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March 6, 2023

2023 Wedding Trends in the UK – A Pocket Guide

The UK wedding season of 2023 has begun and we couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come! From bold colour schemes to outdoor wedding ceremonies and sustainability, this year is set to be a different and perhaps more unconventional year for the wedding industry, with an overriding focus on creating a truly memorable experience for everyone involved. Keep reading for all you need to know about 2023 wedding trends in the UK.

Singing waiter as wedding entertainment during wedding reception at Pynes House.

The Year of the Outdoor Ceremony

From the front courtyard with the rolling Devonshire hills to the stately gardens, we’ve always loved an outdoor ceremony. While the government initially only granted temporary permission for venues to host outdoor ceremonies during the pandemic, their popularity has led to a permanent extension of this permission. Ever since, outdoor ceremonies have only gained momentum. We’re set to hear quite a few dynamic open-air vows this year – and we can’t wait.

SEE MORE: The Pynes House Gallery

First look as bride walks down the aisle at outdoor wedding ceremony in the UK.

Sustainability is the Word

Not just in terms of UK wedding trends, sustainability is the word of 2023 – and for good reason! We’ve been taking steps to reduce our environmental footprint over the years. This is also a focus for many of our recommended suppliers, our partner caterers, Pickle Shack, in particular. However, it’s exciting to see a shift in the general climate of the wedding industry, with more and more couples considering sustainability in their wedding planning. We’re predicting changes across the board in wedding floristry, decoration and food – see more on this further down.

All Things Bold and Bright

Classic whites, greens and soft pastels will always have a place in our heart, but we have to admit that the strong colour palettes we’re envisaging for this year are quite something! Think magenta (Pantone’s colour of the year), rich amber and vibrant yellows and reds. These rich colours really make a bouquet pop and are absolutely gorgeous in photos. Whether they’re delicately placed amongst floral arrangements or weaved throughout the day in the décor and outfits too, they make for a glorious statement.

Before we finish on wedding colour palette trends for 2023, we’ve got to mention the regal Bridgerton blue. Still an iconic and beautifully opulent colour, it’s predicted that this colour will very much remain in the spotlight for this year’s UK weddings and beyond. Whether through regal blue candles and tableware or woven into the silks of bridesmaid dresses, the Bridgerton blue that we know and love will likely stick around for a while yet.

Amber, blush and magenta floral arrangement, made with sustainable British flowers.

Luxurious wedding reception table lay out, with bright flowers and gold rimmed tableware.

Ceremony Backdrops

While we’ve already seen a few beautiful floral installations behind the altar at Pynes House, this is set to become a lot more common place in UK weddings this year. Whether it’s hanging greenery, draped boho linens matched with dreamy dried flowers or arches adorned with lush blooms, there’s a lot to love about ceremony backdrops.

Below, you’ll find some images of a gorgeous ceremony backdrop created by Holly Bee Flowers.

Floristry – A Minimalist and Sustainable Focus

This year’s wedding floristry trends are set to encompass a more minimalist and sustainable style, in terms of quantity and quality. We’re talking uncluttered tablescapes adorned with a few fresh statement blooms peeping through glass jars, and sprinklings of single type florals around the aisle and altar during the ceremony.

We caught up with Emma from Emma Hewlett Floral Design. Here’s what she had to say about 2023 wedding floristry trends:

Blush with a vibrant mix of hot pink is proving popular. It gives the flowers a modern architectural look, using less foliage and reflexing petals.

Fun with colour… bold and bright. Couples are choosing not to have a set colour theme, but instead asking for a mix of bright, individual stems or a muted mix of lots of colours. Bold is beautiful!

Another very popular look is a modern twist on the classic white wedding… removing foliage from designs and just focusing on the clean crisp white florals. I’m working with lots of couples that want to use lots of the same flower en mass, creating a sleek modern meadow of florals.

In terms of sustainability, more and more of our recommended florists are using only British flowers and committing to not using flower foam or oasis, which is harmful and polluting to the environment. Roberta from The Good Florist uses exclusively British flowers between April and October – we’ve included some BEAUTIFUL images of her creations for Charlie & Ben’s wedding below if you’re interested. Emma Hewlett Floral Design has just launched a sustainably focused British Wedding Flowers package too. It’s an 100% British flower design initiative – read more about it here.

