With the new year coming soon, couples are planning their 2026 weddings. Each year, like bridal fashion, wedding trends will also change. Here are some wedding trends of 2026.
Personalized Wedding Day Timelines
Couples are starting to see that the timelines that may have worked in the past might not work for them in 2026. Millennials have been following the traditional flow of ceremony, cocktail hour, and then a night of dinner and dancing. Some Gen Z couples are foregoing a formal sit down in favor of a cocktail party for the evening. They’re also adding live entertainment, lounge vignettes, and roaming food presentations. These events tend to focus on a more informal timeline from the time their guests arrive.
Themed Weddings
In 2026, couples will start embracing more unique wedding themes and looking at themes of the past through a new technology and design lens. A classic medieval theme could now be reimagined with folklore symbolism, a live circus style performance with all the modern technical elements.
Another idea for a theme is a French Riviera casino theme, set with a Golden Age aesthetic. Find some unique themes that speak to you and your partners passions and see how you can make it work reimagined in a new setting. Guests could arrive in costume, and you can create the music to perfectly match your wedding theme. Décor, cocktails, and food should match your wedding theme for full immersion.
String Quartets
The popularity of the TV show Bridgerton is being seen in weddings with the use of string quartets. For the ceremony, a string quartet is a great option for walking down the aisle to live music. Cocktail hour is the perfect place to use a string quartet as guests usually are looking for some type of music, but you don’t want to use the same type of music you’ll use at your reception.
A string quartet is adaptable to many wedding themes; it can be a fun way to incorporate a new kind of music at your reception. String quartets can usually play a variety of music, so give them a set list or ask them about the kind of music they like to play.
Bold Colors
Couples will be embracing bold colors in 2026. After embracing muted colors and “timeless” pallets, couples are now looking for a way to create more vibrancy in their wedding colors. Tablescapes with pops of color are a fun way to include bold hues at your wedding. A dramatic curtain with a bold color is another way to embrace this trend at your wedding. Consider using bold colors for the wedding party as a way to continue the bold color trend.
A Touch of Nostalgia
If you and your guests are looking for a way to embrace some nostalgia at your wedding, consider including classic games at the reception. Couples can order a custom sticker machine for favors, a claw machine with stuffed animals as prizes, and more games from the 90’s. This is a way to have a unique theme for your wedding or add some fun for you and your guests at the reception.
Consider this list as you make plans for your 2026 wedding. Check out our bridal collection if you’re in the market for a wedding dress.