2020 Wedding Trends to Know Now

Out with the old and in with the unique. We’ve got the lowdown on the 2020 wedding trends from the wedding experts at the Arabian Tent Company.

2020 Wedding Trends

Weddings in 2020 are set to focus less on tradition and more on choosing your own adventure. Weddings today are more unique and individual than ever before, with couples customising their day in endless ways from the location to the ceremony. Katherine Hudson, Founder of the Arabian Tent Company shares the key directions 2020 wedding trends will be taking this year.

Carbon Neutral Weddings

There is no planet B. If in line with the average, your wedding could potentially generate 14.5 tonnes of carbon. Fortunately, there are numerous easy ways to avoid this. Fortunate also that eco-weddings are bang on trend. Shopping local and in-season, gathering wildflowers and forgoing gifts in favour of charitable donations have all been on the rise. Think vegetarian brides in pre-loved dresses, English-produced champagne and guests camping at the venue. You needn’t sacrifice luxury – just ensure you party sustainably.

Spiritual Services and Weddings

Crystal cleansing, hand-fastening ceremonies, Palo Santo and saging. 2020 will continue the spiritually-charged vibe with numerous incense-scented ceremonies occurring during new moons and solstices. Popular acts include passing round crystals for infusing with intentions during the ceremony, barefoot brides walking through willow arches in forests, acoustic musicians playing songs which the guests join in with and friends or loved ones as celebrants. This trend is about love and familiarity rather than fastidious tradition, with the ceremony reflecting the personality of the couple and how they will continue their lives together.

Micro-Weddings

Twenty guests on a wind-swept hillside witnessing the exchange of vows. A modest, fifty-strong gang of friends and family at a secret manor house sharing champagne and impromptu song, or just you, your betrothed and some witnesses you picked up earlier on a paradise beach. Micro-weddings save money, cut down on planning and eliminate guest list agony as you simply invite only those who absolutely must be there. Did someone say Vegas?

Vegan Weddings

Between 2014 and 2018 the number of vegans in the UK quadrupled to 600,000 with 42% making the change in 2018. This is set to increase every year – a change which in turn will have an impact on the menu couples choose for their weddings. The demand for meat-free grazing tables, plant-based buffets, meat alternatives and cashew cream wedding cakes has exploded and the options are numerous and sophisticated. Some guests may not even notice your wedding is animal-free.

Wedding Dress Trends

Ball gowns and huge trains are making way for jumpsuits, short dresses and flat boots. Brides are opting for comfort and practicality rather than so much of the ‘princess’ factor. The royal wedding paved the way for a slew of chic yet plain dresses – a veer away from the figure hugging fishtails, lace and beading of years past. Brides often have two outfit changes – a beautiful ceremony look will transform into a sparkly disco number. The key is to wear whatever you like – you needn’t try and dress like a classic bride if you’re not feeling it. Your bridesmaids can all wear outfits they already own in different colours. Just make sure you feel a million dollars.

Check out more wedding dress styles and trends here. 

Biophilia and Organic Wedding Trends

This is a continuing trend that we’ve been embracing for years that incorporates the human designs with natural elements creating a relaxed look which doesn’t seem too manufactured. Recycled pallet sofas and bar furniture, real plants on the tables which create an organic aesthetic while still promoting a clean, environmentally friendly ethos. Florists are saying goodbye to Oasis for floral arrangements and hello to biodegradable alternatives.

2020 Wedding Trends: Feminine Tones

Interior design firms are pushing feminine tones straight through 2019 and into 2020 with variations of pink. These tones are all about different shades of pink – but more subtle. Blush, millennial pink, bronze, taupe, and other light pink shades work really well together to create a serene, elegant atmosphere. Cherry blossom trees look fantastic and fit perfectly with this trend.

Velvet

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but it’s going to be trendy in 2020. The blend of luxury and comfort – some people may refer to velvet as ‘old’ but this year, interior design firms are taking a deeper dive into the velvet design options and velvet-accented furniture too.

Gin, Gin and More Gin

The UK’s love affair with gin shows no sign of abating, with more bottles sold in the last 2 years than ever before. Gin will continue to be the tipple choice for wedding parties, with couples creating their own botanical mix for a personalised gin, G&T stations and broadly gin-based cocktails menus.

Group Activities For Wedding Guests

Wedding reception lawn games like croquet or giant Jenga are civilised additions which have proved popular in recent years. Weddings tend to be longer – with weekend weddings resulting in lots of time for guests to play games. Activities for the reception – such as laser tag, a poker station, a dress-up booth and cocktail making – are all in demand for fun-loving couples.

