Modern couples are rewriting the rules for weddings, ditching traditions they don’t want and creating celebrations that reflect their own personal style, according to a new report from Yelp. They used data from the site and input from wedding planning and hospitality industry pros to find the most popular ideas and trends for weddings this year.
“The biggest shift has been a move away from tradition for tradition’s sake and toward experiences that feel intentional and meaningful,” says Alyssa Bray-Metz, a wedding planner at MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa in Sonoma, California. “There’s a stronger emphasis on connection, thoughtfulness, and authenticity rather than formality or excess.”
Here’s what we’ll be seeing at weddings in the year ahead, according to Yelp:
- Experiences are key in modern weddings - Some couples opt to tie the knot at venues where experiences are built-in, like parks with lake boating, botanical gardens with butterfly exhibits, or rooftop lounges with patio games. Others are adding “performances” like live-painting or bouquet-making stations where guests can create their own keepsakes.
- Food is going interactive - Boring chicken or fish dinners are out and creative dining is in. Couples are choosing chef-led tasting stations, build-your-own taco bars, global street-food carts, or curated menus that feature food from their heritage or travels.
- Photos go candid - The staged group poses and on-command smiles are less popular today, as couples want to capture the authenticity of the day, real tears, laughs, and all.
- Couples value sustainability - Eco-conscious brides and grooms are paying attention to where their wedding items come from and where they go afterwards. For flowers, they want locally sourced seasonal blooms, reusable potted plants, or even donate florals to hospitals or senior homes after the nuptials.
- They’re ditching the dress code - From jumpsuits to Converse sneakers, couples are wearing what makes them feel comfortable and confident when they say “I do.” Detachable elements, like sleeves and capes are on-trend, and searches for “vintage wedding dresses” have jumped 41% on Yelp.
- Rings with a purpose - Interest in sustainability applies to rings, too, with searches for “lab-grown engagement rings” up 436%.
Source: Yelp