2024 was a record year for weddings and events at the Lightner Museum. We can’t wait to see what 2025 will bring! As we ushered in this much-anticipated year, our team took the time to reflect on some of the top wedding trends. We’re sharing our list of predictions for what trends are going to be “in” and what’s “out” for 2025.
If you’re a couple who likes to stay on the cutting edge—or if you’re just looking for ways to add a touch of personality to your wedding—we’ve gathered a list of the hottest wedding trends to inspire you!
Wedding Trends For 2025: What’s Out
It’s always interesting to see what wedding trends come and go each year. In 2024, we saw fewer new décor trends; however, we did see a major trend toward forgoing long-held wedding traditions.
For instance, couples are steering clear of large wedding parties, with some choosing not to have a wedding party at all. We’re also seeing shorter ceremonies with more personalized vows.
During the reception, traditions such as the cake cutting, bouquet and garter toss, champagne toasts, and even wedding favors—are being reinvented or skipped entirely. In fact, some couples find that these outdated traditions make their guests uncomfortable!
At the end of the day, the new wedding rules are simple: it’s your day; include only the traditions you want (or none at all)!
Wedding Trends For 2025: What’s In
Wedding Trend #1: Bringing the Outdoors In
Our first 2025 wedding trend prediction is perfect for a historic wedding venue like the Lightner Museum. We’re expecting couples to transform indoor venues into lush, nature-inspired sanctuaries.
One way to achieve this is by lining the ceremony aisle with lifelike trees, creating the ambiance of an enchanted forest or a timeless garden. These trees often double as statement pieces for reception décor, reimagined as breathtaking table centerpieces or framing the sweetheart or head table.
Unique plants and botanicals, such as ferns, live orchids, tropical blooms, and even fruits and vegetables, are also taking center stage. These elements infuse weddings with organic beauty and texture, providing a refreshing alternative that feels both sophisticated and grounded. The result is a dreamy, immersive atmosphere that celebrates the natural world, no matter the season or location.
Francesca and Juan’s wedding ceremony aisle was lined with stunning faux trees from florist Feather and Bloom. | Photo: Lindsey Vander Wal Photography
Wedding Trend #2: Honoring Important Family Members
Weddings are becoming more heartfelt as couples find creative ways to honor important family members. From emotional surprises to thoughtful tributes, these gestures add a deeply personal touch to the celebration.
One growing trend is the mother-daughter dance, a surprise moment that shifts the spotlight to moms, creating a memory to cherish forever. Brides are also dedicating their bouquets to their mothers, handing over the floral arrangement during the reception as a heartfelt symbol of gratitude and love. Another beautiful way to honor family heritage is by displaying relatives’ wedding dresses on mannequins, offering guests a glimpse into generations of love stories. These meaningful traditions celebrate family bonds and ensure that loved ones feel appreciated on such a special day.
Kristin surprised her mom with a special mother-daughter dance during their wedding reception. | Photo: Kara Brooke Photography
Wedding Trend #3: Building Private Moments into Your Wedding Timeline
Rather than spending the day lost in a flurry of constant activity, couples are opting for new traditions that allow them to slow down and take in every detail with their partner.
Earlier in the day, many couples are scheduling private first looks or first touches with their soon-to-be spouse. Not only does this give you a private moment with your favorite person to get out those pre-ceremony jitters, but it also allows you to take more photos earlier so you can enjoy more of the party. Many couples are even taking the opportunity to join their guests during cocktail hour!
Another timeline tip: plan a private reception reveal! With this trend, the couple enters the reception space for a grand reveal before any guests are able to enter. It’s such a special moment to see all of the décor you’ve imagined over weeks and months of planning come together. This can also be a perfect opportunity to practice part of your first dance, have a drink, or just relax and take a breather before the party begins.
One trend that we never want to say goodbye to is the private last dance. During a private last dance, you and your new spouse share a special dance with just the two of you (and maybe your photographer), while your guests wait outside for your grand exit. For many couples, simply having a few moments to themselves at the end of the night is one of the most meaningful parts of their big day.
Lauren and Matt did a first look and portraits around the Lightner Museum prior to their wedding ceremony, which allowed them to later join cocktail hour with their guests | Photo: Walls of Jerico
Wedding Trend #4: Weddings on Non-Traditional Days of the Week
With only 52 Saturdays in the year, setting a date for your wedding can be difficult, to say the least. Thankfully, couples are starting to catch on to the best-kept secret in the wedding industry.
Getting married on a non-traditional day of the week (such as Friday or Sunday) is a great way to save on wedding vendors, travel, and accommodations and helps you extend the festivities into a fun-filled wedding weekend.
Paige and Sean got married on a Friday at the Lightner Museum | Photo: Angelita Esparar
Wedding Trend #5: Unique & Quirky Wedding Dress Codes
We’ve seen several upcoming weddings with dress codes that go outside the norms of “black tie” and “cocktail attire.” Couples are getting more creative with dress codes that provide themes, colors, or an overall vibe, such as “Tropical Formal,” “Modern Bridgerton,” or “Garden Party Whimsical.”
To help guide guests in the right direction, we recommend including a more detailed description of the theme, inspiration pictures on your wedding website, or a link to a Pinterest board with visuals.
2024 saw an uptick in Western-inspired wedding fashion, executed perfectly by these guests at Jorie and Reggie’s wedding. | Photo: Syd Photo Co
Wedding Trend #6: The Second Reception Look
Another thing that’s becoming less traditional? Bridal style!
