Wedding Trends for 2023

Oct 10th wedding at Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa

2022 was a wonderful year for weddings. We all saw a boom in celebrations worldwide as many couples tied the knot in freedom. Wedding venues and vendors no longer had to deal with restrictions and cut down celebrations due to the pandemic.


2023 is here, and we’re seeing some lovely trends from the pandemic still represented. For example, couples are sticking to the theme of personalization, and as a wedding photographer, I love this. I’ve always believed that weddings should be more about the couple than keeping with the norm.

As the year progresses, I look forward to seeing more deviations and weddings, unlike others. However, some gorgeous and practical trends from last year are still trending this year. Interested in knowing what they are? Then here are the wedding trends for 2023.


Grand Welcome Parties

Welcome parties are fun ways to welcome your guests and wedding party to your wedding weekend. They are very useful during destination weddings. Couples use them to share important information and ensure everyone has arrived and is safe.

Since we’re seeing more travel, destination weddings are back on the rise this year. As a result, we’re seeing more welcome parties but with a twist. Couples are throwing bigger welcome parties for themselves and their guests.

Picture welcome tours and beach games culminating in a barbecue under the stars or a night party. That way, couples can ensure that guests get to meet and have fun with each other before their wedding day. This leads to more cohesion and an overall happier celebration.

Later Weddings

In 2023 couples will be throwing bigger wedding after-parties. As a result, weddings will start later in the day. Beginning your wedding early in the morning and continuing till midnight is very tasking and so will be avoided.

A later wedding starting, say, midday, is sure to make things better. That way, guests can relax and prepare for your wedding celebration and the after-party. Guests at weddings like these are generally more energetic and much more fun.

Big Wedding Dresses

Wedding dresses in 2023 will feature big skirts but modern necklines, waistlines, and other features. This will give the perfect cool and relaxed vibe many couples aim for with their wedding fashion this year. We’ll also be seeing a rise in colored wedding dresses this year.

The main for these changes is that we’re seeing older brides in their 30s who know their style. So, they’ll aim for practical styles, favorite colors, and lots of personalization. We’ll also see an increase in trouser suits for both brides and bridesmaids.

Outdoor Wedding Spaces

wedding at pleasantly devine stables

Due to the pandemic, many couples were forced to have outdoor wedding celebrations. As a result, many wedding venues were granted licenses to hold outdoor ceremonies. Whether these venues were originally outdoor wedding venues no longer mattered.

Well, outdoor weddings have become popular, so the trend is becoming permanent. In most venues, you can get married outside as long as your venue has a wedding license. As a result, we’re seeing many beautiful and intimate outdoor wedding celebrations.

Minimalistic Flowers

Big foliage will not be on the rise this year as couples are going for a more minimalistic look. The vibe will be single florals that give a more modern romantic feel. Couples will also choose specific areas to go big on florals and be more sparing at others.

Choose places that will feature a lot in your wedding album for florals for the best results. The altar where you’ll say your vows is one of these places. Styling the space with abundant florals will frame you perfectly and come out beautifully in your pictures.

Bright and Bold Colors

For 2023, we’ll see a lot of orange at weddings. It’s a sweeping revival, and I love it because it looks great in photos and will make for beautiful wedding pictures. Orange is such a vibrant and happy color palette.

The Pantone Color of the Year is Magenta, and orange works well with this. We’ll also see other bright and bold colors come to play in everything from bridesmaid dresses to florals. Add metallic shades like copper and gold to your palette for a more luxe feel.

A Different Wedding Menu

For 2023, we’re seeing deviations from the traditional wedding sit-down dinner. Couples are going for a more adventurous experience involving grazing tables, tasting tables, etc. When it comes to drinks, we’re seeing less alcohol and more personalized nonalcoholic beverages.

Flowing Wedding Decor

Streamers and drapes will take center stage when it comes to décor in 2023. Aisles and wedding ceilings will feature gorgeous streamers and drapes in beautiful colors. We can’t wait to see what couples do with this décor option.

Streamers and drapes add an air of sophistication to your event. You can further increase this by adding metallic tones like silver and gold. Pair these with the right lights and flowers, and your wedding will be paradise. Ceiling floral streamers are also a great idea and bring gorgeous drama.

Smaller Guestlists

When the pandemic started, many couples were devasted because they had to cut their wedding numbers. Since then, however, the trend has caught on. This is mainly because smaller weddings are easier to plan, and more can be of higher quality on a lower budget.

So, if you want to have an intimate wedding, go right ahead. Guests are more understanding because of the economy, and you can spend the day with those most important to you. As a rule, if you wouldn’t have invited them to come on zoom for your ceremony during the lockdown, why ask them now?

In Conclusion

I am excited to document wedding celebrations this year and see how couples incorporate these trends. Did you find any of these interesting enough to include in your own celebrations? Including a trend or two in your event is one way to make it more personal. Please feel free to adopt any that work for your wedding vision, and best of luck!

Rob CharlesComment