Wedding Trends 2026: What's New, What's Evolving, and What's Here to Stay
Weddings in 2026 are being reinvented. While trends are always changing and tastes continue to evolve, the defining theme of the year ahead is one we expect to stick around - personalisation. And not as a finishing touch, but as a guiding idea that shapes everything from wedding venue styling, to design choices, guest experience and the overall planning journey.
Couples are increasingly stepping away from conventions and making choices that feel intentional, characterful and reflective of who they are. From expressive colour palettes to immersive evening styling, 2026 weddings focus on storytelling, atmosphere and thoughtful guest moments, while still valuing the traditions that matter most to them.
By analysing Google, Pinterest and TikTok search behaviour, reviewing real weddings, tracking visual trends across social platforms, and speaking with planners, venues and suppliers across the industry, we've grouped the key wedding trends for 2026 into four clear areas: new trends emerging, 2025 favourites evolving, returning classics, and long-term shifts shaping weddings beyond the trend cycle.
Jump to:
- New Wedding Trends for 2026
- Wedding Trends That Are Staying and Evolving
- Older Wedding Trends Making a Comeback
- Wedding Shifts (Not Trends)
New Trends Emerging for 2026
Calla Lilies
Slim, architectural shapes are becoming increasingly popular across bouquets, ceremony styling and tablescapes. Pinterest data shows searches for “Calla Lily Bridal Bouquet” have doubled year-on-year, pointing to a growing preference for sculptural shapes. Calla lilies deliver impact without relying on sheer volume, helping to get a more defined look without stretching the budget. Their minimalist, elegant look is definitely landing with modern couples, and we've already seen so many creative takes of this popping up across our socials.
The Glam Era
The evening reception is no longer just the tail end of the wedding, with its own atmosphere and design focus. We're seeing metallic textures, mirrored finishes, saturated lighting and statement draping are being used to elevate late-night celebrations. Pinterest searches for “Glitz and Glam Party Theme” have risen by 40% in the last year, showing how quickly couples are picking up this look. Couples want a defined “chapter two” for the night, with high interest in layered, high-energy evening styling that complements the daytime aesthetic rather than replacing it.
Colour-Driven Design
Neutral palettes are giving way to richer, more expressive colour choices. Deep red, olive, emerald and butter-yellow are appearing across florals, linens, stationery and bridal party styling. Pinterest searches for butter-yellow bridesmaid dresses have surged significantly, showing how colour is now central to creating a cohesive visual identity across venues, décor and attire. Giving a bold colour can really change the ambience of your wedding day, and we love the confidence it can bring!
Dramatic Draping
Draping is going large-scale; fabric installations are being used in increasingly architectural ways, from ceiling drapes to full room transformations. Interest in “Wedding Ceiling Draping” rose notably last year, highlighting how couples are working with planners, venues and stylists to use fabric as a tool for changing scale, height and atmosphere, rather than simply adding softness.
Maximalist Tablescapes
Table styling is moving towards a more layered, expressive approach. Patterned linens, sculpted candles, textured florals and mixed glassware are allowing couples and stylists to create immersive dining environments that reflect the wider design of the day. Our favourite take on this trend is incorporating coloured glassware into the tablescape; practical and beautiful!
Tactile Stationery
Stationery continues to play an important role in setting the tone of a wedding. Blind embossing, rich paper stocks and hand-drawn details are increasingly used to align invitations, menus and signage with the overall aesthetic. Pinterest reports a rise in searches for “Classy Wedding Invitations”, reflecting ongoing interest in paper goods that feel considered and cohesive.
2025 Trends That Are Staying and Evolving
Lace, Reimagined
Lace wedding dresses remain popular, but silhouettes have evolved. Softer, romantic styles are being replaced by more structured shapes, corsetry and architectural detailing (think Millie Bobby Brown and Selena Gomez's bridal looks). Continued growth in searches for lace wedding dresses shows sustained interest, with designers adapting the material to suit modern tastes.
Bridal Scarves & Veil Alternatives
Bridal scarves have moved from niche styling choice to established accessory. Their appeal lies in versatility, offering couples an additional way to personalise their look and transition between different moments of the day while sitting comfortably alongside traditional veils and headpieces.
Wedding Wardrobes
Couples are increasingly planning multiple outfit moments around their wedding, not just for the day itself but for the surrounding celebrations, including rehearsal dinners, post-wedding travel, and engagement, hen & stag parties. Searches for second wedding dresses and occasion outfits continue to rise, reflecting a broader shift towards weddings as multi-event celebrations supported by specialist designers and suppliers. We're also seeing a big rise on social media of outfits for post-wedding, such as t-shirts with statement "wifey" or "bride" jumpers to wear to the airport for their honeymoon.
