2023 and 2024 Wedding Trends: A Focus on Personalization and Sustainability
I always love forecasting wedding trends, so here we go! When I wrote my trends post last year, I forecasted a lot of personalization, a lot of creativity, and a lot of couples doing things their own way. And Guess what? 2022 wedding couples took this all and totally ran wild with it. Honestly, last year’s weddings were so spectacular in so many ways that I have no idea how I’ll ever top that year, but I have a feeling that my 2023 couples are up for the challenge.
Core Values for the Modern Wedding
Before I jump into some of my favourite trends that I hope we’ll see in 2023 and 2024 weddings, here are a few things that are always at the top of my list:
- Environmental Responsibility
- Quality Over Quantity
- Locally Grown Flowers
- Doing Things Your Own Way
These are all things that I’d love to see you filter through your entire wedding planning!
Sustainability and Individual Styling
Sustainable weddings are growing in momentum, and we’re here for it! Many couples now strive for sustainability on their wedding day, which mirrors a drive for environmental consciousness. It’s also lovely to hear that sustainability is of growing importance: growing flowers rather than cut and locally sourced food is a popular choice. We like living flowers so people can plant them into their gardens after the wedding and see them bloom each year around their anniversary. Furthermore, there has been a rise in couples wanting to create their own individual wedding day, rather than relying on traditional wedding packages.
Sculptural Floral Design and Aesthetics
We’re seeing unique shapes, funky ingredients and textures and REALLY letting the flowers shine. There’s no micromanaging with this — we’re beholden to what cool ingredients we can get, so a client cannot be particular if this is the style they want. And after so many years of “just a little greenery,” I cannot tell you how truly thrilled FLORAL DESIGNERS are to see a return to actual floral design. Regarding the bridal look, I have nothing against big bouquets, but there’s something so chic and current about a scaled back bouquet, featuring ruffled blooms and smaller textures in a more intricate colour palette. Especially when paired with a more streamlined and architectural style dress, the effect is stunning.
Bold Colors and Focal Design Moments
Are colorful weddings in style? We. Say. YES! Bright Wedding Color Schemes are HERE. We’re seeing lots of very bold palettes, including some hilariously vibrant pinks. Chartreuse is the perfect way to tuck in some vibrancy and fun! Adding a hit of lime to something otherwise feminine or subdued can just bring such a delicious bit of life to a palette. To balance these bold textures, let’s favour a few focal floral features and minimize other elements. That means only include those elements that are necessary to support and build the table as a whole. Basically, streamline the tablescape so you can have some negative space.
Planning Trends and Logistics
Couples are tending to have shorter engagements in order to get married faster. Before Covid most people made their vows around 18 months to two years after becoming engaged, but now many take as little as nine months. To accommodate this fast-paced planning, a return to round tables gives us a great opportunity to pair form with function. Functionally, round tables are great for service, and most venues own them so that eliminates the need to rent in specialty tables.
The following table summarizes the key shifts observed for the upcoming seasons:
| Trend Category | Key Prediction for 2023-2024 |
|---|---|
| Color Palette | Bold palettes, vibrant pinks, and chartreuse accents |
| Floral Style | Sculptural designs and scaled-back, chic bouquets |
| Engagement | Shorter timeframes (often 9 months or less) |
| Sustainability | Living flowers, local sourcing, and upcycled furniture |
Display Style and Focal Points
Display Style Design including pedestals, plinths, and asymmetrical moments is becoming essential. Whether for a unique ceremony setting, an interactive dessert display, or a creative seating chart, get into the display design. Statements moments like a hanging piece, a killer entrance moment, or a spectacular cake set up are the chef’s kiss of modern event design.