2025 was the year of smaller guest lists and experiential activities. So, we asked four wedding planners across the country to give us the inside scoop on trends they anticipate will take over weddings in 2026.
What are some trends you’re already working to incorporate into 2026 weddings?
Julian Leaver Events
Everything we’re doing right now centers on activation and experience. Couples aren’t just hosting weddings, they’re designing how their guests move, feel, and interact throughout the weekend. That looks like intentionally paced timelines and more moments that invite participation: interactive food moments, guided transitions between events, surprise entertainment beats, and design choices that pull people into the space rather than asking them to observe it. We’re also seeing couples treat the full weekend as one cohesive experience instead of a series of standalone events.
The Gay Agenda Collective
We’re leaning into an editorial-meets-documentary approach that feels elevated but honest; less posed, more photojournalistic. Design-wise, we’re loving sculptural florals and layered textures that feel intentional rather than overly maximal. Working in Hawaiʻi, we’re also seeing tropical florals and lei evolve into more accessorized moments, like layered lei, floral purses, and appliqués.
As a queer, Native Hawaiian–owned team, we’re especially thoughtful about how timelines are built. It’s not so much a trend as a MUST. Taking the time to understand which traditions couples want to honor, adapt, or leave behind so their day reflects all of who they are. We’re also seeing more multi-day wedding weekends, allowing couples and their guests to spend slower, more meaningful time together.
A Monique Affair
I personally steer couples away from what’s considered “trendy,” and that’s something I’ve done throughout my entire career. I always encourage couples to do what feels good to them and to stay authentic to who they are. If mason jars are your vibe, then hell, use them. Do whatever brings you joy.
The only things you truly need are an officiant and a marriage license. Everything else is a luxury, so my focus for 2026 weddings is helping couples make choices that make them smile and stay within their comfort zone, especially when it comes to budget. Rather than chasing trends, I’m excited to continue creating weddings that feel personal, intentional, and true to each couple.
Jason Mitchell Kahn
For 2026, I’m already leaning into highly personalized guest experiences, intentional design choices, and celebrations that feel more like a curated dinner party than a traditional wedding. It’s about authenticity over opulence!
What other trends are you predicting this year?
Julian Leaver Events
I think we’ll continue to see a move away from passive, overly formal structures and toward weddings that feel immersive and human. Couples are asking, “What do we want people to remember feeling?” and building from there. From a planning perspective, that means more flexibility, fewer rigid traditions done out of obligation, and a willingness to break up the day in ways that keep energy flowing. Experience-first planning is becoming the norm and not the exception.
The Gay Agenda Collective
Couples are being much more intentional with design, moving beyond white and green toward richer, more sophisticated palettes like moss, cacao, and merlot, layered with lots of texture. It feels timeless, grounded, and expressive.
We’re also seeing more thoughtful guest experiences, like small story galleries that share a couple’s history through personal objects and heirlooms. At the same time, couples are becoming more mindful about where they spend their money, choosing what truly adds value rather than following industry expectations.
A Monique Affair
What I love seeing is more color in weddings. We’ve evolved past the idea that weddings have to be all whites, greens, or ivories, and it’s been exciting to watch couples really embrace color. I’m loving bold palettes, unexpected combinations, and designs that feel expressive and joyful. Along with that, I see couples being more authentic and making choices that truly feel good to them, rather than following a set of rules. That freedom and confidence is what really makes weddings feel special.
Jason Mitchell Kahn
I’m predicting a continued move away from rigid timelines toward flexible, feeling-forward weddings where couples prioritize presence, joy, and storytelling over perfection. Who ever demanded cocktails and apps are confined to one hour?
Are there any trends you’re noticing with queer weddings specifically?
Julian Leaver Events
Queer weddings have always been leaders in experience-driven design, and that continues in 2026. There’s often less attachment to “the way it’s always been done,” which opens the door for more creative formats, non-traditional timelines, and moments that truly reflect the couple rather than the industry. We’re seeing queer couples be especially thoughtful about guest experience, chosen family, and creating spaces that feel affirming and celebratory as opposed to performative. The result is weddings that feel deeply personal and emotionally resonant.
The Gay Agenda Collective
Many of our queer couples are focused on creating traditions that genuinely feel like theirs, often starting by asking, “Why do we do it this way?” We love helping them understand the history behind traditions so they can make informed, intentional choices.
Because legal marriage has only been accessible to our community since 2015, there’s often deep meaning behind how queer couples tell their love stories: through visuals, fashion, and ceremony structure. We’re also seeing less pressure around traditional roles, with couples walking down the aisle together and using fashion as a way to honor culture, identity, and personal style.
A Monique Affair
One trend I’m seeing across queer weddings is more inclusive wedding parties. Everything feels more personal and intentional, with people being celebrated for who they are rather than being forced into a role, side, or structure that doesn’t fit them. If that approach speaks to the couple, it creates a space where everyone can show up as themselves, which makes the entire celebration feel more authentic and meaningful.
Jason Mitchell Kahn
Queer weddings are increasingly rejecting “default” traditions altogether, creating ceremonies and receptions that reflect chosen family, fluid roles, and authentic expressions of identity. It can be scary to be a queer person right now, but our weddings are safe spaces to showcase our lives and love.
A wedding trend or custom you’d like to see retire?
Julian Leaver Events
Anything that exists purely for optics and disrupts the actual experience. If a tradition creates stress, confusion, or disconnects guests from the moment, it’s worth questioning. Couples are realizing they don’t need to do something just because it photographs well or checks a box.
