The onset of the coronavirus pandemic cannot be overlooked as it relates to weddings in 2021. All trends are born of necessity, so too the pandemic brought us new wedding trends, new experiences, new design elements – all to capture couples’ new beginnings.
Since we know weddings aren’t stopping, we welcome 2021 wedding trends and the realization that we must embrace the new normal. The Knot magazine labeled 2021 “The Year of Intentionality”.
For example, for many destination weddings, “Save The Dates” are a must have. Today, we have “Change The Dates” becoming a thing. Stay tuned for just a few of the wedding trends for 2021:
“The Welcome Box”
We know it’s now standard to have hand sanitizer and social distancing signs available at events, the guest entry touchpoint is another way to make your loved ones feel that they’re cared for on your wedding day. “With some weddings being downsized to more intimate numbers, you will see more guest-centered details,
starting from welcome to send-off kits,” predicts Georgia-based planner Terrica Skaggs of Cocktails & Details.
The boxes can include personalized hand sanitizers, masks, programs and details, and even take-home favors, allowing guests to experience the warmth of being welcomed into the wedding weekend—a gift for all involved.
Tents
Outdoor weddings in tents are most popular worldwide, they are simply more safe for guests and vendors. The year 2021 will see a lot more focus on wedding tents with mood lighting and décor. “Couples are leaning into nature and fresh air in ways they did not in the past,” notes planner and designer Jove Meyer of his
namesake firm. Take note, “tented weddings are the new ballroom.”
Your designers, planners, venues and lighting experts can give you options for your tent to become elegant or whimsical or fairy tale themed. In short, let the breeze and the brightness in.
Mini Foods
Smaller plates and individualized portions are on quickly on the rise, including single-serve grazing boards, mason jar dips and dressings and, even, picnic baskets – to stay or to go. Couples are finding safe and tasty ways to celebrate their unions with inventive cocktail hour themes. Guests are thrilled by its convenience and your concern for their safety, and equally wowed by the presentation. Culinary experts and chefs alike are brewing their creative juices, pulling out all the tricks of the trade, and taking full advantage the opportunity to serve more unique dishes in a more creative presentation.
Mix & Match Seating
You’ve seen mismatched bridesmaid dresses, and floral arrangements, but suddenly, and now get ready for mismatched seating and tables. “This includes how your table is set against unique floor plans,” notes Jacobs.
While in the past, ceremony spaces and reception venues had standardized options for seating (square, rectangular, circular, the options are endless), often without mixing and matching layouts. Now wedding seating is being adjusted to accommodate the rise of safety measures, smaller crowds, unconventional locations and reception designs. Most event professionals will admit with a wink that mismatched table layouts not only safely reflect this time, but they photograph magnificently.
Living Room Decor
The outdoor lounge lives on in 2021. Cozy throws, plush pillows and couches, microfiber translate magnificently to the outdoors.
“Creating a comfortable, safe environment from the start is absolutely essential,” says New Orleans-based planner Michelle Norwood. “Guests will likely find themselves seated for longer, so choose pieces that are not only beautiful but plush.”
Now incorporate greenery and other natural elements into the design, bringing your living room theme into the outdoors, and your guests will feel so at home, warm and cozy, they won’t want to leave.
Wedding Tech
Wedding technology has evolved through the years, and in 2021, the wedding planning process will particularly be impacted. The rise of virtual invitations, Zoom weddings and updated communications via wedding websites (FYI- you can build yours and send out invitations all in one place) is birthing new technologies for visual planning experiences, and also the guest experience on the big day itself.
From trying on dresses virtually, to virtual invitations, virtual site tours of venues, Zoom meetings with vendors, LiveStreaming events to overseas family and guests, and even photos with guests that aren’t physically at the wedding, there are myriads of ways to use technology to make wedding planning smooth and distant
inclusion easily done.
Weekday Weddings
Destination weddings are far more likely to be held on weekdays, and according to the The Knot magazine, weekday weddings already account for one in three non-destination wedding. We predict this trend will certainly rise in 2021.
In Israel, the number one requested wedding day is Thursday, and then the other weekend days follow. There’s a significant financial savings for weddings held on weekdays, and in 2021 as the minimum numbers of guests requirements are shifting, there’s more wiggle room for negotiations for weekday events. In fact, many couples will find that their ideal venue may be out of budget on a weekend, yet if you’re willing to book a weekday, it makes it a viable option.
“Happiness is an Afternoon Nap”
The more popular drinks ordered at a bar in Israel are shots of Arak or a Vodka/RedBull combo. Well it’s true that an afternoon wedding is more the mimosa and Bloody Mary, so get ready because the brunch wedding is a hot commodity in 2021. As more weddings are held outdoors, couples are taking advantage of daylight and sun-kissed experiences. The best part for the guests as well as the couple is to have the option to continue the party through the day, or take advantage of the time left for delightful, late afternoon nap, romantic dinner and may I suggest a couple’s massage.
A Baby’s Breath of Fresh Air
Have you noticed the ’90s is suddenly trending in fashion? Well, it’s spilling over to the latest trend of fresh color palettes and prints surging in popularity at weddings.
Seems likely that the 2021 color trend will focus on fresh, nature driven hues and unexpected palette combinations into wedding decor. According to planner and designer Jove Meyer “Color is the new white”. Finally, couples are willing to shy away from the safety and security of whites and creams, and they are welcoming fun, bright and happy colors to incorporate into the décor, invitations and foods.
