The Wedding Trends To Know In 2023

In recent years, brides have paid bridesmaid dresses the attention they deserve – and that shows no sign of stopping in 2023. “Elevating the bridesmaid looks and choosing pieces that are worth the investment, so they remain a much-loved item in their wardrobe forever allows them to look and feel amazing in a dress they love, but also tie in with the rest of the bridal party in the same colour and fabric,” says Kate. 

Megan Ziems, founder and CEO of Grace Loves Lace, is anticipating a real shift towards copper and rust tones for bridesmaids this year. “I’ve loved seeing the shift towards these more rich, earthy tones and have no doubt this trend will continue in 2023. Brides are looking for something that makes a statement, while still being timeless and complementing most wedding themes.” Other trends Megan expects to continue include the 90s throwback: “Slip dresses are easy, so chic and such a timeless addition. In 2023, we expect to see this continued, with brides and their bridesmaids opting for this style in a more luxe fabrication.”

Shop our edit of bridesmaid gifts here.

When it comes to engagement rings, the team at Queensmith see oval diamonds finally replacing round diamonds as the most popular shape in 2023. “We could also see diamond set bands replace the classic solitaire as the most popular style, and we’re seeing a huge rise in couples choosing for hidden diamond details – like a hidden halo or diamond set bridge,” they say. As for other bridal jewellery, they expect most brides to continue favouring platinum, although there is a strong case for yellow gold.

The Queensmith team have also noticed a significant upward trend in demand for lab-grown diamond rings. Towards the start of 2022 around half of Queensmith clients chose lab diamonds, but now this is closer to 80%. “We also think customers will have bolder and more specific design ideas due to an increased exposure to jewellery design online through TikTok trends and celebrities. We also think collaborative rings will be big in 2023, with more couples designing their engagement or wedding rings together.” 

Read about where to find affordable engagement rings and wedding bands here.

According to Kate, the micro weddings of pandemic days are slowly being confined to history – and maxi weddings are back on the agenda again. “Now the world has gone back to celebrations on a big scale, I think people are partying harder. That said, they are choosing to spend money in a more mindful way, considering and investing in the things they love that really make them feel good.” A result of the cost-of-living crisis and greater environmental awareness, expect to see brides embrace maximalism but in a conscious way.

The pandemic saw lots of couples opting for outdoor weddings for safety reasons, so temporary permission was granted to allow licensed venues to host ceremonies outdoors – whether they had a structure outside or not. This proved to be so popular that it has become a permanent thing at venues like Gorcott Hall: “The flexibility this offers is a huge bonus for couples, who can now marry in beautiful locations previously off the list, enabling them to tailor their day to their needs more than ever before. We can set up your ceremony out or indoors and if the weather is unkind on the day, we’ll always have a fully prepared wet-weather plan.”

Browse a list of our favourite outdoor venues here.

According to the team at Lavender Green Flowers, there’s still a major focus on seasonal and British-grown wedding flowers, in line with concerns around sustainability and supporting local suppliers. “Hand in hand with this, an English country garden feel has been a very popular choice for a lot of our couples, keeping everything naturally beautiful and effortless. We’re also seeing a move away from more classic flower choices and a willingness to include more unconventional florals such as anthurium, protea and poppy seed heads. Reflexed roses are a simple, statement floral either by themselves in bud vases or en masse, while colour palettes are also having a moment.” As for floral themes, the team say they hear the words ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘Palace of Versailles’ a lot.

As eco-consciousness grows, the Lavender Green Flowers team have also seen more couples asking for advice on how to reuse decorations and florals throughout the day. “The biggest trend that we are seeing is a concern for reusing flowers between the ceremony and the reception where possible – as well as the question of what happens to everything post-event. We like to donate to our local network of charities.”

Bridal colour trends come and go, but the Lavender Green Flowers team believe green and white will always remain a timeless combination. “That said, we are finding more couples are wanting to inject a subtle pop of colour as well. The biggest colour trend we are seeing is a delicate, pale neutral palette of nudes, creams and palest pinks with vintage tones, and antique roses such as quicksand, early grey or amnesia.”