Buddymoons

The millennial mindset of ‘the more the merrier’ appears to be on the rise. In a poll of 2,000 people in relationships aged 18-35, 47% have been on, or would consider going on, a “buddymoon”. More than half of those surveyed claimed to have more fun with a bigger group, compared with just their partner, meaning the traditional holiday for two may be falling out of fashion. A group is a cheaper way to access certain high-end activities like renting a boat or villa.

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The 2019 Wedding Trends We Loved

From practical wedding dresses with pockets and simple gowns to metallic eye makeup and bold wedding colours, we look back at the 2019 wedding trends we loved last year…

2019 Bridal Fashion Trends

Wedding dresses with pockets 

Wedding dresses (and jumpsuits) with pockets were all over the runways during Bridal Fashion Week. And in 2019, the modern-day bride is prioritising practicality and comfort over aesthetic.

Robin Weil, founder and CEO of weddingplanner.co.uk, agrees that the trend of wedding dresses with pockets has risen as a direct result of brides prioritising comfort and practicality on their wedding day.

“Wedding dresses with pockets have been gaining popularity for the last few years now. and from a bride’s perspective, it’s quite a practical solution if they want to keep their phone, tissues or lipstick with them.”

Wedding Dresses With Sleeves

2019 sees the return of classic cuts and simple fabrics with strapless wedding dresses losing their appeal.

In fact, all brides getting married next year will be wearing gowns with sleeves.

Taking inspiration from Megan Markle’s luminuous long-sleeved, boat-necked Givenchy wedding gown, 2019 wedding dresses will move towards a pared-back bridal silhouette.

Simple Wedding Dresses

As part of the “Megan Markle effect”, bridal designers have predicted a return to refined minimalism, with HalfPenny London’s 1990s-inspired slips, Sassi Holford’s sleek columns and Cymbeline’s unfussy tulle skirts.

2019 Wedding Music Trends

Movie Soundtracks For Your Wedding

Music HQ, who specialise in booking live music for weddings and events across the UK, predict movie soundtracks are going to be a big thing in terms of 2019 wedding entertainment.

Speaking about the wedding music trends for 2019, company director Suzanne Aston said: “The Greatest Showman has been so popular this year and we’re already getting requests for next year in for our artists to perform songs from the film“.

2019 Wedding Entertainment Trends

Unusual Wedding Entertainment

With the wedding photo-booth way overdone, couples are now looking for new and unusual ways to entertain guests.

Why not book a tarot card reader or a caricaturist to keep your wedding guests entertained?

Harpists Or Pianists For Your Wedding

More people are choosing to party later and later at their wedding so the trend of wedding wind down music for an hour after the main party is sure to become a thing in 2019.

Nothing is more angelic and calming than the sound of a harp playing or why not book a pianist to bring all your wedding guests together for a sing-song at the end of your big day.

2019 Wedding Decor and Styling Trends

Coloured Wedding Decor

Moving away from conventional whites and creams, reds, pinks and even oranges are set to take a starring role in everything from floral arrangements to bridesmaid dresses.

We’re seeing more and more couples forgoing the classic white decor and instead embracing bright colours and a bold aesthetic in their wedding decor.

Too much white at a wedding can look a little clinical and embracing soft shades of nude, blush and blue offer pretty alternatives to classic white.

Plastic-free Wedding Decorations

Sustainability is more than just a fashion trend and the wedding industry is taking notice, switching from the likes of plastic straws to paper and glass alternatives.

It helps that linen napkins and glass straws looks much chicer than their plastic counterparts.

Following in the footsteps of Princess Eugenie, brides-to-be are thinking more about the planet while planning their big day and choosing to go plastic-free when possible.

Expect a rise in eco-friendly weddings in 2019, featuring flowers that can be replanted, organic menus and minimal plastic.

2019 Wedding Makeup Trends

Brides Wearing Red Lipstick

The classic matte red lip for brides is back – pair with strong brows to create a really defined look.

“The key is to pick the right shade for your skin tone,” says make-up artist Sasha Louise Pallari.

“A classic pillar-box red is great for a glam look – my all-time favourite is Charlotte Tilbury’s Bond Girl, a beautiful matte that seems to suit any colouring.

“Always use a lip primer to start – apply it like a balm and leave for a few minutes. Once it’s gone tacky, apply the lipstick. With a good primer, you shouldn’t even need to reapply throughout the day.

“Lastly, always apply your lipstick before your liner. Once the base layer’s on, use tiny dash-like motions to define the lip line. Then use a little concealer on a flat brush to clean the edges for the perfect red pout.”

Super Natural Makeup on your Wedding Day

Show off your bridal glow with barely-there, minimal make-up. The key is all in the prep, so be sure to up your skincare routine around six weeks before the big day.

