The 10 Biggest Wedding Trends to Expect in 2022

The UK's obsession with Bridgerton shows no sign of abating as 2022 is set to welcome the hotly-anticipated second series. This Regency period fascination will find its way subtly into weddings, with literary-inspired touches and splashes of Regency Blue - a signature shade

from the times that used the newly invented Prussian Blue pigment. Think a quintessentially English cottagecore aesthetic with empire-waist wedding dresses and ruffles of lace, elegant gloves, pops of blue pastels, dainty ballet pumps, trailing wisteria, handwritten notes and literary quotes, and afternoon tea with vintage china tablescapes.

eBay has reported a 205% rise in searches for 'puff sleeved wedding dress' as inspired by Daphne, Lady Whistledown and co, so don't delay in finding your gown. This romantic blue-inspired shoot from Vivienne May Weddings features a ribbon for the bride's bouquet with a poem from Jane Eyre:

"I have for the first time found what I can truly love. I have found you. You are my sympathy - my better self - my good angel...It was because I felt and knew this, that I resolved to marry you." Creative Director Kerrie May has seen more couples than ever inspired by their personal loves and passions:

"Whether it's a bride's veil embroidered with the couple's initials and wedding date, or couples including their favourite childhood poem in their vows, to personalised wax seals on their invitations, or even handwritten, personalised notes to each guest at their place settings, I think that the last year or so has taught us the value of preserving

those precious memories with loved ones for as long as possible. "Paying attention to such delicate details will also automatically elevate the level of luxury to a couple's wedding day without adding too much on to their budget."

Carrie Symonds made headlines when she married Boris Johnson this year - predominantly for her rented wedding dress. She wore a Christos Costarellos-designed ivory tulle and silk gown that retails at £2,870, but was rented for just £45.

Carrie joined a wedding dress revolution that will continue strong into 2022 with brides choosing to hire one or more outfits for their wedding, meaning they can afford designers they may not be able to purchase and can change up outfits across the day without guilt.

With the average bride spending £1,313 on her dress, 14% of Hitched brides said they would now consider renting their wedding dress. The global online clothing rental market is expected to grow by nearly £700 million ($990m) over the next four years.

Expect more specialist wedding dress rental services to emerge as well as dress rental services like By Rotation and Hurr Collective to branch out into the bridal market. It's long been a tradition for grooms to rent their suits and budget- and eco-conscious brides are now taking up the mantle.

You can hire a high-end designer gown for a fraction of the cost of buying, you don't need the waiting time you would for a dress to be made-to-order, and dry cleaning costs are included!

Yes, we're making anni-ceptions happen. It's a portmanteau of anniversary and reception, and this trend comes off the back of lockdown sequel weddings. Sequel weddings saw a 9,900% uplift in Google searches this year.

Lots of couples went ahead with a small wedding ceremony (a minimony) during lockdown and are saving up their large reception party (the sequel part of their day) for the first year anniversary of their original wedding date.

"Lots of couples decided to get legally married last year, or will be by the time their big 'wedding day' comes, and the options this is giving couples is so exciting," explains Ashleigh Li of Pink Palms Weddings. "When their big celebration comes, it's working out how they want that to feel.

Some are having a symbolic ceremony and walking down the aisle together, others are having a celebrant and still following a normal timeline of a wedding day. One of my couples has decided not to have the ceremony aspect at all, and will walk straight into the drinks reception together with a swing band playing!"

While this trend has come about because of lockdown, we can see it continuing in different forms for years to come. Couples who have a micro-wedding or elopement may decide they want to celebrate with all their loved ones after the event, and your first year anniversary is the perfect time for it.

Alcohol, from a glass of bubbles for the speeches to an open bar, has always been seen as essential to a "good" wedding, but more and more couples are putting alcohol-free alternatives on their menu. The sober curious movement - those choosing to avoid or reduce their alcohol intake for personal

or wellness reasons - is going to have a big impact on weddings in 2022. There's been a large rise in searches for maternity wedding dresses and guest dresses, indicating lots more teetotal pregnant or breastfeeding guests, as well as those who've chosen to re-evaluate their

relationship with alcohol over lockdown. In fact, 89% of Hitched couples said they would have guests who aren't drinking alcohol at their wedding - so how do you make them feel included?

"Offering guests a more exciting non-alcoholic drinks menu is definitely something that is going to take off," says Dan Clarke, Executive Chef at Southend Barns. "We've already seen this become more popular over the last year and brands have picked up on the trend, with the launch of delicious

and indulgent drinks that are free from alcohol. "At Southend Barns, we've created a bespoke menu of mocktails and non-alcoholic drinks such as a classic G&T using a spirit from Pentire in Cornwall, which is made using traditional gin methods but with no alcohol.

