I have seen new year trend predictions everywhere, and honestly, I love watching them all. Especially 2023 wedding trends! But instead of simply adding my predictions to the mix, I want to share things I saw my clients do recently that I HOPE become trends in the new wedding season. Keep reading more lots of inspiration!

Patterned and Colorful Wedding Invitations

I have seen many creators talk about the shift from minimalism to maximalism they already see happening. And honestly, after our long-running obsession with neutrals, that is to be expected! I saw hints of this bold and vibrant takeover in some of the weddings I photographed in 2022. This wedding I am about to share inspiration from is one of my favorite examples. In fact, you’ll see this wedding sneak its way into multiple of my hopeful trend predictions below. 

First, let’s focus on the invitations. I hope to see more colorful and patterned wedding invites in the future! For the couples who want to go BIG on their big day, invitations like this set the tone immediately. And for couples who want to embrace more color, but are still holding on to their love for neutrals too, an invite is the perfect place for a bit of vibrancy without it overwhelming the entire event.

Destination Engagement Shoots

Recently I have photographed multiple engagement shoots in destination locations, and I would love to see this happen more! Sometimes couples are on a family vacation, and take advantage of that chance to schedule beach couples photos. Other times couples plan their own trip for some quiet time alone in the middle of stressful wedding planning, and plan a shoot while they are away. 

If a full destination wedding isn’t in the plans for you, this is a fun way to incorporate the location of your dreams into your wedding plans. Since your engagement or formal photos will likely be on display at your reception, select a photoshoot spot that fits the vibe of your wedding day. Or one that holds special memories for you and your partner.

I have a friend whose wedding day decor was inspired by her time spent living in Ojai California, and her fiancé’s time living in Sicily. Because flying all of their guests from Utah to Italy for a full destination wedding wasn’t an option, they instead planned destination formal wedding photos in Ojai. They got the dreamy citrus filled wedding photos of their dreams, and the pictures on display fit perfectly into their reception back home.

To learn more about my 2023 travel schedule, to see if timing will align for a destination engagements or formal wedding shoot – click here.

Fruit as Wedding Table Decor

I suspect more and more couples will get clever with their wedding tablescapes in the future. The first replacement for traditional flowers that I hope we’ll see more of? Fruit! 

Fruit filling a table automatically adds charm, warmth, and a welcoming feel of abundance. That works especially well for some wedding themes, like this relaxed Italian event with an elevated backyard atmosphere. (See, I told you I would feature this wedding again!) Below you’ll see playful lemons, strawberries, and even tomatoes casually placed among tastefully curated crystal and mixed pattern fabrics. 

For that event, the addition of fruit helped ground everything, and added to the laidback feel. For other weddings, fruit as decor can add to the drama, the decadence, or even the elegance. 

For more examples of decorating your tablescape with fruit, click here and here.

Bold and Monofloral Bouquets

As exciting and unexpected color makes its way more and more into the wedding scene, I cannot wait to see the impact this has on florals. Some of my recent brides embraced vibrant bouquets and it added so much to their bridal portraits. One of my favorite examples is this Albion Basin bridals shoot. For her Utah formal photos, Lauren chose a stunning bouquet packed with reds and yellows. This bouquet was even bolder than her florals for her actual wedding day in Oahu. This touch was such a fun preview of her colorful destination wedding to come.

Below are some other colorful bridal bouquet examples I love, from the talented Gather Floral. As a photographer, I am drawn to the ways these flowers add so much interest to otherwise minimal photographs. As I mentioned above, the new colorful weddings coming our way don’t mean to have to go fully maximalist to be on-trend! If it fits your taste more, simplify your other details and allow your florals to add just the right “pop.”

Another floral trend I would love to see more of in 2023 is monofloral bouquets. I have even seen recent editorial wedding inspiration style brides with single stems, such as calla lilies, for a dramatic effect. This is such an understated look with a surprisingly strong impact. 

The version of this looming trend that I expect we’ll see more of is bouquets made of one type of flower, especially for bridesmaids. I photographed multiple wedding parties recently who did this monofloral trend with baby’s breath. That is such a classic look that works for so many wedding styles. Another wedding planner gave each bridesmaids their own flower, for a garden party-inspired feel you can see below.

Trading Destination Rehearsal Dinners For A Casual Day With Your Guests

A theme you’ll see throughout all of these predictions is embracing the unconventional. I have already seen many of the couples I’ve worked with find unique ways to infuse their personalities into their wedding day. Even if it means throwing some outdated traditions out the window. An example of this I would love to see more couples do is trading their rehearsal dinner for something else entirely, like a day at the beach. 

My friends Lauren and Makai did this during their Oahu destination wedding. Their closest friends and family had traveled there to celebrate and had limited time on the island. Because of that, they decided a rehearsal dinner could be cut out of the schedule. Instead they used that time for a lowkey beach day! I joined as their photographer to capture the fun. Lauren and Makai found this to be a much more enjoyable way to spend their wedding weekend, and their guests loved it too.

Booking Your Wedding Photography

I can’t wait to see the unique choices you and your partner have planned for your upcoming wedding. And I would love to photograph them just how you dream of! Whether you love a fun wedding trend or want your day to feel timeless, I want to capture images that are true to you. My genuine, clean, and true-to-color photography style lends itself well to many types of weddings and locations. Click here to start a conversation and learn more about my wedding photography packages.

I would love to hear in the comments what 2023 wedding trends you hope to see!