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Weddings in Wales - What Will Weddings Look Like in 2021?

Updated: Nov 24

Before I go into what weddings will look like this year I will first, make some predictions for next year!! These are from research

  • 2021 will be all about sustainable, eco-friendly weddings.

  • You will see sentimental, personal touches in décor and themes.

  • An uptick in weddings with artisanal touches.

  • It is looking like there will be a meteoric rise of inclusive wedding styles tailored to people of all creeds, colours, shapes, and sexuality.


unique weddings

2021 is set to be a mega year for weddings, with postponed nuptials and celebrations queueing up behind those already booked. With that you would think that the wedding trends of the new year would mirror from those of 2020, there will be some new additions – even among all those pre-planned or rescheduled events.


We do not know yet how weddings may be restricted with the changing of rules throughout the UK, but with the vaccine rollout continuing, we are cautiously optimistic for a better year – both for couples and industry suppliers.


The pandemic required 2020 to become the year of minimalist matrimony, but trend forecasters at Pinterest think it may spark a movement towards low-key celebrations long term. The trend for a (not so) big day will continue way into 2021, they say, regardless of the Covid restrictions, the trend of smaller, laid-back venues and no-frills elopements continuing to gain popularity.

Here are some of the other trends you can expect to see: -


  • With the guest lists becoming tighter leaving couples with more scope to focus on food and drink sourcing, meaning sustainability could be another big trend. With what 2020 has taught us is that there is a lot of valuable lessons about what is truly important to us. Many couples are finding that they are mindful of the waste that a large-scale wedding produces and are changing their plans accordingly to decrease waste.


  • It has been noticed that more and more couples are opting to shop locally more frequently: this is a win-win for cutting your carbon footprint and supporting local businesses after the economic hardship of 2020. From this it is expected to see a surge in the use of local bridal boutiques and small-independent florists amongst other local suppliers. Couples are wanting to help their local economy to help them feel the benefit of their spend, meaning that weddings and their chosen suppliers will all be chosen closer to the couple’s home.


Almost three quarters (71%) of couples who planned to marry in 2020 postponed to a later date, according to the wedding site Hitched, and Google trend data shows an increase of over 210% for the term “sequel wedding” (A sequel wedding allows a couple to become legally married now and postpone their originally intended celebration for a time when it is safe for large groups to gather).


This year for weddings has meant registrars are now fully booked in some parts of the country, sparking a move back to more traditional settings, such as the village church. Those who do not want a religious service may opt for a ceremony hosted by a celebrant (a celebrant is a person who performs and officiates formal ceremonies, and whilst commonly seen at weddings), before making their marriage legally binding once a registrar is available. Celebrants can host a wedding pretty much anywhere meaning that the possibilities really are endless, and your wedding can be anywhere you would like e.g. From secluded beaches to whimsical woodlands, just remember to factor in some shelter due to the risks associated with unpredictable weather, as we do live in UK and the weather is not as predictable as we would like it to be.


With weddings banned when the national lockdown began on 23 March 2020 and then becoming allowed but with limitations. Though limitations are still there and are more restricted than before with starting the new year and Wales being in tier 4 weddings at this time are allowed gathers at ceremonies but are limited to the capacity of the building itself and can take place in regulated public premises that are permitted to be open and which hold the necessary license/approval. With considering the 2-meter physical distancing requirements and other mitigating actions. Private homes or gardens are not included as permissible places for ceremonies under Alert Level 4 restrictions. Many people will want to celebrate the occasion with reception or other forms of social gatherings with friends and family but in Alert Level 4 receptions are prohibited.


Overall, 2020 has been a year of seismic change for the wedding industry, with every element of the traditional wedding format shaken up and redefined by the pandemic. The attitude towards weddings has changed; the way couples make decisions have changed and challenging long-held preconceptions or expectations. With this year going to be a tale of two halves, as we know Covid is not going to disappear overnight. Small weddings will continue in some form throughout the spring. But with the wave of recent good news with the roll out of the vaccine confidence is gradually returning.


wedding coordinator

Hope you enjoyed the read

Emma Louise x

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