10 Unique and Memorable Wedding Trends for 2023

Weddings are coming with bold, fun, nontraditional upgrades

By: Jen Glantz

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Have a Stand-Out Ceremony

As we enter a brand new year, you might start finding yourself counting down many more days until your wedding celebration. But if you still have decor decisions to make, vendors to book, and endless details to plan, use that new year energy to look for memorable and unique ways to make your celebration stand out.

One way to do that is by incorporating new and emerging trends that will start to show up throughout 2023. Here are the top 10 trends you’ll see pop up in 2023 that you might want to consider adding to your wedding plans.

Candid Photos

While a lot of couples want staged photos of themselves and with their friends and family members, having a gallery of candid photos is not only becoming a more popular request, but something that gives you a wider variety of pictures after the celebration ends.

As you're chatting with your photographer, and making a list of shots you want to make sure they capture on your big day, ask if they are also willing to take some candid photos before the wedding, during the ceremony, and at the reception.

Colorful Wedding Decor

In 2023, couples will choose bold colors for their decorations. Rather than go with neutrals, pastels, or metallics, people will pick colors that stand out, grab guests’ attention, and feel less traditional.

Whether you go with Pantone’s 2023 color of the year, the bright Viva Magenta, a warmer tone like burnt orange, or decide to incorporate different shades of your favorite color, don’t be afraid to go with eye-catching decor in 2023.

Reception Theme Changes

Over the years, we’ve heard of couples doing outfit changes during their reception, from more formal looks to ones that are a bit more comfortable to wear on the dance floor. But this year, we’ll see something a little different, as more couples do a reception theme change.

After guests have finished eating and all the speeches have been given, the overall atmosphere of the reception venue will change from the look and feel of a wedding to a nightclub instead. You can work with your DJ, venue, and lighting provider to help make this switch seamless. That way, the final few hours of your celebration can feel like the ultimate dance floor.

Private Chefs and Curated Menus

For some couples, having delicious food at their wedding is a top priority. That’s why in 2023, people will move away from going with standard wedding caterers and instead work with private chefs to create personalized and curated menus.

Rather than offer traditional wedding food options, like steak, chicken, or fish, couples will invest in having a three-course meal that feels like it’s right out of a highly-rated and well-known restaurant.

Cash Registries

As more and more couples move in together before getting married, they realize they don’t need a lot of the standard items, like sheets and kitchenware, that people usually put on their wedding registry. While in the past, some would say asking for cash on your registry could be taboo, in 2023, it will become more common.

Whether you set up different funds, like a honeymoon fund or house fund, where people can contribute cash to or you just ask for cash gifts to be brought to the wedding, this option is a good one for the couple who feels like their home is fully stocked with everything they need right now.

Over-the-Top Floral Arrangements

In recent years, we’ve seen couples cut back on flowers and go with more minimal designs. But instead of doing simple floral arrangements for the bouquets and centerpieces, this year, we’ll see people go with over-the-top and overflowing floral designs that incorporate different types of flowers to make the celebration look like a garden.

Before diving into floral designs, plan your budget first, that way you don’t spend more on these arrangements than you planned for, since working with a florist can be more expensive than you imagine.

A Private Last Dance

When you think about it, there aren’t many moments during the wedding where the couple gets to spend private time together. That’s why this year, instead of doing grand exits where guests send-off the couple, we’ll see a lot of weddings that end with a private last dance.

Once the guests have gone home, or exited the venue, the couple will meet on the dance floor for one final dance. After that, they can sneak away or head outside for a grand goodbye.

Colorful Wedding Dresses

It feels like every year, brides are getting bolder with their wedding dress styles. This year, rather than sticking with whites, creams, and ivory colors for their dress, more brides will pick looks that are outside the book.

If you’re considering going with a more unique dress, look for ones that fit your personality. Some popular trends this year will be floral patterns and blue silk wedding gowns.

Getting Ready Together

For some couples, doing a first-look is a memorable way to kick-off the wedding celebration. But this year, some couples are switching that up and instead, vowing to spend the entire day together.

Rather than getting ready separately, we’ll see a lot of couples spend the morning together, without their wedding party. Once they are dressed and hair and makeup is done, they will then do a first-look for friends and family to see them. If you’re someone who wants a more intimate start to your celebration, this might be something to consider.

Keepsake Embroidered Wedding Wear

In 2023, more couples want to create everlasting memories from their wedding celebrations. In addition to photos, videos, and stories retold by friends and family members for years to come, another trend of the year are keepsake embroidered items that couples will wear on their wedding day.

From veils with the couple's initials embroidered at the bottom, to socks and even shawls, these items can have special messages sewn into them, and can be reworn or preserved over the years.

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