Wedding Trends for 2021

4 Wedding trend predictions for 2021

Weddings? In 2021? Are you sure? I hear you mumble. Yes, most definitely (hopefully). For those of you who have had to wait and reschedule and reshuffle your guest lists, the end is in sight! Here are some of my predicted wedding trends for 2021.

1. Micro Weddings….. 

No big surprises there. The micro wedding trend was more of an enforced necessity in 2020 and will continue to be until at least 21^stJune 2021. But I’ve seen couples really embracing the idea of smaller more intimate celebrations, even once the restrictions lift.

Lockdown has taught us who is most important. Some of those people considered essential when planning your original numbers, may not have been in your thoughts at all this last year. There may also be key guests that you want to continue to protect if they are more vulnerable and huge celebrations may not be suitable for them for some time.

Micro weddings are also a great way to be able to say no to an over eager parent, who insists you invite your uncle, that you have seen since you were 13, to your big day.

I love to photograph micro weddings. There is something very special about knowing that everyone at a wedding is hugely important and to be able to get to know them during the day. However, if you have already booked a venue based on a minimum capacity, don’t expect to be able to reduce your numbers once government restrictions are lifted. 

2. Later Ceremony times…..

With couples unable to have large traditional evening receptions with dancing and mingling, booking a later ceremony shifts everything back a little. Meaning that you don’t find that the day is done and dusted by mid afternoon.

For example, lets assume that you are having a civil ceremony and 3 course meal and everything is happening in one venue. By having your ceremony at 4pm this means that you will finish the ceremony at 4.30pm, then with an hour and a half of mingling, bubbles, canapés and photographs you will sit down to eat at 6pm. Asking for a gap between courses will make your meal 2 hours or more. A bit more chatting and you will finish your day at 9ish.  

Your day doesn’t have to end after the meal though. Read on for more trend predictions. 

3. Less focus on the ‘frills’……

You all know what I mean by frills. The pretty bits. The perfectly matching groomsmen ties in the same fabric as the bridesmaid dresses. The 74 candles decorating the registrars table, that represent the number of months you’ve known each other. The orders of service placed on each seat with an individual pack of tissues. The hundred hanging lanterns over the ceiling of the dance floor and the llama that greets the guests on arrival….You get the picture.

Whilst most of you won’t have been planning on having a llama, the likelihood is the initial ideas you had for the details for your day have taken a back seat to focus on who you really want to come and just your wedding happening at all. I know for a fact that there are lots of couples with boxes of hobbycraft goodies waiting to be turned into something fabulous, but with the stress of this last year, you’ve kind of lost your crafting mojo. (You are not alone.) If this pandemic has shown us anything, it is how much we miss people. Trust me, the things that are going to make a wedding day memorable, can’t be bought on amazon, or found at the end of a glue gun. 

4. Fabulous Entertainment……..

(I am writing this before full guidance on weddings has been published for 2021. In 2020 weddings finished after the wedding breakfast, as evening receptions were not permitted. Make sure you check all current guidance before booking anything.)

Entertainment is one of those things that couples either give a huge amount of thought to, or none at all, beyond booking a DJ or band. With limited numbers and social distancing still in place until 21^stJune at the earliest, you may want to think outside the box with regard to the entertainment available to your guests. I predict that entertainment where guests remain relatively static and socially distanced will be one of the biggest wedding trends for 2021.

Wine Tasting 

Who doesn’t love a bit of wine tasting. Kelli and Matthew at The Wine Shop in Winscombe have lots of experience of doing mobile events. Tastings could be themed around the couple’s favourite wines, or pick something really indulgent like a champagne and sparkling wine tasting. They bring everything you need, so just sit back, relax and learn lots of new things about wine (That you will promptly forget once you’ve had a few samples. I have done an actual WSET wine course, with a qualification, and I still forget most things I learn.)

A venue with in house wine tasting is Aldwick Estate in North Somerset. Enjoying a wedding while learning about a venues own wines, sounds like my kind of evening. A vineyard really is the perfect place to get married, both for beautiful photographs… and knowing that the bar is never going to run dry. (check out my Aldwick Venue Gallery and other Aldwick blogs)

Caricatures 

Sit back and and relax whilst having an hilarious caricature created, without even having to leave your seat. Only for those with a sense of humour! It’s great to photograph that moment when the subject is shown their drawing. One of my favourite caricaturists is Ian from Parody Portraits, check out his website here. 

Photo Booths/Studios

I use the term booths here, but actually the more traditional booths where everyone crams in together are likely to fall out of favour for magic mirrors and photographers with large studio backdrops. Expect paper props! Or add a little touch of class and extra décor with a flower wall backdrop. Take a look at magic mirror options by North Somerset based Soundwave Entertainments and flower wall backdrops by Millia Events.

Murder Mystery

Not just something for a dinner party, a murder mystery, along with live actors, is great entertainment! Easy to remain in your seats and get into character, whilst stimulating those little grey cells. I attended a brilliant murder mystery evening at Clevedon Hall, performed by Perfect Murder. Prices from only £595 for a murder mystery with up to 20 guests. 

Magicians

The close up magician has been a staple of weddings for a number of years, but being up close and personal may not work that well for some months yet. Take a look at magicians that can do more of a stage show. Darren Campbell is the absolute best. Magic is brilliant to photograph. Reaction shots are priceless and often some of my favourite from a wedding day. 

Are you looking for a wedding photographer to capture your beautiful 2021 wedding? Interlace Photography capture weddings in Somerset, Bristol and beyond. 

Let me know if the comments if you’re thinking of some alternative entertainment, or if you’ve made changes to your numbers and timings because of the pandemic. I’m keen to see if any of my predictions are correct, or if this post has given anyone ideas they hadn’t considered. There may be wedding trends for 2021 that I haven’t even thought of yet, we will see!