We also offer Three Spirit which has an eclectic mix of herbal and fruity flavours." Mix up your drinks offering with signature cocktails at the reception made from popular low and no alcohol spirits like Seedlip; stock your bar with alcohol-free beers;

and have something more exciting than a soft drink available at the wedding breakfast for guests avoiding wine. A coffee bar will be popular with both drinkers and non-drinker.

"There will be an increased focus on the environment – many people have spent more time outside because of the pandemic, and they have a newfound appreciation of nature," says Tania Burton, Managing Director of luxury caterers Ginger Snap.

"With regards to the décor, I feel that the colour palette is moving towards earthy, natural colours and away from the whites and pastels of old. I think that people are happy to move away from the traditional ‘norm’. Rust is my prediction for the colour of 2022!"

Embrace earthy textures with terracotta pots, driftwood and linen napkins on your table, with honeyed neutral colours and pops of brighter rust, amber and coral tones. In terms of flowers, the team at Hayford & Rhodes predict nude palettes to be big in 2022, which go perfectly with earthier tones:

"A sophisticated take on the more traditional pastel pinks and whites is a nude palette which includes tones of soft pink mixed in with coffees, caramels and silky ivories. "Flowers that can be used to create this look: Café au lait dahlias, Japanese Wabara Ioli Rose, Majolica Spray Rose, Caffe Latte Rose, and Golden Mustard Rose."

"In 2022, my LGBTQI+ clients will be having full blown and spectacular balls for their weddings," says Christopher Mills, Creative Director at The Events Mill. "We operate at the top end of the market and we’ve noticed a definite increase in enquiries for Drag Race/Paris Is Burning [balls]

and large-scale theatrical extravaganza ‘Big Bang’ parties. "This comes from our clients not wanting to conform, and their love of theatre and performance. Think highbrow cabaret/full-on theatrical production that is so much more than a wedding and more like a full immersive experience."

Drag queen entertainment will become a mainstay of extravagant receptions in 2022, with Ashleigh noticing an increase in couples booking drag queens from Ibiza superclubs as entertainment and Selfridges offering drag icon Jonny Woo as celebrant when they launched their wedding offerings for the first time in 2021.

Searches for two-piece wedding dresses on Hitched went up 176% this year. With wedding dress shopping beginning around nine months before the big day, we can expect those gorgeous bridal separates to show up at weddings all across 2022.

Elegant and contemporary, two-piece dresses can be easily transformed throughout the day with the addition of an overskirt for the ceremony and a change to trousers to dance the night away at the reception. Their versatility makes for effortless and endless possibilities, and their re-wearability is a major plus for sustainable brides.

With a continuing rise in elopements, micro-weddings and casual-chic civil ceremonies, brides are looking away from the traditional gowns to something that better suits their modern, minimalist styling. We've seen searches for casual wedding dresses increasing by 197% since March 2020 and searches for bridal suits up 167%.

Many new season collections include mix-and-match two-pieces made for civil ceremonies, like Alexandra Grecco's new made-to-order, size-inclusive line Poppy and Jesus Peiro's Amalia collection. Catherine Deane has been leading the way in bridal separates for years, as have Charlie Brear and Pronovias.

Designers are becoming more unique with their two-piece offerings, such as Andrea Hawkes' Addison leather bridal trousers, Grace Loves Lace's sultry, midriff bearing Loyola Set, and Viktor and Rolf Mariage's dramatic train blouse.

As well as drag queens, Pink Palms' Ashleigh has noticed a trend for rewriting the rule book on wedding entertainment. "For 2021 and 2022 weddings, couples are really looking into unusual entertainment. They're grasping the opportunity to do weddings differently and they are running with it!

They want to concentrate a lot on music, to provide the dancefloors that we've all missed - and are looking at other entertainment options, with one of my couples booking an audio guest book inside a telephone box instead of a normal guestbook."

You'll see couples turning their receptions in adult playgrounds with beer pong, piñatas, axe throwing, bouncy castles, petting zoos, circus performers and more. Guests will be able to get temporary tattoos of the couple's faces and jump into unexpected photobooths before taking to the dancefloor.

Instead of just a DJ, expect to see a live band, saxophonist, steel drums, roaming band or Motown ensemble before the DJ does his late-night set. If they're really into dancing, a silent disco might even follow that. And dancefloors won't just be inside your venue.

They'll spill out of marquees and tipis onto rug-carpeted ground or raised stages; terraces will be utilised for casual mingling and dancing while main halls become the nightclubs we've missed out on.

"Couples are really taking the chance to rewrite weddings and do things a little differently, representing them - whilst honouring the momentous occasion of a wedding. It's been such a joy to see their excitement come back after such a difficult period," she said.

