2026 Wedding Trends

Our Special Moments Event Planning team can hardly believe it’s December! The wedding industry has already begun talking about 2026 wedding trends.  

We find that our clients aren’t often chasing trends. Over the years, we’ve noticed that the trends seem to be talking about things we’re already doing.

Although we don’t consider ourselves ‘Trend Setters,’ we’ve noticed that many of the classics we’ve seen over nearly 20 years of planning weddings across the Tampa Bay area have made a comeback.

So let’s dive into some of the wedding trends people are talking about for 2026.

 

Experiences and Personalization

Multiday Celebrations

We always find this ‘trend’ to be amusing. For years, wedding celebrations, especially destination weddings, have included multiday celebrations.

Whether it’s your rehearsal dinner that morphs into a Welcome Party for your wedding guests arriving the day before your wedding ceremony, or simply meeting up at the hotel’s bar for drinks and nibbles in the evening, it’s something our couple does frequently.

Post-wedding brunches also fall into this category, as many people choose to stay over after the reception, whether they are from out of town, want to enjoy the local attractions, or are aware that they don’t want to drive and drink.

Sometimes, it goes a step further. Often, with weddings in Gulf Coast beach resorts, couples may choose to organize a fishing trip or something as simple as booking a few cabanas at the hotel pool as a hospitality suite.

Interactive Experiences

In this category of personalization, the one thing we see most often is Cigar Rollers. Tampa is home to some iconic cigar factories, and we collaborate with several exceptional cigar rollers who specialize in creating wedding and event stations equipped with the necessary items to enjoy hand-rolled cigars.

 

 

We also see guests really enjoy fun options, such as coffee carts, which offer coffee shop-style drinks. Ice cream and gelato carts are always a favorite with our couples, too.

 

 

 

Personalized Details

We laugh at this, as it is to us, and most of our couples, that your wedding day is all about incorporating personal details. 

From menus with some of the couple’s favorite foods to Signature Cocktails, cookie tables, or even favorite late-night snacks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve seen travel-loving couples incorporate luggage tags into their escort cards as a fantastic wedding favor.

 

 

Or, a bride who was a professional chocolate maker and the couple shared these incredible chocolates as a wedding favor. Can you say Salted Caramel and Peanut Butter Krunch?

 

 

The most notable aspect we see couples incorporating is their family heritage. From traditional Tea Ceremonies honoring family to Filipino ‘tinikling’, a fun dance performed with two moving sticks. We’ve even had a bride of Hawaiian descent dancing a traditional hula for her groom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The options for personalization and incorporating cultural elements are endless.

 

Design and Decor

 

Color and Design

While a good amount of the design elements, such as beautiful jewel-tone colors, leaning towards maximalist or minimalist designs, may have more to do with your personal style and budget, they are always discussed as ‘trends.

 

Nostalgic Touches

We see nostalgic touches popping up in weddings everywhere. Fun retro telephones – you know the kind that had a cord and were attached to the wall in your house have made a comeback as a way to leave a message for the newlyweds at the wedding reception.

 

 

Even Polaroid-style cameras, which feature guest books to hold photos with personal notes, have made a comeback.

Rumors suggest that the multi-tiered white wedding cakes with fun columns and cake toppers will be making a comeback.

The old saying goes that “Everything Old IS New Again.” And it appears that 2026 wedding trends may incorporate some excellent personal touches.

 

We can’t wait to share more about the 2026 wedding trends that are being discussed.