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Over five years and more than 100 weddings in, I've watched plenty of wedding trends come and go, but this season's lineup has genuinely caught my attention because more couples are giving themselves permission to do things their own way, and the results can be nothing short of amazing.
Bold color choices, a little rebellion against tradition, and dinners that feel more like a party than a formality are defining what real wedding days look like right now.
So, whether you're deep in the planning trenches or just starting to dream up your day, here's what's showing up again and again on the wedding days I have the honor of photographing.
Monochrome florals are taking a back seat to bouquets that look like they were plucked straight from an overgrown cottage garden.
Think unexpected color combos, such as burgundy dahlias next to blush ranunculus with a pop of citrine yellow, all tied together with trailing greenery. It's floral design that feels alive instead of merely arranged.
Cathedral-length veils are having a full-blown moment, and I’m loving it. There's something undeniably cinematic about a veil that catches the wind (or gets artfully draped by a bridesmaid) during portraits.
It's the kind of detail that photographs like a dream and makes an entrance feel like an entrance.
Brides are swapping their ceremony updo for something looser, softer, and easier to dance in once the reception starts. A few pins come out, some waves get added, and suddenly it's a whole new look for the after-party. It's a small change with a surprisingly big payoff in photos.
Sleeves are no longer an afterthought. Off-the-shoulder necklines, illusion lace, dramatic bishop sleeves, lace gauntlets, bridal armbands, and even detachable sleeves that let a bride switch up her silhouette between the ceremony and reception are taking center stage.
It's a beautiful way to add drama (or take it away) in mere seconds without touching the dress itself.
Plated dinners are giving way to family-style spreads, and it makes so much sense. Big platters get passed around the table, guests actually talk to each other while they serve themselves, and the whole vibe feels more like a celebration dinner than a formal event.
It's warmer, it's more social, and it photographs beautifully too.
Small weddings keep proving that intimate doesn't mean boring. I've photographed micro weddings with 15 guests that felt more emotionally packed than some 300-person affairs I've shot.
When the guest list shrinks, the little details, such as the vows, the in-between glances, and the quiet laughter, get to take up all the space.
Couples are ditching the classic bubbles-and-rice send-off for something with a little more kick. They’re literally handing out mini bottles of Fireball or cold beers as guests line the aisle for the recessional or the grand exit.
It's playful, it's unexpected, and it sets the tone for a reception that isn't going to take itself too seriously.
This one's new, and I love how it's playing out. Couples are using AI tools to mock up floral concepts with fun color palettes, shapes, and unexpected pairings and then handing those designs off to their florist to bring to life by hand.
This new trend gives couples a new way to plan and visualize ideas they couldn't quite describe with words before their florist gets to work.
Blush and sage are stepping aside for deep jewel tones, such as wine, emerald, sapphire, and burnt amber.
These richer palettes photograph incredibly well in every kind of light, from golden hour outdoors to candlelit receptions, and they give a wedding a sense of depth that softer pastels sometimes miss.
Couples are turning the reception meal into an experience of its own. Think build-your-own pasta stations, live-fire cooking demos, or a dessert course that unfolds course by course instead of arriving all at once.
The meal becomes part of the celebration, giving guests something to experience, interact with, and remember.
More brides are planning a full outfit change for the reception, not just a hair or accessory swap.
A colored gown, a midi dress, or a shorter reception dress lets couples dance the night away in something a little more comfortable while giving their photos two completely different visual moods from one single day.
Minimalist tablescapes are making room for something much more expressive. Couples are layering mismatched vintage china, textured linens, oversized floral arrangements, colorful glassware, and candles at varying heights to create tables that feel collected rather than coordinated.
The result is a dining space with plenty to discover, from the place settings to the smallest decorative details.
More couples are turning their weddings into full weekends rather than a single-day event. Welcome dinners, casual Friday gatherings, morning-after brunches, and fun group activities give everyone more time together without putting all the pressure on the wedding itself.
These intimate and relaxed weddings allow more time for true connection with family and friends and have the added bonus of making travel more worthwhile for out-of-town guests.
Couples are asking for fewer stiff, perfectly posed images and more photographs that capture what the day actually felt like. I'm seeing more emphasis on movement, real reactions, imperfect moments, and the people behind the celebration.
My storytelling style of photography has always focused on the authentic moments, so I couldn’t be happier with this trend. It’s those unscripted images that often end up being the photographs couples come back to again and again.
The reception doesn't always end when the last song plays. More couples are planning a second phase of the celebration, whether that's a late-night pizza run, a packed dance floor at a favorite bar, or a casual gathering around a fire pit.
It's an easy way to keep the energy going long after dinner, and I, for one, love the idea of making a wedding day last as long as possible.
If there's one thread tying every item on this list together, it's this: couples aren't planning weddings to check boxes anymore. They're planning days that actually reflect who they are.
Choosing bold color palettes instead of safe neutrals, family-style dinners over stiff formality, and a shot of Fireball rather than a fistful of rice can all help create weddings that feel personal, not just well planned and pretty for the sake of being pretty.
As a professional wedding photographer, this shift is a gift. The more a couple leans into what makes their day genuinely theirs, the more there is to capture.
The in-between moments, a gentle hand squeeze, glances that speak volumes, and laughter that happens when nobody's following a script translate into photographs you’ll treasure long after the honeymoon is over.
If this season's trends prove anything, it's that the most memorable weddings are the ones that aren't afraid to break a rule or two.
