In 2024, more couples are cutting out traditional elements that aren’t unique to them and making time for what matters most, like being along with your family and friends.
This yr, our team is seeing trends rise in popularity, like retro-themed and colourful celebrations, simplicity in decor, cakes, and attire; and personalized interactive experiences, like audiobooks and QR codes.
Try more of those 2024 wedding trends which might be sure to encourage your upcoming celebration.
Intimate and Out-of-the-Box Celebrations
In 2024, couples are trading out opulence for meaningful connections, choosing smaller gatherings or micro weddings that allow for creativity, self-expression, and real connection.
For instance, themed rehearsal dinners were traditionally just formal parties but now they’re turning into immersive and out-of-the-box experiences that tell the couple’s story or exhibit their shared interests. These smaller events allow for more creativity and self-expression leading as much as the day itself.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Pre-welcome parties give couples and their guests a laid-back option to kick off the celebrations, mingle, and meet each other.
- Day-after-brunches provide one other opportunity for an intimate and casual gathering where you may sit back and extend “thanks’s” to your guests.
- AirBnB or backyard weddings provide an intimate setting and could be more cost-friendly than renting out a complete venue.
Destination Weddings
One other way that couples are achieving more intimate celebrations is thru destination weddings. Typically, destination weddings make it easier to control your guest list so that you just have a good time along with your closest family and friends. And, they’re ideal should you want a complete weekend of celebrations with them versus just the day of.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Tulum, Mexico, offers the right mixture of rest and adventure with stunning beaches and ancient ruins.
- San Juan, Puerto Rico, is one other vibrant city with culture and history, offering couples and their guests a pleasant getaway with plenty to do.
- Lake Como, Italy, provides a romantic experience with its scenic mountains and charming village.
Retro and Vintage Revival
Nostalgia is reigning supreme this yr — couples are turning back the clock and revisiting retro and vintage elements of their celebrations.
From dresses to decors, these trends surely embody the glam of the Twenties and the old-school charm of the 70s and 80s.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Pearl and lace trim have made an appearance on wedding attire and invitations.
- Retro wedding dresses complete with regal lace, full skirts, satin, veils, and vintage-inspired necklines have brought romantic charm back into wedding fashion.
- Groovy decor — think record players, disco balls, and retro-style save-the-date cards.
Monochromatic Blooms
A monochromatic theme for wedding flowers has bloomed this yr. Couples are selecting bouquets and arrangements with flowers all in the identical color to realize the cohesive look they convey to their big day. They’re even repurposing flowers from the ceremony to the reception to avoid wasting some money and make the celebration more sustainable.
Examples we’re seeing:
- All-white weddings featuring white rose and baby’s breath bouquets
- Peach-tone floral arches
- Floating floral installations in earthy tones like brown and salmon
Colours That Pop
Alternatively, some couples are specializing in mixing daring and vibrant colours quite than going the monochromatic route. This implies colourful venues and wedding attire that pops. Showcasing more color in the standard wedding celebration is emerging as a option to show a pair’s uniqueness and personality.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Couples are choosing venues that function a canvas for his or her colourful vision, whether it’s a vibrant garden, a contemporary art gallery, or an urban loft.
- No more matchy-matchy bridal parties — couples are encouraging their bridal party to embrace individuality by wearing different colours and kinds of dresses or suits.
Peach, Pearls, and Bows
In the case of wedding dresses and attire, more brides are incorporating peach tones (it’s Pantone’s color of the yr, so it’s a really trendy alternative), in addition to bows and pearl elements. These trends are sure to bring a touch of elegance to any wedding look or celebration.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Bows added to candle decor, napkin holders, and napkins
- Bow and pearl detailing on wedding dresses
- Peach-colored bridesmaid dresses and florals
“Come-As-You-Are” Attire
Gone are the times of strict dress codes and cookie-cutter attire. In 2024, guests are encouraged to precise their personal style with a refreshing shift towards more casual and nontraditional clothing options, striking the right balance between fashion and luxury.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Maxi dresses and jumpsuits over cocktail dresses
- Casual shoes like classy tennis shoes quite than dress shoes
- Nice shirts with slacks — no tie obligatory
Natural and Candid Photography
Couples are embracing a more natural and candid approach to capturing their big day and nixing the more costly option of skilled photography. More couples are also incorporating photography into the guest experience.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Giving guests Polaroid and disposable cameras to shoot candid shots throughout the celebrations
- Photo booths complete with props
- Hiring wedding content creators to assist snap pics and take videos
Interactive and Audio Guest Books
Guest books have long been a cherished tradition at weddings, offering guests an area to share their well wishes with the couple. Nevertheless, in recent times, couples are choosing more creative and interactive approaches, like video or audiobooks where guests can record messages.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Vintage-style telephones, like a rotary phone, where guests can leave you voicemails to take heed to later
- Digital audio guestbook kiosks or phone booths where guests can leave messages using a touchscreen device
- Message in a bottle guest books so guests can write notes and leave them in an ornamental bottle
QR Codes
Forget save-the-dates that clog up inboxes — QR codes are the new latest option to invite guests to weddings this yr. Couples are customizing QR codes to make use of on their wedding invitations, website, welcome bags, and more so as to add a fun tech twist and supply a better way for guests to receive details about your big day.
