The latest lifestyle, fashion and travel trends
The latest lifestyle, fashion and travel trends
The 2020 bride will want three things: a fairytale dress, decadent tablescapes and an overall eco-conscious wedding.
This is in stark contrast from 2019’s wedding season, which has seen glamour and ‘hyper-personalisation’ at the forefront. The coming year will see couples working with lower budget weddings, thanks to Brexit, with a shift towards sustainability and even some alcohol-free receptions.
For the lowdown on the biggest wedding trends for 2020, we asked Hamish Shephard, founder of wedding planning app Bridebook.co.uk to reveal his predictions, with a little help from Bryony Ross, weddings coordinator at Lavender Green Flowers and bridal designer Philipa Lepley.
Read on to find out what they predict we’ll be seeing all over the ‘gram during the 2020 wedding season.
Honeymoons
Mini-moons and ‘buddymoons’ will be big for 2020, with many couples sticking to the UK for their mini-moons as the value of the pound remains uncertain post-Brexit. Shephard explains: “Mini-moons and British honeymoons are on the rise due to the weak pound, as are UK stag and hen dos. Honeymooning with friends – aka buddymoons – continue to be popular in 2020.”
Cost and location
Expect lower budget weddings as millennials switch priorities from splashing out on Insta-worthy bashes to saving for the future. Shephard explains: “A significant number of couples have been reducing their budgets due to Brexit. Because of that we are seeing more 2020 couples planning crowd-funded weddings, more couples asking guests for a financial contribution and more ‘group weddings’ – where you share your wedding day with your BFF or family member.”
However, those flush with cash have been inspired by celebs and are opting for split destination weddings and even week-long weddings.
Guests can also expect to attend more inner city weddings in 2020 as these, along with manor house weddings, will be the locales of choice. Shephard explains: “We expect to see more city weddings. This is because there are more and more venues with licences, and couples are choosing to get married in their favourite bars and restaurants instead of leaving town.
“There has been a noticeable rise in popularity of the stately home, aka Ellie Goulding. Millennial couples love the grand backdrops of a stunning historic house or castle.”
The dress
Next year will see the return of the fairytale dress. Bridal designer Phillipa Lepley says: “Brides are choosing bigger ‘Princess’ dresses and cathedral length veils are very popular again, worn both on and off the face.
“Brides are wanting ‘clean’ simpler designs – we are seeing less lace and the strapless dress is far less popular.”
As Ellie Goulding’s wedding in August showed, Victorian-style high neck wedding dresses is the style to be seen in, and Lepley has seen a rise in brides opting for this kind of dress. She says: “High-neck dresses are still popular (as seen on Pippa Middleton and Ellie Goulding). Corsetry remains the most important factor for our brides – they love to have their waist really defined.”
Shephard adds: “Dresses with ruffled collars, long sleeves and high necks, the Victoriana and Bourgeois trends from the catwalks are already starting to come through. There will also be loads of tulle in every shade thanks to Killing Eve’s Villanelle.”
Having two wedding dresses – at least – has been a staple of the society bride ever since it was revealed that the Duchess of Cambridge had two separate Alexander McQueen creations for her ceremony and reception in 2011, a tradition that was repeated by the Duchess of Sussex and Princess Eugenie in 2018. Shephard says: “There will be a significant rise in the number of brides wearing a second, evening wedding dress. Again this is a knock-on effect of the royal weddings and high-profile brides – Sabrina Elba wore three dresses and influencer Chiara Ferragni wore two couture Dior dresses.”
Lepley adds: “More brides are wanting a second wedding dress for the evening, or for their dress to totally transform so they have two very different looks. Not only could they add a belt or remove some sleeves – they could also have a totally removable top layer of embroidered tulle, so the dress is barely recognisable after a quick and easy transformation.”