Guest-First Photography
Photography is increasingly being designed with guests in mind, alongside traditional wedding photography and popular photo booth experiences. Some couples are choosing to include relaxed, editorial-style guest portraits during cocktail hour or throughout the day. This approach adds another layer to the guest experience, giving friends and family meaningful keepsakes while complementing established photography and entertainment options.
Movement & Candid Imagery
Natural, energetic imagery continues to grow in popularity. Searches for candid wedding photography have increased sharply, reflecting a desire to capture atmosphere, movement and emotion alongside posed portraits; preferring the real atmosphere, not just the perfect moment. This style works alongside traditional coverage to create a more complete visual record of the day.
Drone Coverage as Standard
Aerial photography is becoming an increasingly common addition to wedding photography packages, particularly for venue-led celebrations. Drone footage provides cinematic context and highlights ceremony layouts, surroundings and guest movement, working alongside ground-level photography rather than replacing it.
Participatory Entertainment
Interactive entertainment remains popular, with couples and guests enjoying temporary tattoo or glitter bars, live illustrators, cocktail crafting stations, DJ drop-ins or rehearsed dances. Interest in “Unique Wedding Ideas” continues to grow on TikTok, showing that couples value experiences that encourage guests to engage, while still working with established entertainers and suppliers.
Statement Cakes & Dessert Displays
Classic wedding centrepieces are evolving rather than disappearing. Champagne towers remain a popular celebratory moment, but couples are now applying the same visual impact to dessert-led displays. Tiramisu towers and layered desserts served in vintage champagne glasses are appearing more frequently, offering a personalised twist while keeping the familiar theatrical feel.
Lambeth cakes are also evolving in form. While traditional round designs remain popular, bakers are increasingly creating elongated, rectangular and multi-tiered versions that feel more contemporary while retaining the intricate piped detailing that defines the style. This evolution allows couples to honour tradition while adapting scale, shape and presentation to suit modern tablescapes and guest numbers.
Older Trends Making a Comeback
Heirloom-Inspired Jewellery
Vintage-cut stones, engraved bands and mixed metals are seeing renewed interest. Searches for “Vintage Style Engagement Rings” continue to rise, reflecting a wider preference for craftsmanship, longevity and sentiment. These designs sit comfortably alongside contemporary jewellery styles, giving couples more choice rather than narrowing it. “Vintage Wedding Ring 1920s” in particular rose up by 200% on Pinterest in the last year, giving a nod to our favourite example of this rising trend, Taylor Swift's engagement ring, showing the direction this popular wedding jewellery style is likely to go.
Coloured & Stained-Glass Tones
Amber, ruby and smoke-toned glassware is reappearing across tablescapes, adding warmth and depth to modern styling and can easily and inexpensively be merged with your wedding décor. These tones complement a wide range of venues and décor styles and support the wider move towards richer, layered design. These tones are even in celebrity styling; for example, Selena Gomez's wedding leaned into amber and yellow hues.
Long-Term Shifts (Not Trends)
UK Destination Weddings
Many couples are choosing UK locations such as Cornwall, the Highlands and the Lake District to achieve a destination feel without international travel. This approach balances guest accessibility with a sense of escape and continues to support regional wedding venues and suppliers.
Dry Weddings & Inclusive Drinks Culture
Alcohol-free and low-alcohol celebrations are becoming more common, supported by the growth of craft mocktails, non-alcoholic spirits and speciality coffee offerings. This shift expands choice and inclusivity within wedding hospitality rather than limiting traditional bar options.
Sustainability as Standard
Eco-conscious choices are now widely expected. Local florals, recycled décor, low-waste catering and environmentally accredited venues are increasingly built into planning conversations, with many suppliers helping couples make sustainable choices without compromising on quality or experience.
Final Thoughts
Weddings in 2026 are defined by confident styling, meaningful guest experiences and a strong emphasis on personal expression. Rather than replacing traditions or trusted suppliers, couples are building on them, using trends as tools to shape celebrations that feel intentional and reflective of who they are; it's less about trends this year and more about using them as tools to build a celebration with intention and character.
We're coming into a new era of weddings. Minimalism will always have its place, but from these trends it's clear that in 2026 we're moving into more bold, expressive, immersive and personal weddings.