“It’s vital to prep the skin every night to get rid of the toxins that build up over the course of each day,” says Jurlique’s beauty expert Claire Roberts.

“Introduce an exfoliating cream into your routine to slough away dead skin and try a serum, too. The Jurlique Herbal Recovery Serum is a wonder product that targets fine lines and firms the skin’s surface – leaving it energised and make-up ready.”

Brides Wearing Metallic Eye Makeup

From silver cat eyes at Reem Acra to light-catching foil nails at Naeem Khan, up the big-day drama with mixed metals at your 2019 wedding.

Metallics make a great alternative to nude, without being over the top. Keep the rest of your bridal make-up wedding-classic, then try a hint of glittery liner or sheer polish.

Wedding Hair with Flowers

Whether you fasten tiny blooms into your curls, weave fresh flowers into waves or go all-out with a flower crown, there’s something oh-so effortless yet striking about floral headpieces.

It’s a look that suits hair worn up or down – just be sure to keep the rest of your face fresh and simple.

Braided Wedding Hairstyles

Spotted behind the scenes at Berta, Cymbeline and Suzanne Neville, bridal braids and plaits reigned supreme at the 2019 shows.

For an edgy yet pretty swept-back style, switch it up à la Berta and opt for a dramatic plaited parting.

Wavy and Loose Wedding Hair

Channel your inner mermaid at your 2019 wedding with the new season’s penchant for heavenly waves, as seen on the Monique Lhuillier, Pronovias and Maggie Sottero runways.

If it’s a less ‘done’ look you’re hoping to achieve, go with the flow of your natural texture and create a loose up-do with trailing tendrils.

Think Meghan Markle’s wispy big-day bun and you’re on to a winner…

Your wedding nail design can play an important part in your bridal look. Whether you go for a simple block colour, embellishments or detailed nail art the choices for your manicure are endless.

To help you decide we have collated the most popular styles and bridal nail trends for 2019.

Nude and Pastel Wedding Plowers

With couples throwing wedding traditions out the door, pale pink, blush and taupe flowers are increasingly replacing classic white blooms as a bride’s wedding flower of choice.

Fragrant garden roses, stocks and sweet peas (in whimsical and rustic shades) are some of the most popular summer blooms set to appear in a big way next year.

Peony Bouquets

The peony is a timeless wedding flower that’s always a popular bouquet choice, so you can expect to see lots of these in 2019, too.

As a very versatile flower, peonies can be crafted into bouquets that suit any style of wedding, from very formal affairs to rustic garden parties.

However, as the peony season begins in April/May and only runs through to late June, their availability is limited.

If you have an early summer wedding and your heart set on peonies then you will be able to get your hands on them.

But if your wedding is later in the year, then beautiful alternatives to peonies include garden roses (for summer), dahlias (for late summer) or ranunculus (for winter and spring).

2019 Wedding Food Trends

Sharing Platters

Food trucks have had their moment but couples are still looking for laidback ways to offer simple tasty food.

Sharing plates and farm-to-fork concepts are both proving popular for 2019 weddings. As is the rise in dessert tables.

Edible Wedding Favours

Take-home bites have quickly become a popular choice for bride and grooms because it’s the couple’s chance to make it their own.

If you’re looking for a DIY project for your big day then jam, jelly or chutney is easy to make and can be enjoyed by your guests long after the big day is over. Choose some rustic-looking fabric to cover the top and you’ll be receiving compliments for weeks!

And if you’re having a winter wedding, why not package up a childhood favourite for your edible wedding favours – marshmallows. This is an especially perfect parting gift if your after-party includes a fire pit.

Or if you’re a keen baker, you might even want to make some cute cookies or biscuits with iced names on them yourself, that can double up as place-cards.

Late-night Wedding Food

While late-night wedding food is nothing new at wedding receptions, 2019 wedding food trends include more sophisticated and personal requests.

The typical late-night wedding snacks of pizza and miniature fish and chips are being replaced with unique eats that reflect the couple’s favourite comfort foods.

2019 Wedding Cake Trends

Cheese Wedding Cakes

Gone are the days when a three tiered iced fruit cake is the wedding cake du jour – it’s all about getting creative with your wedding cake.

Cheese towers laden with preserves, artisan bread and charcoal crackers are going to be a big thing in 2019.

With wedding season blocking out a large chunk of peoples’ weekends from the months of May to September, and winter weddings growing in popularity, more often than not your wedding guests will have seen it all before.

According to a study carried out by Goldsmiths, both genders agreed that complicated hashtags were the number one most pointless wedding trend in 2019 (43.5%), while doughnut walls (37.2%), pets as ring bearers and neon signs also topped the list.

Read all about the most hated and overused wedding trends here. 

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