Luxury weddings are taking cues from the restaurant world, often incorporating menus from exclusive restaurants and partnering with celebrity chefs for elevated dining experiences. Floor plans now mimic chic restaurant layouts with banquettes, showpiece bars, and intimate table arrangements. Some couples are even booking buyouts at sought-after restaurants, where snagging a reservation is seemingly impossible. – Jennifer Zabinski, JZ Events
360-Degree Bars
360-degree bars! Our clients are loving four-sided bars whether round, rectangular, or square. They create a fun atmosphere for guests to hang out during cocktails and late at night—and it’s even better if they have a whimsical canopy over them with stripes. – Stefanie Cove, Cove & Co.
Old-fashioned Cakes
Old-fashioned cakes are not new, but they are getting wilder! Colonnades are in again as are open-format designs which we foresee becoming more popular (hopefully fountain cakes, too?) – Melissa Sullivan
Statement Escort Card Seating Displays
Experiential escort card seating displays like a ticket booth or a display of an unusual object specific to the theme. A word of caution: make sure logistics are considered and that these activations are well-staffed. They are only fun if the direction is made clear and lines are limited! –Melissa Sullivan
What’s Out
Random Destination Weddings
Seemingly random destinations. Ensuring your wedding weekend is wildly memorable and completely unique is a fair priority for any couple, but clients are starting to draw the line when it comes to planning in places without any personal connection. – Augusta Cole
Welcome Bags
Welcome bags full of items no one wants to have to lug home are falling out of trend! Giving guests items that can be consumed during their stay like a nice bottle of champagne or chocolates and a handwritten note from the couple is much more appreciated. – Stefanie Cove
Rigid Dress Codes
Black tie might be timeless, but weddings are embracing a new era of style. From vintage pieces and bold patterns to a fun mix of formal and casual, couples are creating attire storyboards to set the vibe—inviting guests to craft their own look that fits right into the narrative. – Lisa Vorce
Matching Everything
From bridesmaid dresses to tablescapes, “matchy-matchy” is out. The look now? Texture, layers, and the perfectly imperfect. Think mixed prints, mismatched china, and tables that look artful, not straight out of a catalog. People with the best taste know: effortless is the ultimate flex. – Bronson van Wyck
Boutonnieres
I am happy to say that we are definitely not seeing boutonnieres right now—more pocket squares for the gentlemen! Personally I love this trend, as boutonnieres feel a bit dated and never look good by the end of the evening. – Stefanie Cove
Hyper-Monochromatic Color Schemes
Hyper-monochrome or all-white weddings are out. By no means will a classic white tablecloth ever go out of style, but the organic all-white drapey look seems to have taken the wedding world by storm this year. With our clients, we are seeing a desire to experiment more with color play, whether that be unexpected pastel combinations through a whimsical lens or going unapologetically graphic with your big-picture choices like flooring. – Melissa Sullivan
Photo Booths
Couples are increasingly moving away from traditional photo booths, opting instead for more sophisticated and unique ways to capture memories of their guests. We’re seeing a growing trend of portrait photography setups and illustrators who create custom renditions of guests, offering a fresh and artistic twist on event photography. – Jennifer Zabinski
Too Much Plastic
Couples are becoming more mindful of the environmental impact of their celebrations, taking care to minimize waste and reduce the amount of unnecessary items that end up in the trash at the end of the night. There is a noticeable shift away from plastic props, glow sticks, and other tchotchkes. This thoughtful approach reflects a universal commitment to the planet in this generation of brides and grooms. – Jennifer Zabinski
Overly-Themed Decor
Themed weddings with literal interpretations are being replaced by timeless, elegant designs. Couples are focusing on artistry, mood, and ambiance—crafting a wedding that feels sophisticated and will stand the test of time in photos, rather than sticking to a rigid theme. – Fallon Carter
The Tyranny of the Predictable Timeline
First dance, cake cutting, bouquet toss—sure, they’re traditions, but they don’t need to feel like chores. Couples are finding ways to make the night flow effortlessly, where the vibe dictates the schedule—not the other way around. – Bronson van Wyck
