Every year we’re blown away by the wedding industry’s ability to re-invent itself with new and exciting styling trends. Given that fewer than usual weddings went ahead last year (cheers, COVID) we are particularly excited to see the 2021 wedding styling trends play out.
Despite all the obvious devastations, the pandemic has been the main driver behind many of the trends – it did, after all, give couples plenty of time to stop and reflect on what’s important to them – like supporting local business and paying for quality products.
We got in touch with some of our favourite Australian wedding stylists including Ashdown & Bee, Found Collective and Splash Events and asked them to share the main wedding trends they look forward to seeing this year.
Featured image: Ashdown & Bee by Tealily Photography.
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1. Intimate spaces to share
Since COVID, we’ve seen a rise in micro-weddings and elopements and it appears that this trend is set to continue. When it comes to styling, this means couples are opting to create inviting and thoughtfully decorated areas for guests to wine, dine and mingle. Think picnics, beautifully styled dining tables, casual lounge areas and the like.
2. Quality over quantity
With many couples reassessing the size the of their guestlists, fewer mouths to feed can mean there’s potentially some wiggle room in the budget for top-notch decor. Couples are preferring to splash a little extra cash for better quality and locally made items like linen tablecloths, speciality napkins, high-end paper goods, abundant lighting, stunning florals, crystal glassware and anything else that will add something ‘extra’ to the event.
3. Unique ceremony backdrops
Recent times have delivered us a brutal yet important reminder of what the day is all about – the person you are marrying. In turn, couples are placing greater emphasis on the ceremony by not only creating meaningful ceremonies but unique and beautiful ceremony backdrops that make a big deal of the whole tying-the-knot part.
4. Styling with organic shapes
This is a bit of a roll-on from 2020 but styling with organic shapes is still very much on-trend. Think round-edges, handmade ceramics and circular menus. Basically, expect to see a lot less straight lines and sharp edges and more decor items that are fluid in form.
5. Making a statement
As we mentioned in our 2021 wedding trends post, weddings will increasingly be a reflection of the individual interests, passions and general likes of the couple hosting them. It’s an opportunity for them to inject individualism and make a statement about who they are and what they love. For some, that might manifest as a giant-sized piñata or a larger-than-life wedding cake. For others it could be a champagne tower or statement bridal bouquet.
6. Colour palettes
Thankfully those much-loved earthy tones of burnt orange, cinnamon, terracotta and coffee will still be one of the top 2021 wedding styling trends but start to keep an eye out for weddings featuring a burst of bright, starburst-coloured flowers, decor, stationery and signage in just the right doses.
