Late November through early February each year rings in proposal season! Thanksgiving and the holidays are often the reason, as having the whole family together provides an easy opportunity to pop the question so those nearest and dearest can also celebrate. And, of course, the lovey-dovey feelings on the day dedicated to romance, Valentine’s Day, inspire many to get down on one knee as well.
In fact, according to The Knot, the five most popular engagement days fall within this proposal season: Christmas Day is the most popular day to propose, followed by December 24. New Year’s Day, January 1, is also included in the list, as is December 22 and February 14 (Valentine’s Day). Additional anecdotes from Zola confirm that December reigned as the most popular month to get engaged due to “feelings of thankfulness and love in the winter months.”
With the influx of engagements, there will soon be lots of 2025 and 2026 weddings! To prep for all these upcoming nuptials, we have expert insights from Kobi Cummings, co-owner, art director and certified wedding planner at The Valley Venues, to shed some light on upcoming trends.
Photo Credit: Hannah Lillian Photography
Wedding Themes and Styles for 2025
You’ll see a big resurgence of vintage! Cummings states, “What we were talking about now is not just documentary photography but how this idea is blending into videography. I find it really interesting because it’s not just documentary style, which is often like 30-millimeter film. We’re also continuing to see couples leaving disposable cameras on reception tables so guests can capture more moments from the wedding. Plus, more people are renting antique furniture and decor pieces!”
For floral arrangements, the 80s are back! Per Cummings, you’ll see cascading bouquets come back into trend, but in a more elegant way. “Also, to save money and be eco-friendly, faux florals are coming back as well. Since the quality of faux florals has gotten so much better, couples who want to save more can opt for those instead of fresh flowers with equally as beautiful outcomes. In terms of sustainability, not throwing away $3,000 worth of flowers at the end of the day is way better, way better,” shares Cummings. We love that you can also repurpose them.
2025 Trends in Wedding Venues or Locations
More venues are now offering wedding weekends! The idea behind it is that instead of spending hours with your loved ones, you could spend a bit more to get a full two days to celebrate. Cummings notes, “The value is that you have a wedding weekend getaway versus a very long day where you arrive at 6 a.m. and then you’re cleaning until midnight or 1 a.m. I have seen clients who don’t do the wedding weekends and see their parents not making it to the after-party because they start cleaning.”
She notes that couples often extend the wedding weekend invite to the bridal party, too, “Some venues can accommodate 30-40 people and can really give the feeling of a private estate wedding, renting a whole property to feel like a getaway weekend for all.”
Photo Credit:
2025 Trends in Wedding Attire
The vintage trend continues here, too. Cummings is seeing the following:
Grooms: More pocket florals instead of a boutonniere and statement accessories, such as custom-made cufflinks, engraved watches, and heirloom pieces.
- Brides: A lot of bows, neck scarves and dainty little lacy gloves.
- Couples: Custom or bold shoes for the ceremony or reactions are a new twist on the popular “second look” trend. Examples include custom white Converse with lace details, embroidered wedding date or bright and blinged-out heels.
- Bridal Party: Mismatched will continue to be a trend with a mixture of different textures and colors for dresses and mixing various accessories like bow ties and ties.
Entertainment or Interactive Guest Experience Trends in 2025:
Live paintings have been a huge trend these past couple of years and are not going anywhere! Cummings states, “Something new that we’re seeing includes live painting guest portraits. Instead of painting one oil painting of the couple, each guest has their own customized portrait for a wedding favor! Other new interactive elements I’ve seen are real tattoo artists at the reception or even a custom temporary tattoo bar.”
Where live music has always been a mainstay, Cummings is now seeing more three-piece musician bands, whether it’s a string quartet or a jazz trio.
Photo Credit: Alex Kelly Photography
Technology Tools for 2025:
Technology is making weddings more interactive than ever! With the rise in photo-sharing apps, guests can upload their photos into the Cloud, and everyone can view each other’s pictures.
“We’ve also seen more couples hire day-of content creators to specifically make social media content to capture memories through the guest’s eyes,” says Cummings.
Additionally, for those couples who prefer to do the planning themselves without hiring a wedding planner, there’s a trend toward online services that make the process easier! One example is Our Day, which has a unique platform that matches vendors with couples through a request for proposal (RFP) process inputting their budget, theme and special requests.
With these 2025 wedding trends noted, you’re ready for the upcoming proposal season. Happy planning!