If this year has taught us anything, it is how adaptable we can be. The 2022 wedding trends are no different in reflecting this. Wedding planning can be stressful at the best of times, especially with the challenges of the last year reshaping the wedding industry. Therefore we must applaud couples more than ever for creating the ceremonies and celebrations that they want to have. The wedding industry has been entirely remoulded into something more defined and relaxed than in previous years. 

This year is about going big with all of the little details. In 2022 couples are focusing on every aspect of their big day. Now more than ever weddings are meaningful, a representation of the couples’ lives, and all about enjoying the celebrations. Couples are whittling down weddings right to the core and re-shaping what it means to celebrate such a momentous occasion. 2022 wedding trends show quality over quantity, gratitude and a true personalised feeling shared with friends and family.

What 2022 Wedding Trends can be seen on the Horizon? 

Pre and Post Wedding Celebrations

Engagement parties, stag and hen dos or even bridal showers have been a wedding season staple for years and years. Nevertheless, the next 12 months are said to have a huge impact on the way we celebrate pre-wedding parties.

Stag and Hen Parties

When it comes to stag and hen parties, we know that most couples are dying to host an incredible party with all of their friends after the restrictions this year has brought. There has been an increased spike in more intimate, staycation-esque parties, with most couples swapping out a nightclub bar for a cosy Airbnb. Not only does it often work out more cost effectively, but after the last 12 months, many brides and grooms-to-be are looking for private affairs where they can have a good catch up with their loved ones. 

Trend Insights: Staycations are in! Think private cocktail masterclasses, private chefs and hot tubs!

Engagement Announcements

Because couples are not able to have a large engagement party with all of their friends and family, wedding announcements have now become their best friend. The usual wedding announcement guidelines are out of the window. So, brides and grooms are forking out a little more than usual on getting those incredible and personal wedding announcement and engagement photos. These aren’t just regular snaps, photographers have seen a huge increase in spectacular and unique engagement photos for the couple to share on social media. 

Trend Insights: Most couples are hiring a professional wedding photographer to get their gorgeous engagement photos.

Honeymoon

For many couples, a two week vacay in Mexico is not on the cards this year. As an alternative, newlyweds are opting for a safe, and easy staycation. Forget jetting off for a longer period, and imagine cosying up in the glorious good old British countryside, in a little ‘minimoon’ or ‘nanomoon’ getaway. This doesn’t mean that couples won’t get to travel to their dream locations at all, their ‘proper’ honeymoon may just be delayed until restrictions are lifted and travel returns back to normal.

Trend Insights: Mini-moons are the new honeymoon. Instead of jet setting across the globe, British couples are looking for a quiet staycation location.

Wedding Ceremony and Reception Venues

Searching for the perfect venue is always top of the list for brides and grooms to be. This year has brought a monumental shift in the way that couples are choosing their venues.

Where?

Smaller wedding venues are naturally becoming more popular, but outdoor wedding venues and locations across the country are also being opted for instead of more traditional spaces. Restaurants, bars and bistros are being looked to for wedding venues, whether the couple are looking for something a little more relaxed or they have chosen one of their favourite places, as with everything this year, the venue choice will have meaning. 

Venues have been hit hard by the changes that have been introduced in the wedding industry over the last few months. But this has meant that couples can be a lot more choosy and relaxed while hunting for their dream location, with venues having to be even more flexible to accommodate the multitude of different wedding types. For the time being, weddings abroad will not even be considered by most couples; but with so many beautiful locations all over the UK, lovebirds will still be spoilt for choice. 

There are also some proposed changes in the law that are being looked into surrounding wedding ceremonies in the UK. If this law does indeed change in 2022, it is looking like outdoor wedding trends will be so much easier and will grow in popularity enormously.

Trend Insights: Couples are considering outdoor venues, more relaxed spaces such as bars and restaurants and even unusual venues. 

When?

Because so many weddings have been rearranged this year, there is a huge influx of weekday weddings. Not just this, but traditional timings are out the window! More couples are choosing early morning or brunch-time ceremonies with the rest of the day to relax and party or twilight wedding ceremonies after having spent the day with their loved ones. Guests are a lot more willing to take time off work to spend the day celebrating with the newlyweds and overall wedding attitudes are a lot more positive. 

Trend Insights: Weekday weddings and unusual timings! However you would like to structure your wedding day, it is now easier than ever before. 

Who?