Brides are embracing the trend of donning a new outfit for the reception. Mini dresses, jumpsuits, sparkles, and other fun fashion trends are having their moment. Grooms are also getting in on the action with colorful or patterned jackets and fun footwear.
Our gorgeous bride Danielle had not one, but two dress changes on her wedding day! | Photo: Jillian Monzon Photo
Wedding Trend #6: Flash and Documentary-Style Photography
One cool wedding trend that’s continuing into 2025 is the preference for documentary-style wedding photography over more posed portrait shots.
Documentary wedding photography takes a more candid approach to your event. Rather than stopping the action to get the subject into the “perfect” shot, this photography style captures the action as it naturally unfolds.
The result is an authentic record of your big day’s most magical moments.
Photographer Brian D Smith captured modern black and white photos of Nicole and Chris’ wedding at the Lightner Museum.
Wedding Trend #7: Sustainability
We all want our wedding to feel special, but that doesn’t mean you can’t embrace sustainability! With the massive amounts of food, flowers, and disposable décor elements, weddings have historically been very wasteful. With this in mind, we’re starting to see a cultural shift, with some couples attempting to reduce the carbon footprint from their nuptials.
For example, Jorie and Reggie’s wedding at the Lightner Museum included many unique plant-themed details, including potted plants as seating assignments and planter favors for guests. (The plant wall also served as a really cool backdrop and photo opportunity.) Not only was this wedding beautiful, it was eco-friendly too! The couple strived for sustainability by requesting no plastic, straws, or paper napkins.
Jorie and Reggie used live plants as their centerpieces and wedding favors, which were both beautiful and sustainable. | Photo: Syd Photo Co
Wedding Trend #8: Honoring Pets At Weddings
We call them our “fur babies” for a reason—pets are part of the family. Why shouldn’t they be included in your wedding as well?
There are so many ways to include pets in your wedding, from bringing them into your portrait session to having your dog be the ring bearer.
Even in cases when your pet can’t be there in “person”—due to their temperament or venue restrictions—couples are honoring their furry companions in new, creative ways. At the Lightner Museum, a favorite method is naming a signature drink after your pet and including their picture on the beverage menu!
Lauren and Matt’s pups were ring bearers at their Lightner Museum wedding. | Photo: We Are the Bowsers
Wedding Trend #9: Non-Traditional Ceremonies
For many couples, wedding ceremony traditions are determined by their cultural background or religious faith. However, for those hosting an interfaith wedding—or who simply don’t feel bound by these traditions—the freedom to think outside the box offers plenty of creative options.
Incorporating things like handfasting ceremonies, jumping the broom, or non-traditional vows not only adds a personal touch to your wedding, it makes for a truly memorable experience for your guests (not to mention some great pictures)!
Groom William brought the laughs with his funny reactions during his wedding ceremony at the Lightner Museum | Photo: Lyndsey Anne Photography
Wedding Trend #10: Unique Bar Experiences
Unique and eye-catching wedding bars are a great way to wow your guests during cocktail hour and the reception!
In addition to signature cocktails and fun signage, we’re seeing an uptick in fun displays, such as living champagne walls and specialty bars.
Samantha and Steven’s living champagne wall was a hit with guests! | Photo: We Are the Bowsers
Wedding Trend #11: Dinner Party Vibes
In the spirit of “timelessness.” couples are opting to create an atmosphere that mirrors the warmth of a gathering of close family and friends. Think long communal tables laden with delectable bites, a playlist that feels like your favorite mixtape, and cozy mood lighting.
With this trend, formality takes a back seat, and authenticity reigns supreme. It’s not just a wedding; it’s a celebration that exudes the charm of a relaxed dinner party, where laughter echoes, stories flow, and the love is as genuine as the smiles on your guests’ faces.
Melissa and Chris used a mixture of rectangular tables and round tables to create a dinner party vibe for their reception | Photo: Zai Laffitte
Wedding Trend #12: Out-of-the-Box Wedding Reception Entertainment
In 2025, couples are redefining wedding reception entertainment with creative and unforgettable experiences that elevate the celebration.
One standout trend is the hora loca, or “the crazy hour,” where the reception transforms into a high-energy party complete with colorful props, dancers, and confetti to surprise and thrill guests. For a modern twist on live music, electric violinists or contemporary saxophonists are stealing the show, blending traditional sounds with upbeat, dance-worthy vibes. Adding a touch of glamour and whimsy, one recent wedding even had Champagne Ladies—dressed in cascading skirts filled with flutes of bubbly—that offered guests drinks during cocktail hour.
These dynamic entertainment ideas keep guests engaged and ensure the reception is an extraordinary celebration from start to finish.
Kelsey and Angelo’s wedding featured a Champagne Lady at cocktail hour with glasses hanging ON her dress, | Photo: Bow Tie Photography
Later in the evening Kelsey and Angelo surprised guests with an Hora Loca, which included performers in costume. | Bow Tie Photography
Your Wedding, Your Way
One of the best things we’ve seen in recent years is a focus on timelessness. Rather than thinking about what will be trendy in 2025, couples are thinking about how they will look back on their wedding after a lifetime of memories.
We are always in awe of the incredible creativity our couples and wedding vendors bring to each event. We can’t wait to see what other wedding trends we are going to see at the Lightner Museum as the year progresses!
As always, if you need help with starting the wedding planning process, the experts at your favorite St. Augustine wedding venue are here to help. We have a front-row seat to all the changing wedding trends and are always happy to give you the information you need to have a fantastic day!
