2024 gave us memorable celebrity weddings like those of Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi, Charlie Puth and Brooke Sansone, Lana Condor and Anthony De La Torre, and Alex Cooper and Matt Kaplan. It also solidified the revival of the drop waist dress and wedding content creation and proved that destination multi-day weddings are here to stay yet again. Surprisingly, the U.K. seemed to be the new “It” destination of 2024, with several splashy summer Soho Farmhouse nuptials occurring. Will Italy take back its reign next summer? Who knows. A few things we do know are what’s considered “in” for weddings next year, thanks to our friends at the top of their game in the industry:
1. Planning For No Longer Than a Year
Over The Moon The List Planner Augusta Cole loves seeing the return of the 12-month or less planning timeline. “Covid created such a backlog for planning that timelines easily stretched to 18 months to two years,” she explains. “A year or less of planning is perfect for decision-making and sets up a happy and productive planning experience.” Over The Moon Editor’s Pick Planner Kelsey Connely of Downey Street Events agrees, saying, “Similar to the desire to move away from classic wedding traditions, I think couples are also wanting to deviate from the lengthy planning process that takes over their lives for 1.5-2 years. In their view, they would rather spend a defined, focused amount of time planning their wedding and then move forward from there!”
2. “Back Pocket” Venues Stateside
For couples who want to stay in the United States, Over The Moon The List Planner Calder Clark insists there are still captivating and convenient venues to be found. Sometimes it takes the right planner to pull out a secret, underrated destination from their “back pocket” to make a couple’s dream come true. Glenstone Gardens in Virginia was just that for OTM Bride Meghan Whitney. Over The Moon The List Planner Marcy Blum agrees, stating venues in Upstate New York and Napa are on the rise.
3. Wardrobe Styling & Detailed Dress Codes
Outfit changes are becoming staples of wedding weekends, so why not take off some of the stress of curating looks and at least speak with a wedding or bridal stylist? OTM Style Director and Vogue alum Grace Givens is available to pull looks for you from your engagement party through the honeymoon and beyond. “Multiple fashion moments on the wedding day are still at the forefront and mapping out smart transitions to prompt a fashion change in the party timeline is an important topic,” Cole states.
Stylists also make the day’s design and aesthetic more cohesive. “As a planner, we love it when our couples hire personal stylists to curate a look and also lend a hand before the wedding starts and throughout the day,” Over The Moon The List Planner Amrit Dhillon-Bains of Anaïs Events says.
And why stop there? If you have a vision for your guests’ fashion, give them a detailed dress code for each event paired with helpful moodboards. “This levels the playing field and ensures that everyone shows up looking like they are attending the same party,” Over The Moon The List Planner Lynn Easton of Easton Events shares.
It also helps the photos! “Couples want all of their photos to feel cohesive throughout the wedding weekend, so we have seen a major rise in couples giving specific dress codes,” Over The Moon Editor’s Pick Photographer Andrew Tran of Mashaida says.
4. Intimate or No Wedding Party
We get it—you have friends, but do you want them all included in such a formal construct as a wedding party? Planners like Blum are in favor of paring down the bridal suite to your nearest and dearest. Connely says her clients are forgoing the entire parties altogether, as it’s too traditional for them.
Over The Moon Editor’s Pick Photographer Erika Delgado also supports a bride or groom sans group. “They can still include friends in their photos before the ceremony without the stress of extra expenses and obligations. The trend of a staged bridesmaid reveal is also fading,” she reveals. “Brides prefer this moment naturally occurs, which feels so much more genuine and translates in the photos. People are truly embracing less staged moments, which makes me so happy as a photographer who loves candid, natural moments!”
5. Family-Only Events Before The Wedding Weekend
“With an emphasis on guest experience and an effort to maximize the contracted amount of time at each venue, we are seeing couples host family-only ceremonies and rehearsal dinners BEFORE the wedding weekend rolls around,” Easton says. It’s such a good idea, especially if a larger guest count is attending the festivities when the weekend rolls around. “This allows couples to bask in that one-hour mass if they so choose and to soak in those 12 family toasts without keeping an event timeline front of mind.”
6. Thoughtful Gifting Over Wasteful Welcome Bags
There’s nothing more wasteful than a plastic branded water bottle in a welcome bag that no one will look at again—apologies for the bluntness. However, Over The Moon The List Planners Matthew Robbins and Luis Otoya of Matthew Robbins Design and RobbinsOtoya Destinations agree. “Think more about a luxurious and fabulous item that your guests can truly enjoy during their stay or easily carry home,” Robbins says. “But one chic item is more important than ten that are not relevant to your wedding.”
It’s also better for the environment. “Couples and planners are embracing climate consciousness and doing fewer welcome bags and plastics and being more intentional,” Delgado shares.
7. Wellness Activities
Doing an activity like a pickleball tournament or learning a new skill like archery naturally brings people together, so we’re so happy to see pre-wedding playfulness get its moment. Delgado chimes in, “Wellness activities like tennis tournaments, yoga, or a spa day have been favorites this year. I hope this trend continues, and it just takes a few photos captured to memorialize the vibe!”
8. Unexpected Processional Songs
While a fan favorite, we’re not saying choosing to walk down the aisle to “Here Comes The Sun” is unexpected. Think outside the box in 2025. This year, Alex Le Roux of ALR Music crafted bespoke arrangements of favorites by the likes of DJ Fred Again and Depeche Mode—even creating magic with “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
9. Mocktails on The Menu
Times are changing for the better. Mocktails deserve to be on the cocktail menus beyond dry January. Cole agrees, saying, “Taking care of your guests who opt out of alcohol is increasingly important. Festive zero-proof alternatives are a must have moving forward!”
10. Decadent Desserts
Robbins and Otoya assure us that plated desserts are a thing of the past. “Instead, we see a focus on dessert experiences guests can enjoy after dinner, during the party and dancing portion of the evening—think gelato carts, cake stations with a multitude of smaller cakes to choose from, and decadent dessert stations and displays,” Robbins says. Blum agrees and loves seeing her clients include fun dessert buffets of snow cones and waffles.
Some couples are going so far as getting rid of their wedding cake in favor of a sweet treat experience. “We have loved seeing donut towers, macarons, extravagant pastry displays, and other fun experiences like Aperol carts, live jalebi stations, ice cream trucks, or cotton candy stations,” Dhillon-Bains shares.
11. Epic After-Parties Pushing Out The Farewell Brunch
The thinking is: If the after-party is a hit, no one’s making it to a farewell brunch. “The importance of a fab after-party has pushed out the need for an early Sunday commitment,” Cole states. Dhillon-Bains agrees, saying, “Our couples are prioritizing after-party celebrations. They are often moving to a different location or transforming the space to a high-energy late night hotspot. We love seeing live DJS, interactive entertainment and even themed rooms for guests to unwind or dance the night away.”
Robbins adds, “Brunch is definitely out, even for destination weddings in faraway places. It’s just not a thing anyone wants to focus on for the day after their wedding.”
