The Defining Wedding Trends of 2025

At BRIDES, we’ve always believed in getting married your way. The point of a wedding, after all, is to celebrate two people—who oftentimes have distinct points of view and different backgrounds—as they start a singular life together. Since no two couples are the same, no two weddings should be the same. To-be-weds are really taking that to heart in the new year, say the wedding planners and event designers who know firsthand what 2025 clients’ biggest priorities are. What these couples want, they told us, is a celebration that holistically communicates their unique story (romantically, culturally, and culinarily), often outside of the confines of tradition. “Gone are the days of rigid formality,” affirms Roxanne Bellamy, the principal designer and creative director at Roxanne Bellamy & Co. “From immersive dining experiences to thoughtfully curated décor, every detail is telling a deeper story.”

According to the seven experts we polled, couples are making a few key choices to do just that: They’re keeping guest counts low (a departure from 2023 and 2024 nuptials, which saw increased event sizes) to maximize the impact of every dollar and detail, selecting meaningful wedding locations (extended destination events still reign supreme!) and then prioritizing cultural immersion for guests, and turning a major focus on food (which will surpass almost every other big-day component on the priority list in 2025).

The takeaway? The only thing small about weddings in 2025 will be the event size—beyond that, the design will be lusher and more expansive (ceilings and floors, designers are coming for you!), the food will taste better, and the connection between couples and their guests will run deeper. As Laura Ritchie of Grit & Grace puts it, “Weddings in 2025 are going to be pushing the limits and providing more immersive experiences for guests’ eyes, ears, and taste buds.” Ahead, we explore where weddings are headed in 2025.

Reduced Guest Counts

Event sizes soared in the pandemic’s aftermath, leading to extra-large guest counts in 2023 and 2024. Rising costs and shifting priorities, however, are driving those numbers down again, say the pros, as duos attempt to throw the wedding of their visual and emotional dreams that is also within their means. “Guest lists are being lowered so couples are able to afford a more reflective design and increase meaningful moments throughout a weekend—instead of hosting just one huge singular event,” affirms Ritchie.

In that vein, cutting those guest lists—which is oftentimes the best way to reduce a wedding budget—is also giving to-be-weds the freedom to host pre- and post-wedding events that extend the fun and support the guest experience. That’s right: The wedding weekend is alive and well and about to get even better in 2025, as couples ease event sizes so they can invest in and maximize each party’s quality. “Our clients are leaning into smaller guest lists and longer wedding weekends,” say Josiah Carr and Justin McGregor, the husband-husband team behind SAMKOMA. “Multiple days of events with less guests also allows for the couple to have more face time with all who attend.”

Tzo Ai Ang, the founder of Ang Weddings and Events, notes that this decision is both financial and emotional: “They want their nearest and dearest to have an incredible time celebrating over their wedding weekend,” she says. “This allows for extra touches like specialty music, food and beverage upgrades, thoughtful welcome bags, or takeaway favors. Couples are really thinking about how to create a welcoming and fun atmosphere for all.”

Floor-to-Ceiling Décor

With more budget to throw behind décor, couples will use every inch of a room to tell their design story—so be sure to look up (and down!) at weddings in 2025. “Events next year will be about breaking the glass ceiling and ripping the carpet out from under you, meaning it’s all about the fourth and fifth wall in the room,” explains Ritchie. “The ceilings and the floors are going to be major focus points!”

As for what you should expect to see in the space in between? “Our couples are embracing bolder designs and vibrant floral arrangements more than ever. We’re seeing a shift towards rich, colorful palettes,” Melissa Williams, the CEO, owner, and creative director of B Astonished Events, says. “They’re taking our advice to step outside of tradition and elevate their weddings with bright, eye-catching blooms that bring energy and personality to their celebrations.” Ang seconds those larger-than-life flowers: “I am getting lots of requests in 2025 for full, lush ceremony aisles built out with lots of flowers lining the aisle.”

Food as Priority Number One

Virtually every pro we talked to noted that couples are putting a newfound focus on their menus in 2025, but a few also called out a few ways food (and food service) might shift as a result of this emphasis. According to Erin Taylor, the owner and creative director of Bustle Events, duos are stepping away from long sit-down dinners and embracing experiential food stations, instead. There’s a key advantage to this meal style: “Guests can mix and mingle through dinner and enjoy many different types of food,” she explains, noting that these stations are yet another way for couples to extend their event’s design footprint. “We love watching guests interact with the stations we have designed.”

What couples serve at their weddings is changing, too. Sure, chicken, beef, and a vegetarian option will always be a tried-and-true formula, but many couples are taking a more personal approach to crafting a big-day menu. “We’re also seeing a lot of couples bringing their family culture of food into their wedding, in addition to what’s being provided by the caterer on-site,” explains Williams. She notes that couples are also using food to increase cultural immersion and communicate their story and values—and are choosing local, in-season options (in addition to their favorites!) as a result. “When it comes to menu selections, we’re also noticing many couples are choosing regional and seasonal ingredients to create menus that reflect the local area and reduce environmental impact.”

Tradition-Free Weddings

“Couples are forgoing all the traditions,” says Taylor. “They’re getting ready together and moving away from a wedding party (and just including their favorite people in a more relaxed way). No cake cuttings, no formal family photos—the list goes on.” She isn’t the only one who has noticed duos skipping what generations passed have considered wedding musts. According to Carr and McGregor, even speeches and dances are getting a new look in the new year. “A lot of couples are doing speeches at the rehearsal dinner versus the wedding night—and lots of couples have started doing a ‘parent dance,’ where the couple dances with their respective parent at the same time versus doing a father-daughter or mother-son dance separately.” 

This is just another sign that duos are prioritizing what Bellamy calls “connection over complexity.” They’re operating outside of what they “should” do at a wedding and forging a new way forward that feels more authentic to them—one where getting ready together mimics a relaxed morning at home or a reception flows more like a dinner party they’d host around the holidays. “At weddings in 2025, relaxed, welcoming environments are replacing rigidly formal ones, creating spaces for genuine connection,” Bellamy says.