Luxury florist Hayford & Rhodes predict "re-usable designs on the tables that guests can take home" will be hugely popular in 2022. "Use air purifying potted plants such as maiden hair ferns, English ivy, peace lilies, orchids and fig trees; also dried foliages and flowers, such as pampas grasses, bunny tails,

dried ruscus, poppy and nigella pods."

"Upcycled fashion is not new but upcycled occasionwear is something I predict will be big next year," says Christopher of luxury events agency The Events Mill. "Fashion retail has changed so much in the past year, and I feel that to stand out and be true to your own personality, bespoke tailoring is the way forward.

"Each season, with the help of the House of Bilimoria, I design my own capsule collections that are created using materials I find at flea markets, charity shops and on eBay. That way I can indulge myself in a beautiful, bespoke wardrobe, safe in the knowledge that I am saving material from landfill, and fully expressing myself in my style.

Next year, the best dressed guests will be self-designers."

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The 10 Biggest Wedding Trends to Expect in 2022

The UK's obsession with Bridgerton shows no sign of abating as 2022 is set to welcome the hotly-anticipated second series. This Regency period fascination will find its way subtly into weddings, with literary-inspired touches and splashes of Regency Blue - a signature shade

1. Bridgerton-Inspired Weddings

1. Bridgerton-Inspired Weddings

eBay has reported a 205% rise in searches for 'puff sleeved wedding dress' as inspired by Daphne, Lady Whistledown and co, so don't delay in finding your gown. This romantic blue-inspired shoot from Vivienne May Weddings features a ribbon for the bride's bouquet with a poem from Jane Eyre:

1. Bridgerton-Inspired Weddings

1. Bridgerton-Inspired Weddings

1. Bridgerton-Inspired Weddings

those precious memories with loved ones for as long as possible. "Paying attention to such delicate details will also automatically elevate the level of luxury to a couple's wedding day without adding too much on to their budget."

1. Bridgerton-Inspired Weddings

Carrie Symonds made headlines when she married Boris Johnson this year - predominantly for her rented wedding dress. She wore a Christos Costarellos-designed ivory tulle and silk gown that retails at £2,870, but was rented for just £45.

2. Rented Wedding Dresses

Carrie joined a wedding dress revolution that will continue strong into 2022 with brides choosing to hire one or more outfits for their wedding, meaning they can afford designers they may not be able to purchase and can change up outfits across the day without guilt.

2. Rented Wedding Dresses

With the average bride spending £1,313 on her dress, 14% of Hitched brides said they would now consider renting their wedding dress. The global online clothing rental market is expected to grow by nearly £700 million ($990m) over the next four years.

2. Rented Wedding Dresses

Expect more specialist wedding dress rental services to emerge as well as dress rental services like By Rotation and Hurr Collective to branch out into the bridal market. It's long been a tradition for grooms to rent their suits and budget- and eco-conscious brides are now taking up the mantle.

2. Rented Wedding Dresses

You can hire a high-end designer gown for a fraction of the cost of buying, you don't need the waiting time you would for a dress to be made-to-order, and dry cleaning costs are included!

2. Rented Wedding Dresses

Yes, we're making anni-ceptions happen. It's a portmanteau of anniversary and reception, and this trend comes off the back of lockdown sequel weddings. Sequel weddings saw a 9,900% uplift in Google searches this year.

3. Anni-ceptions

Lots of couples went ahead with a small wedding ceremony (a minimony) during lockdown and are saving up their large reception party (the sequel part of their day) for the first year anniversary of their original wedding date.

3. Anni-ceptions

"Lots of couples decided to get legally married last year, or will be by the time their big 'wedding day' comes, and the options this is giving couples is so exciting," explains Ashleigh Li of Pink Palms Weddings. "When their big celebration comes, it's working out how they want that to feel.

3. Anni-ceptions

3. Anni-ceptions

While this trend has come about because of lockdown, we can see it continuing in different forms for years to come. Couples who have a micro-wedding or elopement may decide they want to celebrate with all their loved ones after the event, and your first year anniversary is the perfect time for it.

3. Anni-ceptions

Alcohol, from a glass of bubbles for the speeches to an open bar, has always been seen as essential to a "good" wedding, but more and more couples are putting alcohol-free alternatives on their menu. The sober curious movement - those choosing to avoid or reduce their alcohol intake for personal

4. Sober Curious Weddings

or wellness reasons - is going to have a big impact on weddings in 2022. There's been a large rise in searches for maternity wedding dresses and guest dresses, indicating lots more teetotal pregnant or breastfeeding guests, as well as those who've chosen to re-evaluate their

4. Sober Curious Weddings

relationship with alcohol over lockdown. In fact, 89% of Hitched couples said they would have guests who aren't drinking alcohol at their wedding - so how do you make them feel included?

