Getting married in 2024? You might have more than a single day to plan for.

Multi-day, weekend celebrations will be one of the biggest wedding trends of next year, according to the annual trends report from Hitched.

Using survey and google trends data, the wedding planning site has uncovered the emerging trends engaged couples are searching for.

According to the insights, weddings in 2024 will be more personalised than ever, and will have more of a focus on the guest experience, as couples make sure their day truly sums up who they are.

Zoe Burke, leading wedding expert and editor of Hitched.co.uk, says couples are moving away from tradition and planning their days to be more aligned with their own lifestyles, budgets, and beliefs. She shares her predictions with us below.

Wedding trends you can expect in 2024

One of the biggest trends that Zoe expects to see really take off next year is customised celebrant-led wedding ceremonies, where wedding vows can be completely rewritten by couples, making them truly original.

‘There’s been a 49% increase in Google searches for ‘celebrant weddings’ in the past year, and traffic to our article about celebrant-led weddings has increased by an incredible 157%, showing a clear trend for unique celebrant-led wedding ceremonies,’ she says.

‘Having a celebrant-led ceremony offers couples so much freedom that they wouldn’t necessarily get in a traditional ceremony. There’s room for personal stories, inclusive language, and cultural diversity, and couples also get to spend quality time with their celebrant beforehand to make sure that the ceremony truly reflects their unique relationship. You just don’t get that anywhere else.’

Google searches for ‘film wedding photography’ have surged by 266% this year, highlighting it as a key trend for coming weddings. Zoe puts this down to the magic of anticipation, saying: ‘Nostalgia is always on trend, and in a time where everything is instantly available in digital format, the anticipation of film wedding photography has a huge appeal.’

Film wedding photographer Kate Bunny Hampson isn’t surprised to see film photography trending, noting that he has seen an increase in the number of couples asking for it as an add-on to their packages. ‘I personally have been shooting on film since 1981. I started offering it at weddings a few years ago, it was always my personal preference, but I noticed how much clients were jumping on the film photos.

‘I ditched the digitals and went to full film two years ago. Ever since then, my business has boomed! I’m flooded with enquiries from couples who appreciate the beauty of film photography. Flooded! 

‘I personally choose film because of the look. There is a certain richness and depth you cannot get with digital photography. I also like how it forces me to really think about what I’m photographing, without the screen to look at.’

What’s better than a wedding day? A whole wedding weekend! Google searches for ‘weekend wedding venue’ have risen by 50% in the past year, as couples seek to make even more of a celebration out of their wedding.

Taking inspiration from TikTok’s billions of videos on #WedTok and the American trend of having a rehearsal dinner the night before, and a goodbye brunch on the following day, UK couples are now increasingly looking for venues that can host them for three days in a row to really make the most out of their wedding. 

Just as with fashion, wedding styles are pretty cyclical, and the next big thing is going to be retro-inspired events. Online interest in ‘70s weddings’ has grown by almost a third (39%) in the past year, no doubt following the highly anticipated release of Daisy Jones & the Six on Amazon Prime earlier this year.

Experts at Le Keux, who specialise in vintage bridal hairstyles, said: ‘I believe vintage and retro styling is becoming more popular because more people are discovering the golden age of Hollywood due to lots of exposure in mainstream TV and films such as the Mrs Maisel series, the 2022 Elvis film by Baz Luhrmann, and more vintage influences in wig styling and fashion through hit shows such as RuPaul’s Drag Race.

‘From these cultural references the next generation are now being introduced to a style that is so classically beautiful it’s actually timeless.’

Brass bands are not an uncommon sight at a wedding, but it seems couples are seeking out more unusual entertainment ideas for 2024. Zoe says that the appearance of a solo saxophonist at a wedding has been a creeping trend for a little while now, but expects it to hit the mainstream next year as searches for ‘saxophone wedding’ increase by 143% year on year.

Wedding saxophonist James Burwell explains why he thinks the sax is becoming more of a wedding party must-have: ‘I think what sets saxophonists apart is their adaptability which allows them to cater to all different wedding styles and preferences.

‘Whether it’s beautiful classical melodies, classic jazz standards, popular love songs, and even modern hits and Ibiza tunes, the saxophone can effortlessly interpret these styles, creating a refreshing twist to well-known tunes. This makes it the perfect instrument for ceremonies, drinks receptions, wedding breakfasts and the evening party!’

Renting décor has been the norm for a while, but the number of additional elements nearlyweds can hire or borrow is growing, to a point where couples are able to rent almost every element of their wedding days.

Google searches for ‘wedding dress hire’ have increased by 50% in the last year, while traffic to articles on wedding dress hire options on Hitched are also up by 152% as nearlyweds look for affordable and sustainable options for their wedding days. 

Additionally, Zoe says that she’s seen a massive rise in traffic to her wedding hire guide on Hitched, by a whopping 1,545%, as couples look for ways to hire everything from flowers to fashion and footwear. ‘Renting makes so many items way more accessible to couples, and removes the pressure of figuring out what to do with them after your wedding too,’ she says.

Instead of cash in a card or a donation towards the ‘honeymoon fund,’ wedding guests are reverting to good, old fashioned presents, with interest in ‘wedding gift ideas’ on the up. Guests may even opt for a surprise, rather than something on a ‘gift list’.

Why? It feels more sentimental, and is harder to see how much you’ve spent.

‘As everyone feels the impact of the cost of living crisis, giving cash as a wedding gift can feel a bit daunting,’ she says. ‘Gift lists are such a great way for couples to communicate what gifts they would actually like to receive from their guests, and stops the issue of getting more than one of the same gift, too. 

‘It’s very easy to see exactly how much your gift is worth, and that can make some people feel exposed – especially if they are on a tight budget. Choosing a thoughtful gift is an easy way to make it look like you’ve spent more, and to give something sentimental that the couple can keep forever. A win win!’

2024 is going to see weddings get technical! Google searches for ‘AI wedding’ have doubled in the last year while Zoe says she’s seeing emerging trends around terms like ‘AI wedding speech generator’ and ‘AI wedding invitations’ as nearly-weds experiment with the latest artificial intelligence available online.

‘It’s interesting to see couples leaning on new tech to help them with their wedding planning,’ says Zoe. ‘I definitely recommend getting all the help you can get to plan your wedding, but if you are using AI, make sure you double check what it gives you, and edit and play around with it so it feels like it has come from you.

‘We recently revealed that more than half of Brits (57%) tasked with writing a wedding speech would not admit to getting help with their speech, which is a bit worrying. I would suggest using AI to help give you ideas, but not to actually do the work itself. Things like speeches are way more meaningful when they come from the heart, not the bot.’

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