Miranda Hackett Flowers has also been paving the way with their sustainable initiatives – here are some words from the lovely Miranda Hackett:

We grow a lot of our own flowers and use our network of Devon and Cornwall growers to ensure our work is predominately British and local and is therefore very fresh and hasn’t travelled far.

We do not use floral foam/oasis (which is not biodegradable).

If the flowers are not taken/used by client or venue after weddings, we repurpose flowers and take them to St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth. There, patients with life-limiting illnesses can enjoy them in their rooms. We compost foliage and dead flowers on our farm land.

Bouquet of sustainable wedding flowers, on mantlepiece.

Bride holding bouquet of pink pastel wedding flowers.

Wedding Stationery

Wedding stationery is set to become even more popular in 2023, with a focus on minimalism and beautiful bespoke touches. Here’s more from calligraphy and fine art wedding stationery designer, Laura Elizabeth Patrick.

This year is all about bespoke touches and disregarding any need to do anything too formal. Handmade paper, silk ribbons and muted colour schemes are always an elegant choice. I’ve also got more brides this year who want something a bit bolder and are opting for deeper, moodier envelope liners and colour palettes.

Illustration wise, less is more and there’s a move away from overly busy and flowery watercolour based designs.

We’ve included some of Laura’s beautiful designs from a recent styled shoot at Pynes House, below.

Traditional Menu Formats and Rebellious Fusion-Inspired Menus

To hear the scoop on wedding catering trends for this year, we had a chat with our exclusive partnership wedding caterer, Pickle Shack. Nothing short of the best, they’ve been the proud winners of UK National Wedding Caterers of the Year for the last three years. Here’s what Director, Jodie, had to say:

The year ahead will seemingly be a year of two-halves in terms of food trends. On one hand, there has been a noticeable resurgence of traditional menu formats and classic wedding dishes, such as pre-order menus and dessert trios. On the other however, we have seen lots of rebellious fusion-inspired menus this season.

Edible Flowers remain dominant, and now increasingly feature in every aspect of the perfect wedding day; from your first drink as a married couple to your luxurious chocolate dessert.

Vegan food is another unmistakable trend for the season ahead. Plant based cuisine has been hotting up on the culinary scene for some time, but only recently have we seen a noticeable shift in demand for vegan catering at weddings. We have recently added a number of new vegetarian and vegan dishes to our menu. As always, we’re happy to discuss entirely bespoke options with our couples if you have something specific in mind.

Cocktail Hour and Pre-Ordered Drinks

In 2022, many of our couples opted for a cocktail hour on the bar, with their favourite pre-selected cocktails served after the wedding breakfast alongside coffee. We’re set to see even more of this in 2023, especially with couples choosing drinks which are attributed to special memories for them. Mr & Mrs cocktails are also becoming increasingly popular, where the bride and groom each choose their favourite cocktail for the bar.

MORE: Get in touch for our extensive cocktail list and welcome drinks options

It’s all about the Experience – Weekend Weddings and More

In terms of entertainment, the UK wedding trends of 2023 are forecasted to be all about experience. Away with the rigid traditions of the past and in with unconventional experiences, which make for a memorable day. We’ve seen many a great outdoor game setup in the past (see Laura & Tom’s real wedding feature here for more), but this year is set to go even further. We’re talking roaming bands, saxophonists, manned roulette and poker tables, Great Gatsby style first dances and masquerade singing waiters – anything for a memorable experience, right!

Here at Pynes House, weekend weddings have always been at the core of what we do, but it is increasingly something couples are looking for. For the night preceding the wedding, this could involve wine tasting, a three-course meal, or an open bar for guests. The Sunday after the wedding could involve a brunch for close family and friends or clay pigeon shooting, croquet and lawn games alongside a BBQ. We’ve seen afternoons like this work really well at our Devon wedding venue, with couples making the most of our extensive lawns and beautiful rose terrace to enjoy some extra time with their loved ones.