Examples we’re seeing:
- QR codes on physical or digital invitations that permit guests RSVP quickly
- QR codes on signs in order that guests access seating charts for the reception dinner
- QR codes that permit guests drop their photos so everyone can see them in a single place
- QR codes that give guests quick access to wedding information, resembling the schedule or wedding registry link
Family-Style Catering
More wedding day celebrations are shifting away from the standard plated service with wait staff to supply a more communal and interactive dining experience for guests. Family-style wedding catering brings people together across the table, allowing guests to speak and mingle with each other. Plus, it’s an excellent option to avoid wasting money.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Platters and sides being offered to the table to be passed around, quite than serving guests a person plate of food
- For smaller weddings, having a primary buffet-style table where guests can select food options as they please
Comfort Food Favorites Over Traditional Bites
Couples are putting a delicious spin on wedding dining by choosing fun comfort food favorites that cater to their guests’ tastes and cravings. This yr, we are saying goodbye to traditional hors d’oeuvres and hello to mouthwatering options like pizza, tacos, and gourmet burgers.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Reception food trucks, especially for warm weather and outdoor celebrations
- Grazing tables crammed with various snacks
- Interactive food stations, like pasta prepared on the spot, build-your-own tacos, and DIY sushi bars
- Party reception food delivery from a neighborhood restaurant to satisfy end-of-night cravings
Simpler Wedding Cakes
Wedding cake designs are taking a cue from the less-is-more philosophy, favoring simplicity over grandeur. Designers are replacing elaborate icing and fondant with more natural textures and delicate floral arrangements. Moreover, couples are turning to cake alternatives to combine things up.
Examples we’re seeing:
- “Naked” wedding cakes paired with colourful berries
- Bouquet cakes that feature flower arrangements
- Easy heart-shaped cakes
- Donut and cupcake stands or towers
Personalized Food Bars
For a more interactive and unique experience, food carts are shaking up the marriage scene in 2024. As an alternative of traditional bars and buffets, couples are choosing persionalized options that may roam the venue, keeping the party going and the hunger at bay.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Champagne and caviar carts
- Churro carts
- Smoked-old fashioned bar
Personalized Cocktail Bar
Personalized cocktail bars are taking center stage in 2024 weddings, offering couples the chance to infuse their love story and personality into every sip.
Signature wedding cocktails are a highlight, with couples crafting concoctions that reflect their tastes and experiences, often accompanied by fun and unique names that add a playful touch to the celebration.
As generational preferences evolve, there’s a shift towards more mocktails, catering to guests preferring non-alcoholic options. Couples are getting creative with personalized mocktails, ensuring that each guest can raise a glass and toast to like in their very own way.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Spicy cocktails, like jalapeno margaritas with a twist unique to the couple
- Cocktails named after the couple’s pets to assist incorporate them into the marriage
- Personalized coffee drinks for late-night celebrations
Champagne Partitions
Bubbles, anyone? A champagne wall has been the last word wedding centerpiece this yr. With rows of champagne flutes lined up and prepared for the taking, guests grab a glass straight from the wall and cheers to the occasion. This wedding trend may also be a fun DIY project should you’re as much as the duty.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Champagne partitions paired with hedge greenery, florals, and lights for the right photo opportunity
- Layered champagne classes on a bookshelf
- Champagne glasses stacked in a tower quite than side by side
Custom Wedding Branding
Couples are elevating their wedding celebrations with personalized branding that reflects their unique love story and interests.
Custom wedding branding goes beyond traditional monograms, incorporating symbols and motifs that hold special meaning for the couple. We’ve spotted them getting used in various wedding elements, from invitations to escort card displays — even on custom wedding web sites.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Custom illustrations that depict special moments between the couple
- Symbolic motifs that represent something special within the couple’s lives, like their pet or their favorite place
- Family crests can represent and honor the couple’s unique family history
Honeymoons With Adventure
In 2024, couples are trading traditional rest trips for adventurous honeymoon escapades, including event-driven itineraries and “buddymoons,” that are honeymoons with friends. This shift reminds couples how vital it’s to make memories by experiencing things together as an alternative of counting on material items for happiness.
Examples we’re seeing:
- Jungle safaris over beach resorts
- Concert and festival honeymoons
- Mini-moons, which follow the marriage and are smaller versions of the true honeymoon, giving couples more time to avoid wasting and plan
- Buddymoons that are a honeymoon celebration with family and friends included
Plan Your Dream Wedding With Joy
In 2024, it’s clear that couples are prioritizing personalization and creating lasting memories on their big day. From personalized cocktail bars to interactive guest books and easy yet elegant cakes, these trends reflect a desire for authenticity and a celebration of affection in all its unique forms.
To include these trends into your big day, use Joy to assist plan and invite your guests, in addition to use the all-in-one wedding registry services.