Wedding culture is constantly changing. Wedding hashtags aren't as common anymore, wedding parties are often mixed, couples often exchange vows in private rather than at the altar, and the days of surprise proposals are long gone. Ta.
As wedding planning costs continue to rise and couples look for new ways to personalize their weddings, we explore what guests expect from weddings in 2025 and how couples… We wanted to hear from experts on what you should keep in mind when making your plans.
From decorations and fashion to food and hosts, these answers give you a glimpse of what's to come this year.
The rise of QR codes
In December 2023, Micah Meyer attended a friend's wedding near Boston. Meyer, founder of Beaumont Etiquette, a New York etiquette consulting firm, first saw QR codes on each table. The couple had set it up so guests could upload photos taken during the event.
The couple later confessed to Meier that no one was using the code, probably because it was so new that no one knew what it was, but Meier said the following year that some customers were using the QR code. I noticed that it was generating . their wedding.
Meyer said he believes the trend will take off in 2025, whether guests use it or not, because of its convenience. Guests who take photos and videos of first dances, speeches, and candid moments can upload them to an album, where couples can easily view them all in one place.
If your wedding has a QR code, guests can expect to see it on the back of their printed menu cards, place cards, or table cards.
“Tiny luxury”
Nicole Hernandez has noticed that couples are showing interest in adding special dishes to their wedding menus.
“People have access to see everything,” said Hernandez, vice president of sales for Constellation Culinary Group, a catering company with operations in cities such as Philadelphia and Miami. “They know what a Michelin experience is like. They want to bring that experience into their wedding, but they don't have to bring it into everything.”
Couples are willing to splurge on one standout item, she said. “That's why I always call it 'micro-luxury.' It's in that micro-way that you get the Michelin experience.”
This may include bite-sized treats such as caviar or small plant-based plates. Items such as food, drinks, and desserts may be handed out by a server during a sit-down dinner, or they may be at a separate station.
More loved ones as celebrants
An annual survey conducted by wedding platform Zola surveyed nearly 6,000 couples getting married in the U.S. in 2025, and 61 percent of respondents said their loved one will be the master of ceremonies. did. This is a 9% increase since 2024, according to the same Zola study.
Having a family member or close friend officiate is one of the most common ways couples can customize their wedding, said Alison Kallman, Zola's vice president of brand marketing and strategy. “You know them well, so it’s an opportunity to weave their unique stories and relationships into your event,” she said.
Kalman said 32% of couples are planning a secular ceremony in 2025, adding, “So this is an opportunity for couples to make their ceremony special without bringing in religion.” Ta.
“Many of my clients are starting to celebrate the weird parts of their relationship at their wedding and let their guests enjoy the fun,” says Elizabeth Kramer, a wedding coordinator and consultant in Portland, Oregon. spoke.
Based on responses from Zola survey respondents, the average cost of a wedding and reception in 2025 is predicted to be $36,000. Couples are spending a lot of money, so they might as well have a little fun, Kramer says.
“People use the celebratory space of a wedding or party to indulge in a little bit of nonsense that may not be formal or elegant in the traditional sense, but that means a lot to them. “I'm trying to use it to help,” she said. Kramer has been planning her wedding since 2016. For example, one of this year's couples is passionate about games and will have a variety of game rooms at their wedding.
dramatic drapes
Aisha Jalal, founder of Yesmin Events, a New York wedding planning company, said she's noticed couples choosing more elaborate drapes.
Draping has long been used at weddings to surround a room, whether it's on stage, but Jalal said dramatic draping is on the rise. This may include drapes in entrance areas that become tunnels, or ceiling drapes for tent weddings.
“It's going to be taller. It's going to be a little more dramatic. There's going to be more movement,” Jalal said.
“Weddings are becoming very big productions,” she added. “Draping brings a lot of texture, movement, and dimension.”
flower and fruit carvings
“I think weddings are becoming more and more like art installations,” said Jobe Meyer, owner of Jobe Meyer Events in Brooklyn.
In addition to dramatic draping, Ms. Jalal and Ms. Mayer, each engaged, have noticed an increase in sculptural floral structures. While we typically think of pastel roses and hydrangeas for weddings, Jalal sees an increase in bolder colors and more distinctive flowers, such as anthuriums and fringed tulips.
“I see couples in 2025 and 2026 wanting stacked, artistically shaped fruits and vegetables and minimal flowers,” Meyer said, adding new ways for couples to break away from tradition. He pointed out that he was thinking of
love for green
According to Zola research, green is the most popular wedding color for 2025. Eleven percent of couples said sage was their primary wedding color. Green shades such as hunter, emerald, forest and olive are also popular.
“I think this speaks to the fact that green is a neutral color that works well in outdoor landscapes, which are very popular at weddings,” Kalman said.
It also includes live plants, trees and succulents, Kramer said. “I think it comes from wanting to create a green space,” she says. Renting plants and trees also allows couples to avoid spending large sums of money on flowers that are thrown away after the wedding.
vintage accessories
In 2025, there are a lot of new trends in the wedding world, but there's also a nostalgia for the old. Lindsey Mix, head of merchandising at bridesmaid and wedding dress retailer Park and Fifth, says many couples pair their wedding attire with vintage shoes and accessories bought at thrift stores, for example. I noticed that it was a combination of A retro throwback to recent red carpets.
“I was really impressed that I was able to source archival shoes to go with the white dress,” Mix said. “So I think you'll definitely see people sourcing a mix of new and vintage pieces for their wedding wardrobes.”
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