Spring is a lovely time of year in the Magnolia State. The weather is gently warming up, the azaleas are blooming, and people are starting to get outside more and more on the weekends.

This also means weddings are back and in a big way following the days of Covid-caution.

So what’s the scoop on wedding trends for 2023?

There’s mainly a spotlight shift from conventional to individuality in the wedding trends developing this year throughout the Magnolia State and beyond.

This year, brides and grooms want to feature unique creativity, warm experiences, and never-before-explored designs while unfolding a break from the good ole’ traditions of their parents and grandparents. Instead of regular weekend wedding celebrations, there are more micro-weddings followed by speakeasy-style after-parties or intimate destination nuptials with close friends and family. And while grandma might clutch her pearls, some couples are even opting for weekday weddings.

So let’s take a trip through the latest wedding trends so far this year.

Bold Colors

The latest bridal party rage is mismatched bridesmaid dresses in jeweled bright tones of pink, orange, and yellow, popping against the green grass and blue skies. With fun colors and Grace Kelly-inspired styles, bridesmaids are coordinated rather than perfectly matched, and visually, it will help create a lot of interest in wedding day photos. And, it gives your best ladies the chance to select a sophisticated bridesmaid dress that they will want to wear. Bridal bouquets are expected to have just as much color mixed in with vibrant blooms in shades of pink, purple, and red.

Retro Cakes

Retro-inspired or vintage wedding cakes are also taking off with lots of colors, over-the-top vibes, and tons of frosting. And what is a retro-style wedding cake? It’s a cake with vintage vibes, styles, and trends of a specific era, like the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. They often have fun, retro-inspired details like bold colors, patterns, and shapes.

Non-Traditional Processionals

Wedding timelines have taken several delightful twists as couples break tradition and make the day uniquely for themselves. Couples have added “best woman” to the groom’s side and “man of honor” to the bridal party. They held hands and danced down the aisle together and had Grandma join in as a flower girl. Some couples have skipped vows altogether, and to go even further, some daring duos choose to get ready together for an extra spark of intimacy. Others have selected to have their first dance in private instead of in front of guests. And who could forget the ever-popular and never-ending flower dude trend that had guys tossing petals and dancing down the aisles?

Outdoor Venues

Couples are choosing venues with breathtaking backdrops, natural flower arrangements, and regal atmospheres capable of enchanting their guests. Additionally, hosting an outdoor wedding can offer more freedom in styling as every venue has its own unique, natural characteristics that are difficult to replicate.

First Looks

Couples are sharing first looks of bride and groom attire with everyone from the bride’s dad, the groom’s mom, the couple’s grandparents, and even siblings. These moments are some of the sweetest to photograph on the wedding day.

When it comes down to it, there are so many ways to celebrate your love that it can be challenging to find the perfect one, but the non-traditional weddings of 2023 are a blank canvas with you deciding the final picture, and above all else, don’t forget that you’re the sole trendsetter of your big day.

Cherie Ward is an award-winning Mississippi Gulf Coast journalist with decades of experience in writing and photography. Connect with her by email at chereliseward@gmail.com with story ideas or find her @cherieward on Instagram. She would love to hear from you.

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