The 10 Biggest Wedding Trends of 2022

"Couples are selecting cake flavours that they really connect with, as opposed to just picking things off a menu," says Fehintola Bolodeoku, Owner and Creative Designer of MonAnnie Cakes. "These flavours could be things that remind them of their first date, take them back to childhood memories, or are connected to a favourite destination.

"It’s no longer about it just being 'a cake', it’s about sharing their special memories in cake form with their guests." Looking into 2022, couples will be going beyond the wedding cake to "share a flavour experience - this can be in the form of a welcome basket full of delicious meaningful treats, or a creative patisserie table."

Picture rhubarb and custard or apple crumble macaron favours to remind you of nostalgic treats; Greek orange and tahini, Sicilian lemon or Irish stout cake that brings back memories of a holiday; pink Champagne buttercream to commemorate what you drank at your engagement; or an elevated chocolate masterpiece of the first dessert you cooked for your partner.

It's an extra layer of personalisation that rounds off the whole wedding experience.

"Backyard weddings have been booming and we expect them to be popular in the upcoming year as well, for both safety and comfort," predicts wedding planner Mwai Yeboah, Founder of Love From Mwai. "Backyard weddings will rule 2021-2022 and continue to exceed all expectations."

Inside-out weddings, which flow from the house into the garden, will be particularly popular as couples continue to embrace the open-air message of the past year. Back doors will be thrown open and wedding décor will burst from the interior to exterior, creating a whimsical, playful, garden wedding experience.

With a move towards smaller weddings, the guest experience will be paramount and no expense will be spared in transforming your home into a venue worthy of a wedding. Etsy has seen a 124% increase in searches for garden wedding items, with couples investing in rustic welcome boards, personalised neon signs and custom confetti cones.

Jens Nisson, Executive Chef Director at Bubble Food, has seen demand for garden weddings soar, with couples looking to recreate the holidays they have missed this year in their own homes. "Some clients are requesting ‘At Home’ marquee weddings with stunning décor and sumptuous catering so they can celebrate their marriage in their own space.

Other clients are working with the travel restrictions to create destination weddings at home, from Ibiza-style, ultra-glam, sophisticated ceremonies to chic and rustic Tuscany-inspired services," he explained. Expect couples to choose their childhood homes as the setting for their wedding and focus on having there as

many of the elderly relatives they haven't been able to hug for the past year and half.

You didn't think the only colour palette that would be trending was earthy tones, did you? "Couples are really going into colour schemes, making their wedding reflective of them and not necessarily traditional weddings.

I think so many couples have realised that their relationship is what's important, not necessarily the cookie cutter approach to weddings and it's so wonderful to help them bring that together," says Ashleigh. "Couples that previously were having all white weddings have decided it needs to feel a little more 'them' so have injected their favourite colours into the palette."

What will those colours be? Trend forecasters WGSN and Coloro predict the top five colours for spring and summer 2022 will be vibrant pink-purple Orchid Flower, earthy green Olive Oil, creamy yellow Butter, tropical Mango Sorbet and ocean-like Atlantic Blue.

Hitched saw an 80% increase in searches for maternity wedding dresses in the last six months indicating there will be a lot more pregnant and recently-popped brides on their wedding day. From the couple to guests, we can expect more children than ever at weddings in 2022 and with that comes ingenious ways of keeping them entertained.

Wedding creches and nannying services are predicted to boom in popularity into the next year as couples hire trusted sitters to look after their little ones. It ensures guests who might otherwise need to drop out over childcare commitments can attend and gives parents a chance to let their hair down and enjoy themselves without worry.

Elopements increased in popularity over lockdown as couples adapted to guest limits and turned to intimate, private celebrations with just a few witnesses or close family. The trend for elopements has taken root in many couples' consciousness now and we'll see an increase in these special, intimate weddings in 2022 - with an added twist.

"So many engaged couples have had to reschedule or put off their wedding altogether for so long. When it’s finally safe for them to host a celebration, I have a strong feeling they’ll want to 'go big'—which may just mean taking their long-awaited affair overseas," predicts Mwai.

"At this point, they’re not just celebrating their love; they’re celebrating their health, their family and friends’ health, and the fact that the world is finally reopening. I think couples will look at the world as their oyster and will want to embrace their wedding to the absolute fullest—which, for many couples, will mean opting for a fresh, far-away location."

After 18 months of travel restrictions, couples are desperate to celebrate with family and friends in the sunshine - in Europe and beyond. "At Quinta do Lago, we are witnessing a significant rise in 'destination elopements' with couples looking to create special memories with their spouse-to-be in a beautiful and unique

destination," says Arina Batalha, Sales Director at luxury Algarve resort Quinta do Lago who have just launched an elopement package. "The past year and a half has reminded us all that we need to make the most of every moment and, as a result, more newlyweds are inviting a smaller number of close friends and family.

This means that couples can enjoy more intimate wedding ceremonies and also allows them to spend more time [with loved ones] in a truly special celebration." Responding to demand, Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort in St Lucia have also launched their 'Just the Two of Us'

elopement package which combines a private, romantic ceremony with a tropical honeymoon. Expect them to be the tip of the iceberg of destination elopement packages.

Coats aren't just for winter. It's a cliché that Britons love talking about the weather, but 2021 has given us plenty to talk about with a summer of miserable, grey rainfall. With the peak summer months no longer guaranteeing sunshine (or even a dry day), couples will be experimenting with statement outwear that adds

personality and synchronicity to their entire look. From bridal white leather coats to luxe feather and faux fur jackets; thick shearling coats; organza, tulle and clear vinyl trenches; sleek suit blazers; and heavily embellished or bold patterned outerwear, what's put on top of the dress or suit will get as much consideration as the main event.