One of the biggest changes to the wedding sphere is the size of the guestlist. Couples having to make difficult decisions by cutting down their family and friends down into smaller group sizes. But this isn’t all bad! Brides and Grooms have more choice than ever, with many venues altering their wedding venues to fit with current wedding trends, and current wedding sizes too. Not only that, but much less money is spent on catering, any trinkets and wedding favours so there is plenty more room in the budget. 

Trend Insights: Smaller guest lists mean only the nearest and dearest can be invited and money is saved. 

How?

Rather than sticking with an overarching theme for the venue and table decoration, mismatched seating and table decorations have been popping up throughout weddings all over the country, again fitting with the relaxed styles that many couples are going for.  Whether you are looking for all matching centrepieces or you would like to create a journey and have different arrangements, there are limitless options in 2022.

Unsurprisingly, horse shoe and zig-zagged table layouts have become a lot more popular, with venues recommending less face to face seating and group sizes shrinking down too for more intimate groups. For indoor venues, larger rooms are still being used for smaller group sizes to allow for more space to mingle and also for guests to socially distance if they so wish. 

Theme Insights: Relaxed table settings and non-face to face settings are the way forward this year. 

Fashion Forward Wedding Outfits

You’ll be pleased to know that there is tons of wiggle room in wedding fashion trends for 2022. The ‘go with the flow’ attitude that has been brought in this year has spread into fashion trends too. There is a huge increase in more casual, easy-going and colourful outfits. Out with tradition and in with modernity!

Wedding Gowns 

Some brides will be thrilled to hear that jumpsuits, trouser suits and 2-pieces are even more popular this year, with the overall more relaxed vibes coming from wedding ceremonies. But that is not all, with all of the cancellations and postponements, brides are now more than ever exploring the options of having two outfits, with a shorter party-like dress for the evening reception. 

Traditional white ball gowns are seriously on the out this year, with an increase in brides opting for champagne, blush pink and ivory dresses. And it’s not just colours that are changing, often brides are searching for more simple styles, opting for more sustainable choices that can be worn again or sewn into a new outfit after the wedding. So throw out the bridal guidebook and if there was ever a time to choose exactly what you want, now is that time! 

Trend Insights: Brides are wearing a wider range of colour options this year. They are also looking for more sustainable outfits with jumpsuits, simple dresses and co-ords are definitely on the rise.

Wedding Suits

The predictions for 2022 are in! We are forecast to see an explosion of colour this year, with suits as one of the centre points. Suits with dark royal colours such as forest greens and deep reds for autumn and winter weddings, paired with lighter pastel blues and lilacs for spring and summer ceremonies are coming in. No longer are groomsmen limited to navy and greys, it is time to slip into something more colourful.

Trend Insights: Now is the time to choose your favourite colour. Suits are coming in a whole rainbow of colours, so be bold. 

Bridesmaid Dresses

Much like the suits for the groom’s party, bridesmaids dresses are having a huge uplift in colour. Bright warm colours, such as oranges and reds, and royal cooler colours like greens and blues are becoming more popular. Not only this, but there is an influx of mixing various dress colours and styles, and not just sticking to one across the board. Styles are changing, women’s suits, jumpsuits and two-pieces are becoming popular in this sphere too, so really there is a world of choices. 

Trend Insights: Bright and stark colours are in! Pick your favourites and mix and match colours and styles for the perfect combination. 

Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands

Experts in the jewellery business are recognising the shift towards more radiant and square-cut stones, with more couples also opting for various gems and not sticking to purely diamonds. Not only this but yellow gold is making a come back with more couples looking to have the classic gold colour for their wedding bands. 

Trend Insights: Yellow gold and square cuts stones are becoming increasingly popular. 

Services, Decorations and Traditions

2022 will do away with the excess, and instead couples are going BIG on the smaller details. With a slightly larger budget and fewer guests, there is some wiggle room for a relaxed and unique wedding day. A special day that can be exactly the way that couples want it to be. They have chosen themes and decorations and uniquely personalised them. Traditions are updated, rearranged and reimagined this year, so have a look!

Themes and Styles

This year also brings a smorgasbord of personalisation and ideas of sentimentality for both the ceremony and the wedding reception. Whether it be photographs of the newlywed; a collection of memories from a favourite holiday; a roadmap of achievements and celebrations so far; or even just a great collection of their favourite things; wedding venues are decorated in seemingly random and yet extremely personal ways that have never cropped up before.

