It didn’t surprise our L Prestigious Events team when someone told us that wedding trends in the United States start two places. New York City and LA!
New York City is known for fashion, and you know this town is filled with foodies. So, it’s no surprise that lots of wedding trends start here and move west.
Here are some of our favorite 2021 wedding trends, many we’ll see clear into 2022 as well.
Hindsight is 2020
Looking back at 2020 and all of the wedding postponements and cancellations, many 2021 wedding trends started out of necessity.
Marry Now- Party Later
We’re going to see lots of New York couples who choose to say their I Dos now and have a larger reception later on down the road. Many couples want to have the reception when people have been vaccinated, and family and friends can travel to join them.
We know several couples who wanted to keep a wedding date that was special to them – and are okay with coming together when people can eat, dance, hug and kiss.
However, a small wedding ceremony with just family doesn’t mean skimping on the details. You can wear that special wedding gown again for the reception. And, beautiful personal flowers and a fabulous backdrop for your ceremony are a must.
Live Stream Your Wedding Ceremony
Nearly everyone has someone who they wish could make it to their wedding. From elderly family members to friends across the globe who can travel; a live stream of your wedding ceremony brings them all closer.
It’s something wedding videographers, and audio-visual businesses are starting to offer. Another fun touch is to send some of those special people a wedding box. These boxes can include a keepsake wedding program, one of your wedding favors, and some confetti or petals to toss when you seal your wedding vows with a kiss. You might even want to consider a specially designed cookie or wedding cupcake.
Pantone Color of the Year 2021
The Pantone Color of the Year is a wedding trend that isn’t going away anytime soon. However, for 2021 Pantone picked TWO colors!
Ultimate Gray seems to be a result of everything we went through last year. It’s a little cloudy. It’s also the color of comfortable bed linens and a blanket you want to cuddle up with. It’s neither black nor white. Pantone’s executives referred to it as ‘dependable.”
But it’s paired with a color called Illuminating! It’s a bright lemony yellow color. It’s a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s fun and cheery.
Cheery is precisely what everyone needed moving forward. The two colors pair beautifully together with gray as a grounding color using design details like mercury glass vases and votive candles or silver-tone charge plates. You might consider linen in a soft buttery yellow with brighter pops of yellow used in custom menu cards or a variety of shades of yellow flowers blended together.
Wedding parties in gray with an accent of yellow accessories or bouquets and boutonnieres are on-trend.
Fashion Forward
Another wedding trend influenced by the fashion industry also comes to us thanks to the folks at Netflix. Bridgerton! We’ve always been obsessed with royal weddings and stories of the rich and famous.
Bridgerton’s popularity will have us seeing grooms in more brightly colored and patterned suit coats. And for the ladies, Empire waists are here to stay. Not surprisingly, sleeves are back and puffier than ever.
There’s No Place Like Home
With safety in mind, we’re seeing more and more New York wedding parties choosing to go the way of an intimate house party for bachelor and bachelorette parties.
With options like Airbnb and VRBO, wedding parties are renting a house and staying away from crowded bars. From spa retreats to catered dinners, the possibilities are endless. Renting a house can be your weekend retreat or used as a home base for heading out for a golf outing or outdoor adventure.
Show Us The Money
Another continuing trend is couples looking for cash gifts over a traditional registry. We’re seeing couples marrying after living on their own or together and not need many of the items couples would usually register for.
Many sites like Honeyfund, specialize in monetary donations to go toward anything from a honeymoon, new home, or even renovation project.
While it’s still considered a faux pas to ask for cash gifts on your wedding invitation, word of mouth from family and wedding party work perfectly. Additionally, a page on your wedding website can direct guests to multiple registries – and tell them why you want them to show you the money!
What are some of the current trends in New York weddings you love?