Remember the song “Summer Nights” from Grease? “Summer lovin’, had me a blast / summer lovin’, happened so fast,” may be the theme for many couples getting married this summer. Thanks to the sunshine, these next few months are arguably some of the best for outdoor weddings. But it’s more than warm weather that keeps the season booked with weddings. Here are a few wedding trends you can expect to see this summer.
Candid, cinematic photos
Many couples this summer will opt for candid photos for their engagement and wedding photo sessions. These photos feature movement, expression and authenticity instead of rigid poses. Film and direct flash wedding photography are trending, giving images that timeless, cinematic aesthetic to your special night.
Vibrant color schemes
White has traditionally been the staple of any wedding color palette, but today’s couples favor more color in their festivities. For summer weddings, warm color palettes of pinks, oranges, reds, and earth tones are popular. Couples aren’t afraid to be vibrant in their color choices, either. What better way to meet a bright summer day than with bright-colored clothes and décor?
Your color palette may also vary depending on your location. Many destination weddings happen in the summertime, so bold and saturated colors may be especially fitting for tropical wedding destinations. Blues are also an excellent choice for beach and coastal weddings this summer.
Deconstructed wedding cakes
The defining feature of a deconstructed wedding dessert is that there are separate parts/tiers of the cake on a dessert table or platter instead of multiple cake layers stacked on top of one another. This allows for a combination of different styles, presentations and heights. Each piece may vary in flavor and filling, giving guests their preference. The separate portions of the cake also take up more room on the dessert table, which creates an impressive display.
Detachable wedding dresses
The defining trait of a detachable wedding dress is a removable or altered element of the gown. This could be a detachable train, overskirt, sleeves or cape. Removing these parts of the dress allows for more range of movement so you can end the night where the fun begins — on the dance floor. For example, you can wear your full-length wedding gown in all of its glory for your ceremony. Then as the day goes on, you may remove a part of the skirt to reveal a dress silhouette for the reception.
A detachable wedding dress gives you more range of motion and is much lighter to move in, allowing you to wear different looks for different parts of the day. It also provides a cost-effective solution instead of buying different dresses for the ceremony and reception. Having one dress with a removable layer allows you to achieve a cohesive and elegant look without spending more on another gown. If more money and movement aren’t enough to entice you, consider that preservation and storage are much easier with a detachable gown. Removable elements are easier to store as they have less bulk. Better storage and preservation mean your wedding dress will stay in good condition for years.
Mixed-gender wedding parties
Wedding parties are changing, and they no longer need to be men on one side and women on the other. We’re now seeing the emergence of mixed-gender wedding parties. For example, a bride may have a “man of honor,” and a groom may have “groomsmaids.” Many couples now focus on including who is important to them in their wedding parties, regardless of gender.
This allows the nearlyweds to choose a group of loved ones to participate in the celebration and not be defined by their genders. The last benefit to a mixed-gender wedding party is that the terms to identify them can be gender-neutral. Alternatives for the traditionally gendered terms include “Attendants,” “Best Person/Person of Honor,” “Mate of Honor,” and “Bridesmates/Groomsmates.” Ultimately, it’s up to the couple to decide what will work best for their identities and those closest to them.
Versatile registries
Say goodbye to the stigma of asking for cash gifts. Where this subject was once taboo, couples are normalizing cash gifts. They can have cash funds on sites like Zola, which show their guests where the gifted cash is going. Funds can benefit a home down payment or a honeymoon, for example.
Gift cards and experiential gifts are additional options to grant the newlyweds on their special day. Nearlyweds can also employ charity registries, which allow guests to contribute to a charitable cause important to the couple. The point here is that there are many things you can give newlyweds that go beyond a set of pots and pans.
Trends are always changing. But one thing we can expect to see for time to come is couples doing their own thing. Younger couples are increasingly throwing certain traditions out the door in favor of new ones like these and more. We can’t wait to see all the ways couples express themselves with 2023’s summer weddings.
