Wedding Trends to Watch for in 2021

Wedding Planning

Mar 5

Guest Post by Katie Tejada for Olivia Bottega

For the couples that had their wedding planned in 2020, the pandemic sure threw a wrench in the wedding of their dreams. Many couples chose to cancel the wedding altogether and put it off another year in hopes that Covid restrictions would be relaxed. Others went ahead with an unconventional Zoom wedding or opted for a wedding with a very small group of attendees. Luckily, it looks like 2021 will allow for traditional weddings to happen. Here are some predictions for what will be popular in the wedding scene this year.

Smaller Gatherings

Many states still have restrictions on the number of people that can attend a gathering. That means we won’t be seeing weddings with 100+ attendees, but more likely around the number of 25. The soon-to-be spouses will be inviting only the closest of friends and family but may opt to plan a large wedding party at a later date. Others may choose to do the ceremony with a small group and continue the celebration for the next day or more with other groups of people. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate their wedding for more than one day anyway?

Extra Lavish Ceremony & Reception

With fewer people attending the wedding, the couple may have more budget to spend on the ceremony, reception, dress, and wedding rings. Buffet dinners may turn into gourmet three-course meals, the bridal party wedding dress can be stunning and formal, and decor can be bumped up to extraordinary levels. And with all that money saved by opting for a micro-wedding, the bride and groom can treat themselves to an unforgettable honeymoon.

Sanitary Welcome Boxes

Wedding favors have always been a nice way to send off your guests with a little take-home thank you. Now, we are seeing welcome box favors that contain items like hand sanitizer, face masks, wedding programs, and other mementos. Many venues also offer social distancing signs to remind guests to stay at a safe distance from each other.

Outdoor Weddings

As part of the social distancing efforts, many weddings have been scheduled for a warmer time of the year so the wedding can be held outside. This way, guests can have room to social distance as they please, and they’re not stuck in a stuffy building. Outdoor weddings are a breath of fresh air during this time.

Greenery & Twinkling Lights

As more weddings are being held outdoors this year, the trend for plenty of natural greenery, flowers, and string lights is starting to take hold. Designer outdoor string lights are a beautiful way to give lighting to your reception as the sun goes down. Combine your lighting with warm weather and an open bar, and you have a recipe for one heck of a reception party!

With the vaccine currently being distributed across the country, we’re hoping for ever-decreasing restrictions so brides and grooms everywhere can have the wedding they’ve always dreamt of.

Even if your guest list is smaller than you’d like, you’ll get to pay more attention to those who are closest to you on your wedding day!

Katie Tejada is a writer, editor, and former HR professional. She often covers developments in HR, business, recruiting, real estate, law and finance, but also enjoys writing about travel, interiors and events.