I just recently surpassed 100 weddings (woo hoo!) and amazing years of being a Birmingham, Alabama wedding photographer. I’m not going to say I’ve seen it all, but I have seen quite a bit. From the viral macrame trend in 2018, to unique mismatched bridesmaid dresses in 2021 and 2022, each year brings new, exciting wedding trends! 

In this blog I’ll share my top five 2023 wedding trends that I’m expecting to see this year. But, before we get into it, I should first remind you that there are no rules when it comes to planning your wedding! If you love something, go for it! This blog is just a place to help you generate some fun ideas 😁

Add a unique, trendy element

These days, one of the most common comments I hear from brides is “I just want everyone to have a good time!” All of the people you know and love are finally in one room together, celebrating your most treasured relationship. Of course you want it to be an experience they remember and enjoy!

One of the best ways to do this is add a unique element or experience to your wedding. This could mean a choreographed father/daughter dance, an interesting party favor that’s local to your area, or even a huge bouncy house! If it will bring you and your guests joy, then I say go for it!

Couple’s private last dance

Picture your wedding day with me: you wake up and your mind is immediately racing with excitement about the day. The morning flies by doing makeup, taking photos and changing into your gown. Your first look/ceremony is almost a blur, and you do everything you can to remember the experience. Finally, you’re at your reception, and you don’t get a second alone with your spouse in between all the dancing, cake and congratulatory conversations! What an amazing day!

What if, at the end of it all, you both took a moment to have one final dance? It’s just you and your new spouse finally taking a breath and letting the events of the day set in before you meet everyone outside for the final send off! I promise it will be a beautiful, joy-filled moment for both of you (and it makes for some adorable photos).

Colourful florals

This past summer, I started to see a number of vibrant, colourful floral arrangements. These are some of the most fun florals to photograph – I feel like they basically pop off the screen! Your florist will thank you too – there is so much more they can do with a vibrant color palette. Let them get creative, or DIY your bold floral arrangement with help from Trader Joe’s, Costco and Fifty Flowers! The possibilities are endless.

The Phillips, The Sweebes and The Bryans are just a few of my past couples who I think nailed the vibrant florals. Check out their wedding blog posts to see what they came up with! For even more inspiration, check out this blog from Brides.com about the recent wedding flower trends.  

Anything but cake

Many brides love the tradition of cutting into a beautifully decorated wedding cake. But what if you just don’t like cake? The good news is: you don’t have to have it at your wedding! The new trend is to choose ice cream, cookies, donuts or even cupcakes if you want to stick with the cake theme but make it more accessible. You’ll be happier with your personal dessert of choice, and I will love taking adorable photos of you feeding a donut to your spouse – it’s a win win!

Here’s another awesome blog from Brides.com describing tons of super fun alternatives to traditional wedding cake!

No trends at all

Recently, the vibe around wedding days has been less about “did we check off every single wedding tradition” and “did we do all the most popular wedding-related activities.” This year, I can imagine brides being more concerned about their own, deeply personal vision for their wedding. They might not pick up an Alabama Weddings magazine or follow any wedding accounts on Instagram. They might not even want to read this blog! What matters to them is their experience. That might mean not considering trends and just doing what feels right, which I support 100%. 

For more wedding resources, visit eleanorstenner.com/brides for playlists, more blog posts and even marriage book recommendations! Happy wedding planning from yours truly!