Royal wedding dresses throughout history
1/18 Scroll through to see the history of royal wedding dresses…
Getty Images
2/18 The Duchess of Sussex, 2018
Designed by Clare Waight Keller
Neil Hall/WPA Pool/EPA
3/18 Alessandra de Osma, 2018
Designed by Jorge Vazquéz
Getty Images
4/18 Claire Lademacher of Luxembourg, 2013
Designed by Elie Saab
Getty Images
5/18 Princess Madeleine of Sweden, 2013
Designed by Valentino
AFP/Getty Images
6/18 The Duchess of Cambridge, 2011
Designed by Sarah Burton
Getty Images
7/18 Princess Charlene of Monaco, 2011
Designed by Armani Privé
Getty Images
8/18 Duchess of Cornwall, 2005
Designed by Robinson Valentine
Getty Images
9/18 Princess Letizia Ortiz, 2004
designed by Manuel Pertegaz
Getty Images
10/18 The Countess of Wessex, 1999
Designed by Samantha Shaw
AFP/Getty Images
11/18 Sarah Ferguson, 1986
Designed by Lindka Cierach
PA Archive/PA Images
12/18 Princess Diana, 1981
Designer by David and Elizabeth Emanuel
PA Archive/PA Images
13/18 Princess Anne, 1973
Designed by Maureen Baker
PA Archive/PA Images
14/18 Princess Margaret,1960
Designed by Norman Hartnell
AFP/Getty Images
15/18 Grace Kelly, 1956
Designed by Helen Rose
AFP/Getty Images
16/18 Queen Elizabeth II, 1947
Designed by Norman Hartnell
PA Archive/PA Images
17/18 Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1923
Designed by Madame Handley Seymour
PA Archive/PA Images
18/18 Princess Alexandra of Denmark,1863
Designed by London Mrs James of Belgravia
PA Archive/PA Images
1/18 Scroll through to see the history of royal wedding dresses…
Getty Images
2/18 The Duchess of Sussex, 2018
Designed by Clare Waight Keller
Neil Hall/WPA Pool/EPA
3/18 Alessandra de Osma, 2018
Designed by Jorge Vazquéz
Getty Images
4/18 Claire Lademacher of Luxembourg, 2013
Designed by Elie Saab
Getty Images
5/18 Princess Madeleine of Sweden, 2013
Designed by Valentino
AFP/Getty Images
6/18 The Duchess of Cambridge, 2011
Designed by Sarah Burton
Getty Images
7/18 Princess Charlene of Monaco, 2011
Designed by Armani Privé
Getty Images
8/18 Duchess of Cornwall, 2005
Designed by Robinson Valentine
Getty Images
9/18 Princess Letizia Ortiz, 2004
designed by Manuel Pertegaz
Getty Images
10/18 The Countess of Wessex, 1999
Designed by Samantha Shaw
AFP/Getty Images
11/18 Sarah Ferguson, 1986
Designed by Lindka Cierach
PA Archive/PA Images
12/18 Princess Diana, 1981
Designer by David and Elizabeth Emanuel
PA Archive/PA Images
13/18 Princess Anne, 1973
Designed by Maureen Baker
PA Archive/PA Images
14/18 Princess Margaret,1960
Designed by Norman Hartnell
AFP/Getty Images
15/18 Grace Kelly, 1956
Designed by Helen Rose
AFP/Getty Images
16/18 Queen Elizabeth II, 1947
Designed by Norman Hartnell
PA Archive/PA Images
17/18 Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1923
Designed by Madame Handley Seymour
PA Archive/PA Images
18/18 Princess Alexandra of Denmark,1863
Designed by London Mrs James of Belgravia
PA Archive/PA Images
When Ferragni married Italian rapper Fedez in 2018, she not only had two custom Dior dresses but also had the reception dress embroidered with her and Fedez’s love story and lyrics from the rapper. Bespoke embroidery is set to be a standout trend for 2020, as Lepley predicts: “You will see more and more bespoke embroideries as brides really want a dress that tells their story and is totally unique to them with special personal messages. One Phillipa Lepley bride wanted her dogs paw prints embroidered in, and a few have asked for their new initials to be discreetly hidden in the embroidery.”
The flowers
Personalisation is the key to making any wedding stand out, and it’s now appearing in the floral arrangements used on the big day. Weddings coordinator at florist Lavender Green, Bryony Ross says: “Expect wedding flowers to be informal, relaxed, totally bespoke and unpackaged. Lots of unstructured shapes and lots of natural fragrance.”
Colour-wise, the bolder the better with Ross predicting natural but colourful flowers making strong statements will be seen at weddings everywhere in 2020, along with lots of foliage.
Ross continues: “Brides are definitely becoming more fearless when it comes to colour. 2019 has been about dusty, muted blush and burgundy colours – next year’s Pantone colour of the year is predicted to be bolder, stronger and deeper – think hot pinks and fuchsias.”
