2022 Wedding Trends from Industry Experts

May 31, 2022 | Wedding Planning, Wedding Tips, Wedding Trends

As we approach the middle of 2022, we are seeing new wedding trends take form like unique alternatives to cake, special first-moment looks, destination elopements and more. Due to the wedding boom, everyone is getting married and trying to shift from the traditional approach to incorporate a unique factor into their wedding.

Below you can read what experts have identified as unique wedding trends in their venues.

First Gaze Before the Graze

According to Bill Hansen Catering & Event Production, more couples are sharing a special moment to view a “first look” of the venue setup and watch their ideas come to life on the wedding day. The “gaze before the graze” moment is similar to the traditional, intimate first look between the bride and groom. In the photos by Arevalo & CO., the couple’s initial reactions are caught when they look at their wedding decor at the historical private wedding estate catered by Bill Hansen Catering.

Bridgerton Style String Trio

Couples are looking to pop culture to help set the mood for their big wedding day.

In Netflix’s hit show, Bridegerton, the show’s soundtrack features Classic string trios/quartets playing modern songs like Taylor Swift, or Bruno Mars. Constellation Culinary Group, the official caterer for the Sarasota Art Museum, has noticed the change in music styles since the release of the show to offer a classical music component to spark up the romance.

One Last Dance

Once all the guests have left and the evening begins to quiet down, newlyweds are ending the night with one last dance. This intimate moment is shared between the couple in a private setting in their venue to end the night off. The one last dance trend has been seen by top catering company, Constellation Culinary Group, at its recent weddings as a special moment for the couple to share one last moment that will be remembered throughout time.

Pre-Ceremony Cocktail Hour

Seen at weddings all over the country, Constellation Culinary Group, which curates weddings and cultural institutions across the country have noticed that before the vows are exchanged, couples are incorporating a pre-ceremony cocktail hour for their guests to mingle. This hour of socializing gives guests a chance to connect with each other rather than sitting and waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Eco-Conscious Ceremonies

There are environmental benefits to small weddings and elopements, as staggering statistics from “Green Bride Guide” indicate that about 400 pounds of garbage and over 60 tons of carbon dioxide are the cost of an average wedding. Couples who opt for mini weddings and elopements can still celebrate in a grand way, with a much smaller production that generates less waste. Hillsboro Beach Resort has crafted a special destination elopement package for couples who prefer these detail-centric, mini ceremonies at the beach. With couples choosing intimate romantic celebrations at Hillsboro Beach Resort, they directly invest in local businesses, while also preserving the beach and large sea turtle population with an eco-conscious elopement.

Experiential Catering With Art-Inspired Food

The consistent theme of art-inspired catering options provides couples with a fully immersive experience to connect with the works around them. This new experiential catering trend is a unique way for art enthusiasts to have classic art pieces be part of their special day as well as present to their guests a fun and innovative menu.

Constellation Culinary Group, the official catering partner for the Norton Museum of Art, is now offering catering menus inspired by famous artists on exhibition within the space. An example of creative catering inspired by world-famous art that can be enjoyed at a wedding at the Norton Museum of Art is attendees can delight in Campbell’s Tomato Soup served with sliced bread in the branded can as an ode to the famous Warhol painting on Campbell’s Soup cans.

Cake Is Out

As Insider puts it, dessert bars are in! At the Pérez Art Museum Miami, the traditional wedding cake is out and ice cream bars are in! Catered by Constellation Culinary Group, the luxury wedding destination has noticed a shift to ice cream bar stations in exchange for wedding cakes. Now you might ask, with Miami’s weather, how does it not melt? Constellation Culinary provides the couple on the day of the wedding with an ice cream bar cart to keep the creamy dessert from melting away. This alternative is a fun way to break tradition and offer guests something out of the ordinary.

Science Weddings

During this year’s wedding boom, couples are looking to mix things up and host their special day at a nonconventional destination. Cue science museums! Weddings at a science museum offer couples ample event space, scientific catering options and interactive light shows played with the couple’s favorite rock bands. At Frost Science Museum, Constellation Culinary Group leads all catering for events at the museum and has concocted its own scientific menu of creative food offerings for wedding receptions. Examples of this include a fun chocolate craters dessert which is served by a pastry chef who wears an astronaut suit and pink hair. Other scientific servings include a Moon Rock food station that features a nitrogen tank that the chef uses to make “moon rocks” for guests to enjoy, billowing smoke as they chew. This item is a chocolate mousse frozen in liquid nitrogen with toppings like hazelnut ganache. For a pre-reception cocktail hour, the Frost Science Museum is known for its late-night laser light show in the museum’s planetarium which is set to a curated selection of music. Highlights include Queen, Led Zeppelin and Nirvana. Constellation Culinary Group serves Frost 321 Nitro Cocktails, which are trippy and fun to drink during the evening of lights, music and science.

A Walk into the Future

Traditionally, walking a bride down the aisle to her soon-to-be husband was often done by a father or parent of the bride, but Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has experienced a twist. Children and step-children of the bride have escorted their motherly figure down the aisle. In a memorable moment, families are celebrating every unique aspect that makes their family whole by incorporating small gestures that make a big difference. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is known for having a wide array of gorgeous wedding venues and the couples who choose to have their special day at the resort are redefining tradition.

Parent-Free Party

Oftentimes, a wedding is accompanied by the idea of having close friends and family partake in the celebrations, but Hotel Effie is slated to host a parent-free ceremony. This couple is fully embracing the intimate, luxury escape by having their children be a part of the wedding – but not their parents. Hotel Effie blends Southern charm with Emerald Coast chic, a gem for a coastal-inspired wedding adaptable to any size.

Thank you to Adriana at The Dana Agency for sharing this article with us!