REVELRY EVENTS 2021
WEDDING TRENDS REPORT

Who would have known, a whole year ago, when we were writing our trend predictions for 2020 that the industry, and the world, would grind to a halt just a few months later? It goes without saying that 2021 couldn’t come soon enough for many - the hope of a fresh start, businesses finding their feet again, families reunited, delayed celebrations going ahead.

So after essentially a year off from weddings as we know it, what will the industry look like in 2021 for next year’s nearlyweds?

Best of the Nineties

The comforting hug of nostalgia we all needed this year came in the form of the 90s - a rose-tinted look back at the decade that brought us Clueless, Brad & Jen, Union Jack dresses, Cindy Crawford, the Nokia 3210, Romy & Michelle and Three Men and a Little Lady (one of the greatest movies of all time). And we’re going to see that thread come through in many ways in weddings, particularly in the fun textures and iconic bright hues of pastel making their way into the trend reports.

Bubblegum pink, bright lilac, metallic blue - a much needed injection of fun while also being a sassy middle finger to the misery of 2020.

We’re also seeing the kitsch time machine dial back a few more decades and bring back mustard and vintage yellow tones to the interiors and fashion scenes, a follow on from the ‘sunset palette’ we saw in much of 2020.

Heading to Tokyo

We’re also putting Japan back in the game after we predicted it would be a big design influence in 2020 given the Tokyo Olympics. With these pushed into next year, it’s possible we might see those trends emerge on a delay. Possibly coming through in stationery design, sleek minimalist tables, matcha flavours, evening sushi bars, ikebana floral design and interest in more casual izakaya-style venues a la the dark and moody 1920s drinking dens of Tokyo.

Sequel, Weekday + Micro-weddings

Oh the irony of our predictions last year of an “uptick in smaller weddings”. Guess that one trend kind of got forced on everyone, didn’t it.

But the fact is, even into next year, when things feel safer and are actually allowed again, we predict there will be more folks opting in to the smaller weddings. Whether that’s because it’s a “just to be on the safe-side” situation or because a wedding size that sits somewhere between an elopement and an average headcount actually feels more like you anyway, 2020 just made it okay.

Like we said last year, going small (or being forced to) gives you great opportunities when it comes to the where and the how. Smaller, more unusual spaces open up to you and you can go all in on the ‘styled shoot’ level of detail only possible with your very nearest and dearest.

2021 will see the rise of the ‘sequel’ wedding, the normalising of having multiple events for different group sizes. Again, borne out of necessity in 2020, it’s given an opportunity to do more and celebrate longer. Couples are having an ‘I Do’ moment with an intimate group or just the two of them, a post-ceremony dinner with a slightly larger group then a bigger reception a little later or even as far out as a first anniversary. Why the hell not?

We’re also going to be seeing a lot more weekday weddings, with many venues struggling with availability on peak weekends, couples will become more open to the idea of getting hitched on a work day.

The Great Outdoors

After a year of being ‘in’, the need for fresh air is a big one and that will be true of couples getting hitched next year. Couples will be looking for an outdoor space or at least a space that has an outdoors, to give a bit of room between their guests and enjoy a more al fresco day. We said last year that marquee weddings would be on the rise and we think that will be the case for much of 2021.

Regardless of location though, we’ll see more of couples bringing the outside in, with more foliage both minimal and statement, to give the effect of being outside.

We may be seeing more tents popping up at venues that aren’t venues. Weddings at home will have even more of a resurgence this year, especially for those lucky enough to have or know someone who has a very large garden. There’s something very comforting about the idea of a home-space for an intimate day, but these decisions may also be coming about because of the lack of (of worry about the lack of) availability with traditional venues, given how many dates were postponed from 2020.

Big Sleeves + Nineties Nostalgia

Sleeves and (again with the) nineties are two of big trends coming through in 2021. More big puffy sleeves and cute little cap sleeves (like Princess Beatrice’s vintage gown for her own wedding), it’s all about the arms and the shoulders.

Nineties styles coming to the fore include supermodel-inspired slip dresses and Little White Dresses, possibly due to the popularity of high-end retail brands bridalwear in the past few years, who have been offering slinkier, simpler silhouettes at a more affordable price. The bridal runways are now following suit with some gorgeous offerings. We’re seeing this along with more traditional lace, square necks and wide straps from designers like Pronovias, Alexandra Grecco and Daniel Frankel.

Kitsch Cakes + Axing the Buffet

We don’t know about you but our Instagram feeds have been feeding us cake visuals from another era all year and we’re loving it. Retro, kitsch cakes in crazy colours and traditional piping are all the rage and we can see them making their way into wedding celebrations next year, because they are just DELIGHTFUL and unexpected.

Buffets and grazing may suffer a bit of a hit this year as couples have “COVID-secure” whispered in their ear. We may see a U-turn back to plated meals over family-style dining, and a pivot from evening buffets to comfort-food canapés being passed around in between band sets instead.

Cabaret Entertainment + Live-streaming

With smaller and more intimate weddings, traditional forms of evening entertainment or even a dance floor in general just don’t sit right. But you still need to break up the events of the day and want an opportunity for a shared experience. Couples will be leaning more toward entertainment that works for small groups in the future - post-dinner cabaret performances with guests on little bistro tables, a couple of hours of karaoke, close-hand magic tricks around the dinner table, hiring arcade games, a DIY casino night, or even a stand-up comedy set or three. Count us in.

Live-streamed weddings opened up a whole new world for couples in 2020. Live-streaming can provide a great opportunity to include people who cant get to the wedding itself. Stream the ceremony while your digital guests tuck into their lovingly pre-prepared ‘watch boxes’ which includes an order of service, a cocktail in a can and a piece of your cake!

Intentionality

2020 really shifted people’s perspectives and weddings from next year onwards will be filled to the brim with meaning. No longer will couples do things for the sake of doing things, or take anything for granted. It’s become clear that a big day like this, having all your favourite people in a room together, is a real privilege. So intention is going to be big with couples next year, and that will show itself in many different ways.

Couples will become more considered and discerning with their supplier choices - intentionally seeking out small suppliers, suppliers who are ethical/green, supporting suppliers in the LGBTQ+ and BAME communities and those who show diversity in their portfolios.

Consideration of the environment and the eco-footprint of their wedding will be on minds. We talked about it last year as well and we see it carrying through. With both food and flowers we’re seeing a lot more couples request for local and seasonal as much as possible to cut down on the environmental effect of transporting everything, as well as costs for themselves too.

Plastic and paper waste is of course still everyone’s minds, and weddings are one of the places you can see a heck of a lot of it. Couples will be watching their plastic use - asking caterers not to use plastic straws if any straws at all, eco friendly plates for the evening food truck or even borrowing real crockery for it, ditching confetti, reducing the endless Amazon packaging by hiring or borrowing rather than buying, giving away centrepieces as gifts at the end of the night and much much more.

See more of our trend predictions over on our Pinterest board and let us know what you are looking forward to seeing in the coming year!