Rustic and neutral themes are no more in the 2022 wedding trends scene. This year sees a huge increase in contemporary and cleaner styles. This does not mean that colour has also been forgotten, on the contrary, strong and vibrant themes have taken over the wedding colour palette and wedding planners are being bolder with their choices than ever before. 

 

Theme Insights: Brightly coloured personal themes are at the top of the list for 2022.

The Cake

Traditional wedding cakes have been thrown out of the window with easy ‘naked’ single tier cakes and micro cakes becoming a lot more popular. Once again, tradition is forgotten and couples are taking strides in a more modern and delicate direction. Instead of the wasteful three-tier sugar coated cake, couples are looking for alternative options. 

Trend Insights: We are leaving Traditional cakes behind. Instead of modern single tier ‘naked’ cakes, macaroon arrangements or individual cupcakes are in. 

Floral Arrangements and Bouquets

Bridal party bouquets and groomsmen’s pocket holes are following similar trends with more delicate and gentle flowers used.

Flowers are still important centrepieces, but with more sleek and modern styles coming into play, arrangements are simple and tidy, with bold and deep splashes of colour to celebrate the newlyweds and to compliment the rest of the themes. Flowers are seen as even more important this year as a representation of romance and sentimentality. 

Wedding bouquets are becoming smaller and more minimalist with brides opting for more petite bouquets to allow them to shine brighter. Though this doesn’t mean that colours are muted too, with brides choosing bright flowers to match their colour schemes, but in more gentle arrangements. For example, flowers such as Lily of the Valley and Posies are popping up in bouquets more and more to add a little more delicacy. 

 

Trend Insights: Bold colour choices and fresh themes are allowing smaller and minimalistic bouquets to shine in their own way. 

Suppliers and Services

2022 is the year of exploring more eco-friendly, mindful and purposeful choices. There has been an influx in brides and grooms making choices based on how eco-friendly suppliers are, whether they offer vegan options or whether they are part of or supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. Couples are a lot more mindful with which suppliers they choose to provide services for their big day.

Photography

Photography has always been the perfect way to capture memories of important moments. But this year more than ever, with smaller guest lists and more need to share our positive moments, wedding videography and photography is becoming increasingly popular with couples looking to share their big day. Livestreaming is now being used for guests who are unable to travel or unable to attend the wedding ceremony.

Trend Insights: Livestreaming is perfect for couples who have guests abroad or that are unable to attend

Musicians and Singers

Nearly every wedding has some musical aspect to it, and this upcoming year will be no different. Nevertheless, there has been some change to musical choices, with more wedding planners looking for acoustic musicians rather than larger bands to entertain their guests. Individual performers have increased dramatically and replaced larger bands, and singing acoustic guitarists have been at the forefront of wedding trends.

Trend Insights: Acoustic performances are the go-to for entertainment options!

Wedding Speeches and Toasts

Traditional speeches are being left behind, and replacing them are smaller memory sharing moments. With 2022 becoming more about sentimentality and gratitude, many weddings are seeing shared moments. Guests recite how they met the couple, some of their favourite memories or give a mini-toast to the newlyweds. Not only is this a lot more personal, but it means all guests who would like to be involved can give some loving words to the bride and groom. 

Trend Insights: Instead of long speeches, smaller individual toasts from guests are becoming more popular. They are more personalised and sentimental. 

Wedding Favours

Due to the drastic reduction in wedding guest lists, couples are willing to spend a little more of their money on wedding favours for their loved ones. Wedding trends will see a much more personalised approach; whether each guest gets something very thoughtful and different, or whether everything is personalised down to the little details. Every aspect of the day will be shared, and friends and family will be cherished with this new trend.

Trend Insights: Wedding favours will reach a new level of intimacy, personalisation and gratitude this year.


Final Thoughts

Naturally, Wedding trends change annually and this year is no different. This upcoming year marks one of the most diverse developments seen in the wedding sphere over the last decade. Now more than ever before, wedding attitudes have been majorly relaxed. It has become a lot more about appreciating a beautiful day with that handful of friends and family. The pressure is off! Couples feel more liberated to go for things that they love, even if they aren’t in line with traditions.

Are looking for some advice on how to plan your wedding? Check out our handy guide

If you are still looking for the perfect services to compliment your wedding day, check out our website. Or if you’re just looking for some more advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at hello@poptop.uk.com 

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