"After the restrictions of 2020/21, wedding couples will want to give their guest a genuinely unforgettable experience," says Christopher. "This can be done by considering multisensory elements, for example, food and drink that doesn’t just taste and look good but feels exciting to the touch, sounds different when eaten and uses unusual ingredients.

"Smell will also be a trend and we’re not talking just scented candles here. Think scented stationery, a different scent for each room at venues and new scents for each song the band plays. We all deserve a great party, so why not take it to the next level?"

You might remember that the Duchess of Cambridge scented the whole of Westminster Abbey with Jo Malone's Orange Blossom candles for her big day. In 2022, we're seeing a modern iteration of this trend, with scents, sights and sounds to immerse the guest in the wedding experience throughout the venue and day.

Health-conscious guests aren't just abstaining from alcohol; many people have changed to vegetarian or vegan diets during lockdown and we'll see these dietary lifestyles out in force at weddings in 2022. For those eating meat, seasonal and local will be king.

Bubble Food's Executive Chef Director Jens says: “We have seen a rise in vegan and vegetarian weddings – this summer we have a wedding booked for 230 people with a pure vegan menu. "There is also an increased focus on provenance, with clients requesting British meats and vegetables from local suppliers and British wines, as well as bespoke menus that reflect their surrounding area."

It'll be more important than ever to taste the vegetarian and vegan options from your caterer.

"People are having smaller, more detailed cakes, with separate 'cutting cakes' in the back for larger guest numbers," says Fen of MonAnnie Cakes. It marks "a move to more bespoke designs, that create a complete story for the couple to share with their guests on the day."

"This will take inspiration from their background, their journey together as a couple, their wedding destination, and some of their favourite things. All elegantly and tastefully done," she explains.

Not a trend as such, but a word of expectation: "I'm preparing all my couples for how overwhelming and emotional their wedding day will feel - for everyone!" says Ashleigh. "Being apart for so long and having life's big moments on pause will really mean that celebrating them will be a little overwhelming, but it also means

that the pressure is off - everyone will be so focused on partying and making up for lost time that they can really lean into that and relax!" Incorporating acts of gratitude into your day and honouring lost loved ones can be meaningful ways to channel those feelings into something positive.

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The 10 Biggest Wedding Trends of 2022

1. 'Flavour with Meaning' Cakes

1. 'Flavour with Meaning' Cakes

1. 'Flavour with Meaning' Cakes

It's an extra layer of personalisation that rounds off the whole wedding experience.

1. 'Flavour with Meaning' Cakes

"Backyard weddings have been booming and we expect them to be popular in the upcoming year as well, for both safety and comfort," predicts wedding planner Mwai Yeboah, Founder of Love From Mwai. "Backyard weddings will rule 2021-2022 and continue to exceed all expectations."

2. Back Garden Escapism

2. Back Garden Escapism

2. Back Garden Escapism

2. Back Garden Escapism

2. Back Garden Escapism

many of the elderly relatives they haven't been able to hug for the past year and half.

2. Back Garden Escapism

You didn't think the only colour palette that would be trending was earthy tones, did you? "Couples are really going into colour schemes, making their wedding reflective of them and not necessarily traditional weddings.

3. Bright, Bold Splashes

3. Bright, Bold Splashes

What will those colours be? Trend forecasters WGSN and Coloro predict the top five colours for spring and summer 2022 will be vibrant pink-purple Orchid Flower, earthy green Olive Oil, creamy yellow Butter, tropical Mango Sorbet and ocean-like Atlantic Blue.

3. Bright, Bold Splashes

4. Wedding Creches

4. Wedding Creches

5. Destination Elopements

"So many engaged couples have had to reschedule or put off their wedding altogether for so long. When it’s finally safe for them to host a celebration, I have a strong feeling they’ll want to 'go big'—which may just mean taking their long-awaited affair overseas," predicts Mwai.

5. Destination Elopements

5. Destination Elopements

5. Destination Elopements

5. Destination Elopements

This means that couples can enjoy more intimate wedding ceremonies and also allows them to spend more time [with loved ones] in a truly special celebration." Responding to demand, Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort in St Lucia have also launched their 'Just the Two of Us'

5. Destination Elopements

elopement package which combines a private, romantic ceremony with a tropical honeymoon. Expect them to be the tip of the iceberg of destination elopement packages.

5. Destination Elopements

6. Statement Outerwear

6. Statement Outerwear

7. Multi-Sensory Experiences

"Smell will also be a trend and we’re not talking just scented candles here. Think scented stationery, a different scent for each room at venues and new scents for each song the band plays. We all deserve a great party, so why not take it to the next level?"

7. Multi-Sensory Experiences

7. Multi-Sensory Experiences

Health-conscious guests aren't just abstaining from alcohol; many people have changed to vegetarian or vegan diets during lockdown and we'll see these dietary lifestyles out in force at weddings in 2022. For those eating meat, seasonal and local will be king.

8. Vegan Wedding Food

8. Vegan Wedding Food

It'll be more important than ever to taste the vegetarian and vegan options from your caterer.

8. Vegan Wedding Food

"People are having smaller, more detailed cakes, with separate 'cutting cakes' in the back for larger guest numbers," says Fen of MonAnnie Cakes. It marks "a move to more bespoke designs, that create a complete story for the couple to share with their guests on the day."

9. Small Wedding Cakes

"This will take inspiration from their background, their journey together as a couple, their wedding destination, and some of their favourite things. All elegantly and tastefully done," she explains.

9. Small Wedding Cakes

10. Feeling Overwhelmed

that the pressure is off - everyone will be so focused on partying and making up for lost time that they can really lean into that and relax!" Incorporating acts of gratitude into your day and honouring lost loved ones can be meaningful ways to channel those feelings into something positive.

10. Feeling Overwhelmed

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