On dinner plates, expect peonies to be replaced with dahlias and both Ross and Shephard agree that weddings will be more consciously sustainable in 2020. Shephard says: “More eco-conscious brides and grooms are going green, recycling flowers, hiring wedding day outfits and going plastic-free.”
Shephard adds that 2020 will be the year of ethereal flowers. He says: “Flowers are becoming more ethereal and fairytale-esque (think chandeliers under trees, pergolas with hanging fairy lights) – a feeling of escapism.”
Best wedding florists in London – in pictures
1/17 Click through this gallery for our edit of the best wedding florists in the capital
2/17 Princess & Kō
princessandko.com
Princess & Ko
3/17 Lavender Green
lavendergreen.co.uk
4/17 Jam Jar Flowers
5/17 Petalon
6/17 Wild At Heart
wildatheart.com
7/17 Ruby & Grace
rubyandgrace.co.uk
8/17 Mary Jane Vaughan
maryjanevaughan.co.uk
9/17 Scarlet & Violet
scarlet-violet.com
10/17 Philippa Craddock
scarlet-violet.com
11/17 Hiding in the City
hidinginthecity.com
12/17 Simon Lycett
simonlycett.co.uk
13/17 Miranda Fairhurst
mirandafairhurst.com
14/17 Fjura
fjura.com
15/17 Grace & Thorn
graceandthorn.com
16/17 The Flower Appreciation Society
theflowerappreciationsociety.co.uk
17/17 McQueens
mcqueens.co.uk
1/17 Click through this gallery for our edit of the best wedding florists in the capital
2/17 Princess & Kō
princessandko.com
Princess & Ko
3/17 Lavender Green
lavendergreen.co.uk
4/17 Jam Jar Flowers
5/17 Petalon
6/17 Wild At Heart
wildatheart.com
7/17 Ruby & Grace
rubyandgrace.co.uk
8/17 Mary Jane Vaughan
maryjanevaughan.co.uk
9/17 Scarlet & Violet
scarlet-violet.com
10/17 Philippa Craddock
scarlet-violet.com
11/17 Hiding in the City
hidinginthecity.com
12/17 Simon Lycett
simonlycett.co.uk
13/17 Miranda Fairhurst
mirandafairhurst.com
14/17 Fjura
fjura.com
15/17 Grace & Thorn
graceandthorn.com
16/17 The Flower Appreciation Society
theflowerappreciationsociety.co.uk
17/17 McQueens
mcqueens.co.uk
The décor
While Pantone’s colour of the year for 2020 is yet to be revealed, Shephard predicts it could be ‘neo mint’ – a colour he expects to become ‘more prominent’ at weddings in 2020. For the ‘gram Shephard predicts balloon walls and wall murals will be the backdrop of choice for those eager to make their wedding stand out, and tablescapes are set to be extra decadent.
Shephard says: “Expect more patterns and a mix of textures – particularly velvet and tapestry-like fabrics. There will also be fruit, think lemons down tables – Italian inspiration coming through (in decor and food).”
Evenings dancing under fairy lights and cosying up on sofas under the stars is what guests can expect for receptions in the coming year, as Shephard explains: “We will see loads of indoor furniture being moved and set-up outside. For example full rooms will be moved outside – long dining tables and chairs, Chesterfield sofas and rattan vintage chairs with chunky coffee tables.”
Society Weddings
1/34
Victoria Swarovski and Werner Muerz
The couple married on June 16th, 2017, at the Cathedral of San Giusto in Trieste, Italy.
Getty Images
2/34
Victoria Swarovski and Werner Muerz
Victoria Swarovski’s ceremony gown by Michael Cinco lived up to her name, featuring half a million encrusted crystals and weighing roughly 100 pounds.
Getty Images
3/34
Victoria Swarovski and Werner Muerz
The three-day event began with a red and white-themed welcome party at the luxurious seaside Falisia Resort & Spa in Portopiccolo and ended with a farewell brunch.
Getty Images
4/34
Victoria Swarovski and Werner Muerz
The extravagant wedding had an equally fantastic cake.
Getty Images
5/34
Victoria Swarovski and Werner Muerz
During the welcome party, Victoria donned a red-beaded hi-lo gown.
