Published On: 19 March 2021Categories: Blog, Weddings8.4 min read

When it comes to weddings, there are so many different ideas out there for couples to choose from. You only have to look at inspiration sites such as Pinterest to discover thousands of new ideas at the click of a button. And, everyone has different tastes and opinions about what makes their perfect wedding. Some people like it simple and traditional, whereas others like to go crazy with fun themes and bright colours! The beauty about your wedding day is that there are very few rules- you can do whatever you want. It’s your big day, after all! However, very few weddings have taken place over the past year thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic. The majority of those that did take place were small, due to restrictions on the number of guests. This means that in 2021, 2022, and beyond, many people are looking forward to a postponed celebration! Some of these weddings will be huge celebrations with everyone invited, whereas others will remain small and intimate with only closest family members and friends. 

The one thing that we think weddings this year will have in common is some fun and unique trends, many of which we’ve not seen before on the wedding scene. So, in this post, we’ve put together the top 9 unusual wedding trends for 2021 and beyond, that we think all wedding guests will be seeing a lot more of in the future. From delicious British produce and seasonal colour themes to the introduction of virtual connections, weddings in 2021 are going to look a little different compared to what many of us are used to. So, want to discover our predictions for some of the best trends? Looking for inspiration for your own post-lockdown wedding? Keep on reading…

What are the top 9 unusual wedding trends for 2021 and beyond?

Best of British produce (and alcohol!) will be the order of the day

While the main focus over the past year has been on Coronavirus, the UK has also experienced its final Brexit transition and, of course, left the European Union. As a knock-on effect of this, we think that we’ll be seeing more wedding menus using amazing local British produce. From tender British meats to fresh seasonal vegetables, there’s a real appetite for British fare at the moment, which we definitely think will be extending to wedding menus. But, it doesn’t stop at the food! A focus on traditional cocktails, especially ones using delicious English gin, will also see a surge in popularity, especially for summer countryside weddings. From classic Pimms to a sweet and refreshing Bramble, look out for all the tempting tipples that are coming your way!

Plated courses will be coming back following Covid restrictions

In recent years, one of the most prominent wedding trends has been a move towards buffet-style catering, so guests can choose their own menus and graze throughout the reception. However, one of the unusual wedding trends for 2021 and beyond will see a move in the opposite direction, back towards a traditional sit-down meal with plated courses served by waiting staff. We think that this will happen as caution surrounding Coronavirus lingers, and people try to minimise contact with others as much as possible. It also stems from people missing the experience of fine dining during lockdown, so they want to make the most of this luxury experience on their wedding day!

Plated courses

A bigger focus on seasonal colour themes

It’s safe to say that the coming few years are going to be really busy for weddings, as people rearrange what they had to cancel or postpone due to the various lockdowns of 2020 and early 2021. As a result, the summer wedding will become less of a trend, and we’ll be seeing a steady stream of celebrations in all seasons! We predict that couples will be making the most of their Autumn and Winter weddings with seasonal colour themes. Think rich burnt orange, deep greens, and stunning reds as just a few examples! Choosing a seasonal colour theme is a great way to make any wedding stand out work with the seasons instead of against them. 

Eco weddings will increase in popularity 

This has been a rising trend for weddings over the past few years, but we expect it to really explode in popularity in 2021 and beyond! As people start to become more and more environmentally-friendly and eco-conscious in their everyday lives, they are looking to extend these beliefs into their weddings as well. So, we think we’ll be seeing plenty of eco features in upcoming weddings. Such features include choosing eco-friendly wedding venues that offset their carbon emissions, a menu made up of local produce, biodegradable wedding decorations (such as flower petal confetti instead of plastic), and hiring or choosing vintage wedding outfits over brand new. After all, we must all make an effort to look after our planet, and planning weddings should be no exception!

A larger focus on elaborate table settings with fine china and glassware

After the Coronavirus pandemic and the various lockdowns that it entailed, people are looking forward to some really big and elaborate celebrations. As they have not been able to have a wedding for so long, people are looking for ways to add some fancy finishing touches to their celebrations and ensure that they are not going to be forgotten in a hurry! So, one of the top unusual wedding trends for 2021 and beyond that we think everyone will be seeing a lot more of is elaborate table settings, including fine china and glassware. This is a trend that is sure to make any wedding table feel sophisticated, and it’s a more subtle nod to the vintage feel that has been so popular as a wedding theme in recent years. 

Virtual connection with people who couldn’t make the wedding via zoom

Virtually connecting with people, through Zoom and other video call platforms, has become the norm for all of us in 2020. As an extension of this, one of the unusual wedding trends for 2021 and beyond that we think we’ll all be seeing is getting those who couldn’t attend the wedding in-person involved via video call! We think that this will be especially prominent to ‘live stream’ wedding ceremonies so that family and friends from all over the world can still watch the marriage take place. While lockdown restrictions are easing, many people are still dubious about foregin travel, so this provides a great alternative. But, we think it will be sticking around well into the future to give people who can’t attend for all sorts of reasons the opportunity to still be a part of their loved one’s big day. 

Live entertainment will be big following lockdown

In recent years, there has been a slight shift away from live entertainment such as bands during weddings. Many people have instead opted for a DJ or even done it themselves with a music playlist carefully curated to represent them and their favourite songs. However, we think that, following lockdown, many people will be after live entertainment once more, and bookings for bands and singers will go up. This is because people are desperate to feel that ‘party atmosphere’ once more, and nothing really hits the spot like live music does! It also ties into the theme of making weddings an all-out celebration and chance to connect with loved ones after being apart for so long. 

Live entertainment

Break out areas will feature more prominently

As we ease out of lockdown and begin the slow transition back to normality, another one of the unusual wedding trends for 2021 and beyond will be the introduction of break out areas for weddings. Many people are, understandably, still a little wary about mixing so heavily with others. So, we think that it will become popular to provide areas where people can still social distance and not have to get up close and personal with each other if they don’t want to! These areas will also provide a nice, calm place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the main celebrations for those who would like a break during the reception. 

Expect health and wellbeing post-celebration pamper bags given to guests when they depart

Due to the pandemic, many people are focusing more closely on health and wellbeing than ever before. This is a trend that we think will extend to weddings as well, in a couple of ways. Firstly, we’ll be seeing healthier wedding menu options using the local, British produce that we’ve already mentioned. But, we also think that many couples will choose to do away with traditional wedding favours and instead opt for health and wellbeing pamper bags that will benefit their guests after the celebration! Popular options to include in these are things such as hand sanitiser, hand cream, cooling eye patches, herbal teas, fragrant soaps, and natural candles, all of which will help guests to relax, unwind, and pamper themselves after a big celebration!

Conclusion to the top 9 unusual wedding trends for 2021 and beyond

As you can see, there are plenty of fun wedding trends heading our way in 2021 that will help everyone to celebrate with our loved ones after a really tough year. Overall, we predict that people will be using weddings as an excuse to get together and celebrate in a big way, while still remaining conscious of the environment, seasons, and food that they are serving. The trends that we’ve discussed in this post can be applied to both big and small weddings, so we’re sure that they will be a hit, no matter what sort of celebrations you are attending. 

Here at Vanilla Bean, we understand that your wedding is one of the most important days of your life. As a result, we are passionate about ensuring that every detail of your big day is perfect. To find out more about our wedding catering service, please visit our wedding page by clicking here