All the wedding trends to spot (and some you won’t) this summer

Whether you are planning one, and looking for inspiration, or simply turning up as an enthusiastic guest, wedding season is nearing closer. And with it comes all kinds of new trends and ways to bid tradition goodbye. Just because it's been done time and time again, doesn't necessarily mean it needs to stick, after all.

So take a break from custom and embrace new ways of celebrating some novel nuptials. According to the experts, there are lots of ways to be original, including interactive dining experiences, elaborate champagne towers (just like your parents had!), and bold new colour schemes. And our favourite part? “We will continue to see more involvement from our furry friends and pets on the wedding day,” says Amanda Strand, Norway-based wedding planner and designer. Who can argue with that.

Here's all the weddings trends you need to know about for summer 2023:

“In 2022, we saw a small number of coloured and patterned wedding dresses make an appearance in Scandinavia, so there will most likely be even more of them to spot in 2023,” says Strand, “and notably in softer and lighter hues.” Skirts with a split will be one of this year's biggest dress trends, and more sleeves (sans puff) and gloves, she adds.

Norway wedding planner and designer, Amanda Costa Thompson, predicts a return to elegant, silk numbers. “Grace Kelly-inspired bridal dresses are definitely seen more this year, and also more brides are choosing pattern on their dresses,” she says. “I also expect to see more elaborate headpieces on brides, and these are really a gorgeous detail if it suits your dress and style.”

And for those who just love dress shopping (and buying), you’re in luck as it will be not just be one dress, but at least two dresses. “I think we will see pretty modest dresses with long sleeves and high necklines for the ceremony, but with some kind of statement as a long veil, a cape, or a crown,” says Isabella Nyman owner of Swedish wedding planning company, Isabella's Event. “The second dress for the reception will be more fun, short, maybe of different colour with a big bow. I don’t expect to see fluffy princess dresses as much as before."

Instead of matchy-matchy ensembles, bridal parties will be mix-and-match with an emphasis on individuality.

“This can be achieved by using different styles of dresses in the same colour palette, or completely different styles in bold colours,” says Nyman. “I also predict that we will see more colour-matched dress codes for the guests, and couples will ask their guests to wear untraditional colours, even black or red.”

Hair, shoes, and accessories may be different depending on personal style, again the emphasis will be on the bridal party’s individual style and personality to shine through.

Subtle décor isn't really on the agenda this season; instead, the bigger the better. Look out for innovative table shapes, too, such as oval and s-shaped. “Expect more and bigger ceiling installations, where draping, lamps and florals are combined,” says Costa Thompson. “Also, bigger floral installations behind the couple at the reception dinner.”

Weddings taking place in outdoor settings will be more popular, and the colour palette will follow suit. “Beige and white will still be present, and more earthy tones in warmer hues and strong fun colours are part of this season’s wedding trends. Pattern, custom décor, and florals are being a bigger part of the design,” says Costa Thompson.

We can also expect to see some fun and less stuffy table settings. “Fruit, disco balls and colour blocks both on paper goods, and in flower arrangements,” says Strand.

While neutral and muted colour palettes have been a popular option (and let’s be honest, they’re never really out of fashion), bold colours will be welcome this year.

“We will likely see rich, deep jewel tones like emerald green, sapphire blue, and ruby red in 2023,” says Nyman. “These bold and elegant colours make them perfect for formal or evening weddings. But more vibrant day colours such as cerise pink, orange or yellow, will also be popular,” she says. Single colour schemes, where one colour is used throughout the wedding in different shades and textures will also make an appearance.

“If I have to name one colour that I think will stand out this year, it is blue,” says Strand. “Blue in various shades will be one of this year's most popular wedding colours, preferably in combination with white and light green.”

Couples will continue to move away from traditional sit-down dinners and towards more interactive, engaging dining experiences. “This could mean food stations featuring different cuisines, DIY cocktail bars, or even build-your-own dessert bars,” says Nyman.

And to match the big installations and bold design elements? “Champagne towers are big this year,” says Costa Thompson. “Grazing boards, tables with fun food with a feel of home, and olive bars for the aperitivi after the ceremony are all very popular.”

Another might-not-be-ready-for-it element to weddings in 2023 is the wedding cake, or rather, the absence of a cake. But if the thought of wedding cupcakes make you break out into a cold sweat, don’t fret, it's just being reconfigured.

“For the couples who choose to have a wedding cake, embracing geometric shapes and patterns will be on trend,” says Nyman. “The cake will be an art piece and watercolor cakes is something I think we will see more of in 2023; cakes that are decorated with hand-painted or airbrushed designs that resemble a watercolor painting.”

Unsurprisingly, post-COVID, couples are opting for their nuptials to take place over days, not hours, in a meaningful place. While destination weddings will be more popular than ever, wedding bubbles will be very attractive to couples who don’t want to stray too far from home.

“A destination wedding doesn’t necessarily need to mean travelling abroad,” says Nyman. “Bringing your family and friends to a destination and have them stay over for a couple of days to join the wedding bubble, is definitely something that is trending in 2023.”

And when you live in our special part of the world, why leave it?

“More couples have opened their eyes and prefer to get married here in Scandinavia,” says Strand. “It's easy to overlook the beauty that surrounds us every day, but the truth is that it's incredibly beautiful here."

Costa Thompson says three-day celebrations are gaining interest but they’re in a relaxed setting. “It can be everything from floating saunas on the ocean, with guests starting the day with a swim, to fun lawn games.”

You might be at the mercy of the weather, but an all-outdoor ceremony is really something special especially as the sky’s the limit (literally) as to how elaborate and tall you’d like your floral installations.

“It feels like an increasing number of couples are considering having their ceremony outside here in Scandinavia, even though the weather is significantly more unpredictable than in many other parts of the world,” says Strand.

“At first, I expected to see more large weddings in 2023, but instead we keep seeing more intimate guest lists,” says Nyman. “I think we realised the benefits of smaller guest counts during the pandemic. That doesn't mean that the weddings are less spectacular, rather it means that we put more budget and more effort into every guest to make it more personal and more elevated.”

And the perfect size guest list?

“Most of the wedding couples I am working with this year have between 70-100 guests,” says Strand. “In other words: neither very small nor very large; it’s the perfect number, in my opinion. Finances, relationships, and priorities have changed.”