Getty Images
6/34
Lady Charlotte Wellesley and Alejandro Santo Domingo
Lady Charlotte wore an elegant Emilia Wickstead gown during her ceremony on May 28, 2016 in Illora, Spain.
Daniel Perez/Epa/REX/Shutterstock
7/34
Lady Charlotte Wellesley and Alejandro Santo Domingo
Coupled with her beautiful gown Lady Charlotte wore a stunning power veil
Getty Images
8/34
Lady Charlotte Wellesley and Alejandro Santo Domingo
Crowds gather as guests arrive for the ceremony at the Chuch of the Incarnation in Illora Andalusia Southern Spain.
Daniel Perez/Epa/REX/Shutterstock
9/34
Lady Charlotte Wellesley and Alejandro Santo Domingo
There were plenty of royal guests in attendance, including Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the former King of Spain Juan Carlos I, and celebrities James Blunt and Eva Herzigova.
Daniel Perez/Epa/REX/Shutterstock
10/34
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank
Princess Eugenie wore a white, folded v-neck gown designed by Peter Pilotto with the Greville Emerland Kokoshnik tiara that was borrowed from her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.
Getty Images
11/34
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank
The couple was blessed by Archbishop of York John Sentamu during their wedding ceremony at St. George’s Chapel on October 12, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Getty Images
12/34
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank
The wedding cake created by Sophie Cabot and adorned with both Eugenie and Jack’s initials.
Getty Images
13/34
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank
The newlyweds ride in a horse-drawn carriage during the procession.
James Gourley/REX/Shutterstock
14/34
Alessandra de Osma and Prince Christian of Hanover
Alessandra wore a long-sleeved lace gown designed by Jorge Vazquéz to their ceremony on March 16, 2018 in Lima, Peru.
Getty Images
15/34
Alessandra de Osma and Prince Christian of Hanover
Alessandra wore the diamond-encrusted Hanover Floral Tiara, a family heirloom.
Getty Images
16/34
Alessandra de Osma and Prince Christian of Hanover
Alessandra de Osma and Prince Christian of Hanover next to the bride’s father Felipe de Osma Berckemeyer after the wedding
Getty Images
17/34
Alessandra de Osma and Prince Christian of Hanover
The couple married at the 17th-century Basilica of San Pedro in Peru.
Getty Images
18/34
Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal married this December in Mumbai, India
AFP/Getty Images
19/34
The marriage procession of Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani’s daughter Isha Ambani is seen outside their house in Mumbai on December 12, 2018
AFP/Getty Images
20/34
The couple during the ceremony
AFP/Getty Images
21/34
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas attended Ambani-Piramal wedding celebrations
REUTERS
22/34
The whole city palace lit up during the pre wedding celebrations
REUTERS
23/34
The wedding of Lady Melissa Percy and Thomas van Straubenzee, St Mary’s Church, Alnwick, Northumberland. Percy is the daughter of Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland.
Rex
24/34
Thomas van Straubenzee and Lady Melissa Percy during their wedding at Alnwick Castle on June 22, 2013 in Alnwick, England
Getty Images
25/34
Prince Harry’s ex Chelsy Davy was a bridesmaid for Lady Melissa Percy’s wedding
Getty Images
26/34
Lady Melissa Percy wears the the Foliate Tiara for her nuptials
REX/Shutterstock
27/34
Prince Harry attends the wedding of Melissa Percy and Thomas van Straubenzee
Getty Images
28/34
Lady Melissa Percy with her father Ralph Percy, Duke of Northumberland prepare for the wedding
Carl Sims/Jon Berretta/REX/Shutterstock
29/34
Pippa Middleton attends Lady Melissa’s wedding
Carl Sims/Jon Berretta/REX/Shutterstock
30/34
Selby Drummund marries Steven Dubb at at the Belmond Cap Juluca resort in Anguilla in 2019
derekblasberg/Instagram
31/34
Selby Drummund wore a a white Giambattista Valli gown with a ruffled neckline
lucyxdrummund/instagram
32/34
Selby Drummund and her family
lucyxdrummund/instagram
33/34
Amanda Hearst married Disney director Joachim Rønning at Hearst Castle with a slew of a-listers in attendance
Instagram/@oscardelarenta
34/34
The Hearst Castle estate consumes 127 acres of the central California coastline with the castle planted right at the top of one of the property’s many rolling hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean
Instagram/@micaela
1/34
Victoria Swarovski and Werner Muerz
The couple married on June 16th, 2017, at the Cathedral of San Giusto in Trieste, Italy.