The Gay Agenda Collective
We’re excited to see a move away from heavily gendered traditions rooted in outdated ideas. We love helping couples unpack where those customs come from and decide what actually aligns with their values today.
We’re also big advocates for timelines that leave room to breathe. Weddings don’t need to be a performance or packed minute-by-minute. Your guests are there to celebrate your love, not to judge the experience. Ultimately, this day is something you’re investing in, and it should reflect your values and your love. You truly don’t have to do anything just because it’s expected.
A Monique Affair
I want to see couples do what truly fits them. What I’d love to see retire is the idea that you have to do anything just because it’s a tradition or a trend. There shouldn’t be pressure to check boxes or follow a formula. The best weddings are the ones where couples feel free to make choices that actually reflect who they are, not what they think they’re supposed to do.
Jason Mitchell Kahn
I’d love to see the pressure to perform a wedding for other people’s expectations retire—especially anything rooted in outdated gender roles or obligatory traditions.
Tell us about the most memorable or unique wedding you planned last year.
Julian Leaver Events
We just completed a NYE celebration with a buyout of Maxim's in Paris. Our brides turned every single traditional moment on its head and focused so much on the guest experience. Every transition felt intentional, every moment had a purpose, and the energy never dipped.
The Gay Agenda Collective
One of the most memorable events we’ve ever been part of was Kristin and Nora’s wedding. They had been planning their celebration for about 15 months, but six months before their intended wedding date, everything shifted. As a queer, trans couple, the political climate at the time felt increasingly unsafe, and they made the deeply intentional decision to legally marry earlier than planned, out of concern that their rights could be at risk if they waited. We had the honor of supporting both moments. First in January, then again in June with their full community. It was incredibly meaningful to help hold that secret so their larger celebration could still feel joyful, intentional, and fully theirs.
We’ve been fortunate to work on many beautiful events over the years, but this one stays with us. It was a reminder that even in moments of uncertainty and adversity, love finds a way forward and that being trusted to support and protect a couple’s story, especially in times like these, is one of the greatest privileges of what we do.
A Monique Affair
One of the most memorable weddings I planned last year was a multi-destination wedding weekend that turned into a full week of celebrations. The couple hosted events in two different states, creating an experience that felt more like an adventure than a traditional wedding.
They and a group of their closest friends even took red-eye flights to make it to the next set of events in the second state, which honestly set the tone for how intentional and joyful the whole week was. It was fast-paced, a little wild, and incredibly meaningful. Watching everyone show up with that level of excitement and commitment made it unforgettable and unlike anything else I planned all year.
Jason Mitchell Kahn
That would have to be one that was more cabaret & burlesque show with a touch of wedding tradition sprinkled in. There were aerialists and stilt walkers, and the grooms performed in a 10-minute, fully choreographed medley mashup. Oh, and then we put out a wig and heel bar.
If you could offer one piece of advice to couples currently or about to start planning their wedding, what would it be?
Julian Leaver Events
Design your wedding around how you want it to feel, not how you think it’s supposed to look. When experience leads, decisions become clearer, stress decreases, and the day feels more like you. If something doesn’t serve the experience—for you or your guests—it doesn’t need to be there.
The Gay Agenda Collective
Choose your top three non-negotiables, and let them guide every decision you make. Whether that’s budget, timeline, design, food, photography, an incredible DJ, or overall guest experience, knowing your priorities makes everything else clearer. Share those top three with your vendor team so you can plan collaboratively and keep the focus on what truly matters to you.
While every part of a wedding is important, we always encourage couples to come back to those three anchors when making decisions. You might not agree on everything, and that’s okay, but agreeing on your non-negotiables together creates clarity, alignment, and a day that genuinely reflects both of you.
A Monique Affair
I’d say this: plan the wedding that actually fits your life, not the one you feel pressured to perform. Be honest with yourselves about your budget, your energy, and what genuinely makes you smile. If something doesn’t excite you or actively stresses you out, it’s okay to let it go, even if everyone does it. Spend your money and time on the parts that feel meaningful to you, whether that’s great food, a killer playlist, an intimate guest list, or just having a calm, joy-filled day.
It’s also important to remember that the weddings you often see “trending” online are usually high six-figure celebrations. Follow creatives who work within your budget and be realistic about what’s possible for you. At the end of it all, the goal isn’t a perfect wedding. It’s starting your marriage feeling grounded, happy, and like you honored who you are together.
Jason Mitchell Kahn
Always remember there are truly no rules. Do it your way!
What’s the best way for couples to get in touch with you? :)
Julian Leaver Events
The best place to start is through our website inquiry form, which helps us understand what kind of experience you’re hoping to create. You can also find us on Instagram, where we share a lot about how we think about wedding flow, guest experience, and intentional planning.
The Gay Agenda Collective
Email us at info@thegayagenda.co or say hi on IG at @thegayagendaco. Please check out our website www.thegayagenda.co.
A Monique Affair
The best way for couples to get in touch with A Monique Affair is through the website at www.amoniqueaffair.com or by connecting on Instagram at @amoniqueaffair.
Jason Mitchell Kahn
The best way to connect with me is through my website inquiry form, where I can get to know you and your vision from the very beginning.
Photo cover courtesy of Julian Leaver Events.
Questions? Give us a shout at help@hiholden.com or a ring (pun intended) at 646.722.6817.