Wedding trends for 2026

November 28, 2023

If you’re planning for your upcoming wedding and looking for inspiration, look no further!

No matter if you’re newly engaged and just starting your planning journey, or a couple getting close to their wedding looking for final inspiration, we’ve got you covered. Our expert wedding planners share 2026 trends and predictions for the year ahead to inspire your wedding planning.

The Best wedding trends for 2026

Micro weddings

A very notable trend is micro weddings.

Many venues are offering smaller packages or event spaces so you can have your dream day in a more private setting. They are a perfect option if you want a beautifully intimate day with your nearest and dearest. They’re also great if you don’t want to spend a load of cash or want a more laid-back celebration.

Sustainability and ethical practices

Sustainability has been a big consideration for many couples in recent years, and this is set to continue throughout 2025 and 2026. Examples of how couples are choosing to reduce their eco-footprint include using foam-free flower installations, cutting back on waste, using bio-degradable confetti, finding wedding dresses made using ethical practices or even second-hand, and sourcing their wedding cakes from local companies that use seasonal, local ingredients.

We take sustainability at The Brewery very seriously including energy conservation, waste minimisation and limited single-use plastics. We also limit our food miles with our chefs sourcing ingredients locally so your food, from your wedding breakfast to your evening reception food, will be sourced as locally as possible using seasonal ingredients.

Virtual ceremonies

With micro weddings on the increase, so are virtual ceremonies. For some, micro weddings mean having to compromise on who can attend the celebration in person. That’s where virtual ceremonies come in. Thanks to the world of technology, you can now livestream your wedding ceremony, so everyone you love can be together digitally to celebrate your big day.

Virtual weddings are also a brilliant option for couples who have family members spread across the country, or even around the world. When travel can be expensive or not possible for friends and family with limited mobility, having a partly virtual wedding is a great way to include all your nearest and dearest no matter where they are – everyone feels included and everyone has fun.

Virtual venue tours

Choosing the perfect wedding venue is important, and most people choose to visit in person before making such a big decision. But, if you’re looking to get married far away from home or you don’t have time to visit a venue in person, virtual venue tours could be the perfect option for you. Whether that’s a tour that has been created by a venue, or perhaps a Facetime call with your wedding planner, navigating your way around might look a little different, but no less exciting.

Here at The Brewery, we have a virtual tour online that takes you around all of our stunning rooms with clickable interactive buttons, providing interesting facts and highlighting key features and areas.

Open speeches

With smaller wedding receptions, you may have more time during the day as you don’t have as many guests to socialise with. It’s a great idea to open up the speeches and instead of just hearing from the father of the bride and the groom, pass the microphone around to anyone else who would like to say a few words.

Guest dress codes

Most couples have a vision of the aesthetic of their wedding before they start planning. Asking your guests to follow a dress code is a great way of achieving your desired look and feel. Rather than gowns and formal suits, many couples are choosing a more casual style of formal wear and providing guests with preferred colour schemes.

You might also be thinking of a dress code along with your dream wedding theme. Perhaps you’re thinking of a country-themed wedding and are looking for guests to wear plaid. Or maybe you’re going for a black tie feel, and so full-length dresses and tuxedos are on the card.

Ambient lighting

Choosing your wedding décor can set the whole tone for your special day and picking ambient lighting can completely change the feel of your wedding. From fairy lights and candles to marquee letters and signs, there are ways to incorporate beautiful lighting into your venue. Why not consider changing the lighting at different stages of the day? Look at changing the colour or having fun concept lights to add a new depth and dimension to any venue.

Going ‘au naturel’

Another wedding makeup trend continuing on from last year is for brides to opt for a more natural look. Think luminous dewy skin, soft shades of eyeshadow and nude lips for your makeup. This is the same with wedding hairstyles, with many brides-to-be choosing natural down looks with subtle curls to create an effortless look. It’s all about looking like yourself and letting the dress do the talking.

The Dress

Speaking of dresses… picking a wedding gown is often a bride’s biggest decision – after picking the groom that is! Like with any trend, wedding dresses are always changing but there are a couple of recent fashions that we think are going to stick around. We love coloured wedding dresses, with pale pinks, peaches and floral embroidery, creating a gorgeous look. There are a lot more traditional wedding gowns coming back into fashion too, with longer trains, cathedral-length wedding veils and longer sleeves all playing a part.

Weekday weddings

Although weekend weddings have traditionally been the norm, weekday weddings have continued to grow since the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only does this offer couples more choices on their wedding date, but venues and suppliers are often cheaper as this is a less busy period of time for them. it can help many couples achieve their dream wedding on a slightly smaller budget.

Pastel shades

Pastel shades are popular year after year for weddings, especially during spring/summer. However, this year, it’s thought colours such as sage green, lilac and pastel pinks will overtake the classic blush and ivory themes.

Consider using these colours throughout your wedding from your wedding invitations to your wedding flowers and venue décor. Adding a little bit of colour everywhere will help tie together your wedding and create a harmonious look.

Plan your wedding with The Brewery

If you’re in search of your perfect venue, we’d love for you to take a look around our virtual tour of The Brewery. Located in the heart of London, The Brewery is steeped in history and you can choose from several beautiful spaces to host your wedding ceremony and reception.

Milena, our wedding manager, will help you create a unique and individual celebration as you and your partner. With six event spaces and a delicious selection of food and drinks, we will help you create a celebration that you and your guests will never forget.

Congratulations on your engagement. We look forward to hearing from you.