Weddings in 2023: Top 6 Trends to Watch For

The six wedding trends we called heading into 2023 — destination weddings, TikTok inspiration, audio guestbooks, custom gowns and tuxes, drone footage, and mismatched bridesmaids' dresses — and why every one of them still shapes how couples plan today.

Every couple hits the same moment somewhere around month three of planning. It's midnight, you're deep in a scroll hole, you have strong opinions about chair styles now, and you genuinely cannot remember whether you like any of this or whether the algorithm just told you to.

We get it. So here's the shortcut.

These are the six trends we picked out heading into 2023 — and not one of them has aged out since. That's the thing about weddings: the fads burn off fast, and the good ideas quietly become the new normal. Take the ones that sound like you and leave the rest.

1. Destination Weddings: Honeymoon-Ready Before the First Toast

Destination weddings keep climbing, and they sit at the top of this list for a reason. With the whole world to explore, more couples are seeking honeymoon-ready wedding spots — something different from the usual church-or-hotel-ballroom script.

The reasons stack up fast. Some couples want to escape the stress of planning a big hometown wedding. Some want to celebrate their love somewhere exotic. Some just want to spend less on the wedding and honeymoon combined so the difference can go toward traveling around Europe. And let's be honest: a destination wedding also means you can trim a few of Aunt Carol's wine club friends off the guest list.

Greece, Italy, Spain, and France are the perennial favorites. But a destination doesn't have to require a passport, either — we work weddings in Sedona, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley, where red rock and desert light do the same job as a coastline with a far shorter flight.

2. TikTok Inspiration: The Mood Board That Talks Back

If you haven't heard of it by now, you probably live under a rock — but that's ok, we'll enlighten you. TikTok has been handed the title of "the future of wedding planning," and it earned that title by being extremely good at inspiration.

It has taken over Pinterest as the place couples go to plan the big day. Creators walk you through what kind of flowers to use, what to serve at the reception, and how to get ready on the morning of without losing your mind. All in all, it's a great place to collect tips, inspiration, and ideas.

One caution from the people who show up after the mood board is finished: save the ideas that survive a second look. The feed rewards novelty. Your wedding only has to reward you.

3. Alternative Guestbooks: Retire the Book Nobody Reads

Traditional guestbooks lack the creativity and flair to keep up with a modern wedding. They've been a staple forever, sure, but they're often dull — memories scribbled in a barely legible format that will probably never be looked at again.

If you want an alternative, this one is hands down our favorite (ok, we may be biased). An audio guestbook phone sits near the entrance, guests pick up the handset, and they leave a message after the beep. That's the entire interaction.

It's perfect if you'd rather hear your guests than decode their handwriting — the laughing, the voice that cracks halfway through, the toast someone was clearly rehearsing in the parking lot. Plus, the messages only get more fun as the night goes on. We encourage an open bar for this trend.

4. Custom Gowns and Tuxedos: Off the Rack Is Officially Optional

Customizable wedding gowns and tuxedos are trending across the industry, and the appeal is simple: the piece gets built around the person wearing it instead of the other way around.

It's popular because it hands brides and grooms a real sense of ownership. Design your own dress or tuxedo and you'll feel that much more special and unique on the day.

One thing worth saying out loud, though. If you commissioned the dress, photograph it like you commissioned it. Our Glam Booth runs studio-quality lighting and a proprietary glam finish, then delivers a full-size print in under ten seconds — so the tailoring reads in the picture, not just in the room.

5. Drone Photography and Videography: The Angle You Can't Get from the Ground

Drones have become a popular way to capture the wedding day, and they earn their spot by getting creative, unique shots that would be difficult or impossible with a traditional camera.

They also unlock perspectives nobody used to have — hovering above the two of you during your vows, or catching the whole room's reaction during the speeches. We expect this one to keep taking over both wedding photography and videography.

The real through-line is motion. A flat photo isn't the whole story anymore, which is the same instinct behind our 360 video booth: it orbits your guests at ground level, adds slow motion, and sends the clip to their phone before the cake is cut.

6. Mismatched Bridesmaids' Dresses: Personality Over Uniformity

The mismatched bridesmaids' dresses trend is a new way to do things differently. It's not about matching anymore. It's about personality.

It's a great opportunity for the bride to show her own style through her bridesmaids' dresses, and the whole point is being free, having fun, and showing individuality. Heck, we've seen everything from black wedding gowns to bridesmaids being asked to wear all white.

A practical note from the people standing behind the camera: mismatched palettes photograph beautifully, but they photograph best under controlled light. Whatever booth or backdrop you put in the room, make sure it isn't fighting your color story.

Keeping Up Isn't the Point

The future of wedding trends can sound like a lot to keep up with, but the gist is simpler than the feed makes it look. Borrow the ideas that sound like you. Skip the ones that don't. Build the wedding you're most comfortable standing in the middle of.

Traditionalist or not, whether you're celebrating in Tucson, Phoenix, or somewhere with a much longer flight, we hope these gave you a little inspiration for your big day!