouquet rather than fresh blooms? And always, always find a local, organic flower grower so you can avoid the carbon footprint from importing flowers.
If you’re looking for wedding flowers then check out Pinstripes & Peonies. Being based in New Covent Garden Flower Market means they are able to keep their carbon footprint lower than their competitors and guarantee the freshest flowers in London in their gorgeous arrangements.
3. Embracing locations and landscape – being outdoors or bringing it inside
The world has opened its doors to wedding couples, with unusual wedding venues popping up in the unlikeliest of locations. Couples will be strolling through city streets in full wedding gear as they walk from church to reception – or hopping on the back of a tractor to head to their secluded party space in the countryside!
Adventurous souls are heading for breathtaking beauty spots as part of their day, making the most of their wedding photographer to grab epic images-of-a-lifetime on clifftops and mountainsides – and looking for venues as close to those beauty spots as they can find! Location is doubly important because more and more couples are choosing an outdoor ceremony, and even outdoor dining on sunny days! (Yes, even in the UK!)
4. Wearing it again!
Tying together the wedding trends of sustainability and colour, brides are opting for outfits they can wear again: including bridal separates (skirts and tops) to shrugs, shoes and hair crowns. And we’re not just talking daytime: second outfits are still a key wedding trend for 2020! Couples are loving that element of surprise when they change from formalwear to dazzling party wear for the evening do!
Treat yourselves, go on – you’re destined to be the centre of attention anyway, so sparkle and shine your way onto that dancefloor… and every time you wear that outfit in the future, you’ll be reminded of your wedding day!
5. Made to measure grooms
Brides have had it all for years, but grooms shouldn’t be limited to a hired suit from a major high street chain. Personal tailoring and the experience of buying a special suit will go from strength to strength in 2020 – and grooms are set to take centre stage in bespoke outfits of their own! There’s something really special about finding a local tailor, a charming little shop that’s been in your city for years, and being treated to an outfit which fits like a glove.
As a wedding blogger, I so often read brides’ detailed accounts of their dress from the colour of the sequins to the designer and the fit and flare of the bodice and skirt… followed closely by three words describing the groom’s attire as nothing more than “a brown suit”. Let’s embrace this change, guys, and bring tailoring into the limelight for 2020 weddings!
6. Creative venues
If a country hotel or a white marquee don’t take your fancy, now’s the time to take the plunge with an alternative wedding venue.
Farms, barns, festival fields and urban warehouses are opening their doors to the wedding market. Museums are joining in with the celebrations – you could even hire a lighthouse or glamping site to say your ‘I do’s’ – really make a weekend of it.
The options are endless if you’re getting married in a city too, choose from a monastery in Manchester to a beautiful basement bar in Dublin.
7. The rise of the micro wedding
The pandemic has brought the idea of a super intimate wedding into reality over the last year. Celebrating with a handful (the folks you can count on your fingers) of your faves is a wonderful option if you’re looking for a little less fuss!
And a micro wedding doesn’t mean you need to go small on the styling or catering, why not choose an extra-special menu or go super personal with favours and decorations.
8. Authenticity in wedding photography
When it comes to hiring a wedding photographer, couples are looking for documentary wedding photographers who’ll capture the spirit of their day, from the nerves and tears of the morning to the great big beaming smiles after the ceremony and all your aunties’ bear hugs.
Real moments is what it’s all about in 2021, and your wedding photos will last a lifetime and be filled with authentic memories of everyone you love being their brilliant, natural, wonderful selves!
Looking for photography for your wedding? Flo Brooks offers the ultimate personal service from start to finish. With a creative eye for detail, you can relax in the knowledge that the photos from your special day will be just what you hoped for (and more!)
9. Destination style at home
International travel feels a little more complicated thanks to Covid. So UK wedding venues that evoke dreamy Sicilian courtyards or French chateaux are set to be hugely popular in 2021. Think olive trees and strings of fairy lights for your evening reception outdoors; fire pits and cosy blankets and soft guitar music as the sun sets on your day. Vineyard weddings are becoming a bit of a thing, with UK vineyards hosting wonderful weddings – and providing excellent wines, of course!
So, there you have it, 9 of the biggest trends to look out for in 2021. If you are searching for a wedding venue in London, explore our collection of the city’s finest venues here.
