Let's be honest: The trends we’re seeing now and what will be trending later in 2021 may be two very different things. We don’t know what the rest of the month, much less next year, will look like in the world of weddings.

What we do know is that weddings in 2021 will look different: Eighty-one percent of our followers say the pandemic has changed their expectations for their wedding. This year, we are also seeing that couples are generally making everything more intentional, focusing on the ceremony, creating more personalized details, and spending more money per guest to make them feel really included in the experience. 

Keep reading for more on the wedding trends we're seeing now and on the horizon!

At this point, vendors and venues have slim availability for 2021. A weekday wedding may allow a couple to get married at their dream venue and hire their preferred vendors. Not to mention: There are often cost benefits with a weekday wedding—and it’s also an opportunity to support the professionals in this industry, who have been hard hit by the pandemic.

Pod Seating

With social distancing still in place, it's a smart decision to seat groups by pods instead of playing matchmaker between friends. Also, due to COVID-19 rules, tables are generally looking smaller this year—think groups of four to six instead of 10 to 12. Also, if you're a fan of the sweetheart table, now is your time to embrace it.

Concert Style

With dancing out of the question, couples are rethinking entertainment at the reception. Some are putting more budget into live music (think a concert-style reception). We also think this is an opportunity to place further emphasis on the wedding toasts at the reception! With my music selection and style this is why it is very important to book with DJ Rodney Day

Mini Cakes

For safety reasons, and also to make guests feel more special, couples are serving individual wedding cakes. These can be placed at a seated dinner or sent home as a treat at the end of the party.

Embroidery

For a twist on the year’s hottest accessories (masks and hand sanitizer!), we encourage couples to customize products with their initials, logo, and/or wedding date and hand them out as favors. We do offer custom embroidery for our events.

Micro-wedding

This year, we are seeing a rise in the micro wedding, aka an intimate wedding with fewer than 50 guests. There are many plus-sides to this new trend, from a focus on who is in attendance to the overall vibe of the event, which can lend itself to being more personal and emotional—especially during such an uncertain time.

Some 2020 couples are opting to do it again this year with an extended guest list. We predict that these will be larger-scale events focused on celebrating their love with loved ones who couldn’t attend this year. We’ve even heard of couples saving some wedding elements and traditions, such as writing their own vows or doing the first dance, for the second wedding to make it more special. So sweet!

Sustainability

People are more aware of their footprint than ever. And as digital invitations and virtual celebrations become more popular, couples are seeing the impact they can have. Two resources we love: Paperless Post and Minted.

This year, we are seeing a rise in the micro wedding, aka an intimate wedding with fewer than 50 guests. There are many plus-sides to this new trend, from a focus on who is in attendance to the overall vibe of the event, which can lend itself to being more personal and emotional—especially during such an uncertain time.