4. Sober Curious Weddings

"Offering guests a more exciting non-alcoholic drinks menu is definitely something that is going to take off," says Dan Clarke, Executive Chef at Southend Barns. "We've already seen this become more popular over the last year and brands have picked up on the trend, with the launch of delicious

4. Sober Curious Weddings

and indulgent drinks that are free from alcohol. "At Southend Barns, we've created a bespoke menu of mocktails and non-alcoholic drinks such as a classic G&T using a spirit from Pentire in Cornwall, which is made using traditional gin methods but with no alcohol.

4. Sober Curious Weddings

We also offer Three Spirit which has an eclectic mix of herbal and fruity flavours." Mix up your drinks offering with signature cocktails at the reception made from popular low and no alcohol spirits like Seedlip; stock your bar with alcohol-free beers;

4. Sober Curious Weddings

and have something more exciting than a soft drink available at the wedding breakfast for guests avoiding wine. A coffee bar will be popular with both drinkers and non-drinker.

4. Sober Curious Weddings

"There will be an increased focus on the environment – many people have spent more time outside because of the pandemic, and they have a newfound appreciation of nature," says Tania Burton, Managing Director of luxury caterers Ginger Snap.

5. Earthy, Nature-Inspired Palettes

"With regards to the décor, I feel that the colour palette is moving towards earthy, natural colours and away from the whites and pastels of old. I think that people are happy to move away from the traditional ‘norm’. Rust is my prediction for the colour of 2022!"

5. Earthy, Nature-Inspired Palettes

Embrace earthy textures with terracotta pots, driftwood and linen napkins on your table, with honeyed neutral colours and pops of brighter rust, amber and coral tones. In terms of flowers, the team at Hayford & Rhodes predict nude palettes to be big in 2022, which go perfectly with earthier tones:

5. Earthy, Nature-Inspired Palettes

5. Earthy, Nature-Inspired Palettes

"In 2022, my LGBTQI+ clients will be having full blown and spectacular balls for their weddings," says Christopher Mills, Creative Director at The Events Mill. "We operate at the top end of the market and we’ve noticed a definite increase in enquiries for Drag Race/Paris Is Burning [balls]

6. Drag Queen Balls

and large-scale theatrical extravaganza ‘Big Bang’ parties. "This comes from our clients not wanting to conform, and their love of theatre and performance. Think highbrow cabaret/full-on theatrical production that is so much more than a wedding and more like a full immersive experience."

6. Drag Queen Balls

6. Drag Queen Balls

Searches for two-piece wedding dresses on Hitched went up 176% this year. With wedding dress shopping beginning around nine months before the big day, we can expect those gorgeous bridal separates to show up at weddings all across 2022.

7. Two-Piece Wedding Dresses

7. Two-Piece Wedding Dresses

7. Two-Piece Wedding Dresses

7. Two-Piece Wedding Dresses

Designers are becoming more unique with their two-piece offerings, such as Andrea Hawkes' Addison leather bridal trousers, Grace Loves Lace's sultry, midriff bearing Loyola Set, and Viktor and Rolf Mariage's dramatic train blouse.

7. Two-Piece Wedding Dresses

As well as drag queens, Pink Palms' Ashleigh has noticed a trend for rewriting the rule book on wedding entertainment. "For 2021 and 2022 weddings, couples are really looking into unusual entertainment. They're grasping the opportunity to do weddings differently and they are running with it!

8. Unusual Entertainment

They want to concentrate a lot on music, to provide the dancefloors that we've all missed - and are looking at other entertainment options, with one of my couples booking an audio guest book inside a telephone box instead of a normal guestbook."

8. Unusual Entertainment

You'll see couples turning their receptions in adult playgrounds with beer pong, piñatas, axe throwing, bouncy castles, petting zoos, circus performers and more. Guests will be able to get temporary tattoos of the couple's faces and jump into unexpected photobooths before taking to the dancefloor.

8. Unusual Entertainment

Instead of just a DJ, expect to see a live band, saxophonist, steel drums, roaming band or Motown ensemble before the DJ does his late-night set. If they're really into dancing, a silent disco might even follow that. And dancefloors won't just be inside your venue.

8. Unusual Entertainment

They'll spill out of marquees and tipis onto rug-carpeted ground or raised stages; terraces will be utilised for casual mingling and dancing while main halls become the nightclubs we've missed out on.

8. Unusual Entertainment

"Couples are really taking the chance to rewrite weddings and do things a little differently, representing them - whilst honouring the momentous occasion of a wedding. It's been such a joy to see their excitement come back after such a difficult period," she said.

8. Unusual Entertainment

9. Sustainable Table Designs

dried ruscus, poppy and nigella pods."

9. Sustainable Table Designs

10. Upcycled Fashion

10. Upcycled Fashion

Next year, the best dressed guests will be self-designers."