Looking Back, Moving Forward:
What 2025 Taught Us About Weddings & What 2026 Couples Are Planning
Introduction: 2025, The Year Weddings Got Intentional
As 2025 draws to a close, one thing is crystal clear, weddings this year were about more than just “the big day.” They were about intentional joy, resilience and values.
As a celebrant with over 15 years’ experience, I’ve watched couples navigate the noisy, unpredictable world of recent years with grace as they’ve crafted celebrations that felt like a deep breath. Now, as 2026 rapidly and couples start their planning journeys, it’s fascinating to see how these trends are evolving.
Here’s what 2025 taught us, and what’s coming next…
Micro-Joys in Macro-Chaos: 2025’s Intentional Weddings
This year, weddings became pauses from the noise of the world.
What 2025 Couples Did… Embraced unplugged ceremonies where phones stayed in pockets and handbags.
Chose handfastings and other cultural elements as well as grounding rituals such as wildflower seed scatterings.
Focused on sensory details such as herbs in bouquets and boutonnières, personal vows and meaningful gifts and experiences for their guests.
Many subsequently have described their weddings as feeling like “a deep breath.”
What 2026 Couples Are Planning…
Next year’s couples are taking this even further, building in “quiet moments” during the day with private vow readings, a first look and a moment of meditation before the ceremony, with smaller guest lists to keep things intimate and intentional.
Meaning Over Extravagance: The 2025 Shift
2025 was the year couples finally ditched the “because you’re supposed to” approach.
What 2025 Couples Did…
Said no to wasteful wedding favours and OTT décor.
Opted for ethical choices: second-hand dresses, hired suits, plant-based menus, seasonal flowers.
Chose rituals with roots and real meaning such as handfastings combined with oathing stones for genuine connection and symbolism,( not just because Pinterest suggested them).
What 2026 Couples Are Planning…
For 2026, we’ll start seeing couples blend minimalism with luxury. They’re still rejecting waste, but investing in one or two wow factors such as immersive ceremony décor or meaningful experiences for guests rather than endless ‘stuff’.
Global Solidarity in Love: Cross-Cultural Weddings and Travel Elopements
One of the most heartwarming shifts in 2025 was the return of destination and cross-cultural weddings.
What 2025 Couples Did…
Mindfully created ceremonies blending two or three cultures.
Reunited families from opposite sides of the world after years apart.
Combined elopements with volunteering or purposeful travel.
What 2026 Couples Are Planning…
Couples planning 2026 weddings are getting creative with location and participation. We’ll start to see hybrid ceremonies where part of the celebration happens abroad and another part at home, or “double weddings” so both families can celebrate in meaningful places.Celebrants specialise in these types of celebration and we do love to travel! (Well I do!)
Choosing Joy as a Form of Rebellion: Resilience in 2025 Weddings
In 2025, joy itself became radical. Couples reframed their weddings as a way to reclaim happiness.
What 2026 Couples Are Planning
Next year’s couples are building “celebrations of resilience” into their weddings – sharing their journeys openly in vows, featuring storytelling in their ceremonies, and inviting guests to participate in moments of reflection or gratitude.
Eco-Conscious Love Stories: Green Weddings Growing Stronger
Eco-consciousness was no longer a niche in 2025 … it was mainstream.
What 2025 Couples Did
Used local artisans for décor, rings and food.
Replaced cut flowers with potted plants or wildflower seed favours.
Chose dried petals or bird-friendly seed mixes for confetti.
Wore pre-loved outfits with pride.
Encouraged guests to car-share or attend virtually to reduce emissions.
What 2026 Couples Are Planning
In 2026, couples are going beyond single green touches to design entire “circular weddings.” Think hire-everything décor schemes, zero-waste menus, digital-only invites, and even post-wedding tree-planting days with guests.
How Celebrants Are Evolving With These Trends
As a celebrant, I’ve loved this shift. My role is increasingly about helping couples weave their values into their ceremonies – whether that’s a handfasting under an oak tree, a hybrid cross-cultural wedding, or a green wedding under the stars.
Looking to 2026, I’m preparing to create even more bespoke rituals, quiet moments and eco-conscious ceremonies. It’s an exciting time to be in this world.
Tips for 2026 Couples Planning Now
If you’re planning your own 2026 wedding, here’s how to make it meaningful, ethical and joyful:
Start With Your Why – Before booking anything, ask what truly matters to you.
Think Small, Feel Big – Micro-joys often create the biggest memories.
Blend Sustainability With Style – Go green but also go bold where it counts.
Tell Your Story – Don’t be afraid to share your journey; it deepens the ceremony.
Create Quiet Spaces – Build in moments of pause amid the celebration.
Do The Research – find your suppliers along with your why and how to right here.
The Future of Weddings Is Joyful, Ethical and Human
2025 taught us that weddings can be more than a day – they can be moments of pause, resilience and reflection.
2026 couples are taking those lessons and building celebrations that are intimate yet impactful, green yet gorgeous, and always rooted in values.
In a time when chaos feels constant, choosing joy really is a form of rebellion. And there’s nothing more radical than two people saying: “We choose each other. We choose love.”
If you’re planning your 2026 wedding and want a celebrant who’ll help you create something truly personal, I’d love to chat. Together we design a ceremony that reflects your story and gives you that much-needed pause from the noise of the world.
For more information and ideas about how we can work together get in touch now
I can’t wait to work with you and create something funky and magical.