Getty Images
2/34
Victoria Swarovski and Werner Muerz
Victoria Swarovski’s ceremony gown by Michael Cinco lived up to her name, featuring half a million encrusted crystals and weighing roughly 100 pounds.
Getty Images
3/34
Victoria Swarovski and Werner Muerz
The three-day event began with a red and white-themed welcome party at the luxurious seaside Falisia Resort & Spa in Portopiccolo and ended with a farewell brunch.
Getty Images
4/34
Victoria Swarovski and Werner Muerz
The extravagant wedding had an equally fantastic cake.
Getty Images
5/34
Victoria Swarovski and Werner Muerz
During the welcome party, Victoria donned a red-beaded hi-lo gown.
Getty Images
6/34
Lady Charlotte Wellesley and Alejandro Santo Domingo
Lady Charlotte wore an elegant Emilia Wickstead gown during her ceremony on May 28, 2016 in Illora, Spain.
Daniel Perez/Epa/REX/Shutterstock
7/34
Lady Charlotte Wellesley and Alejandro Santo Domingo
Coupled with her beautiful gown Lady Charlotte wore a stunning power veil
Getty Images
8/34
Lady Charlotte Wellesley and Alejandro Santo Domingo
Crowds gather as guests arrive for the ceremony at the Chuch of the Incarnation in Illora Andalusia Southern Spain.
Daniel Perez/Epa/REX/Shutterstock
9/34
Lady Charlotte Wellesley and Alejandro Santo Domingo
There were plenty of royal guests in attendance, including Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the former King of Spain Juan Carlos I, and celebrities James Blunt and Eva Herzigova.
Daniel Perez/Epa/REX/Shutterstock
10/34
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank
Princess Eugenie wore a white, folded v-neck gown designed by Peter Pilotto with the Greville Emerland Kokoshnik tiara that was borrowed from her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.
Getty Images
11/34
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank
The couple was blessed by Archbishop of York John Sentamu during their wedding ceremony at St. George’s Chapel on October 12, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Getty Images
12/34
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank
The wedding cake created by Sophie Cabot and adorned with both Eugenie and Jack’s initials.
Getty Images
13/34
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank
The newlyweds ride in a horse-drawn carriage during the procession.
James Gourley/REX/Shutterstock
14/34
Alessandra de Osma and Prince Christian of Hanover
Alessandra wore a long-sleeved lace gown designed by Jorge Vazquéz to their ceremony on March 16, 2018 in Lima, Peru.
Getty Images
15/34
Alessandra de Osma and Prince Christian of Hanover
Alessandra wore the diamond-encrusted Hanover Floral Tiara, a family heirloom.
Getty Images
16/34
Alessandra de Osma and Prince Christian of Hanover
Alessandra de Osma and Prince Christian of Hanover next to the bride’s father Felipe de Osma Berckemeyer after the wedding
Getty Images
17/34
Alessandra de Osma and Prince Christian of Hanover
The couple married at the 17th-century Basilica of San Pedro in Peru.
Getty Images
18/34
Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal married this December in Mumbai, India
AFP/Getty Images
19/34
The marriage procession of Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani’s daughter Isha Ambani is seen outside their house in Mumbai on December 12, 2018
AFP/Getty Images
20/34
The couple during the ceremony
AFP/Getty Images
21/34
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas attended Ambani-Piramal wedding celebrations
REUTERS
22/34
The whole city palace lit up during the pre wedding celebrations
REUTERS
23/34
The wedding of Lady Melissa Percy and Thomas van Straubenzee, St Mary’s Church, Alnwick, Northumberland. Percy is the daughter of Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland.
Rex
24/34
Thomas van Straubenzee and Lady Melissa Percy during their wedding at Alnwick Castle on June 22, 2013 in Alnwick, England
Getty Images
25/34
Prince Harry’s ex Chelsy Davy was a bridesmaid for Lady Melissa Percy’s wedding
Getty Images
26/34
Lady Melissa Percy wears the the Foliate Tiara for her nuptials
REX/Shutterstock
27/34
Prince Harry attends the wedding of Melissa Percy and Thomas van Straubenzee
Getty Images
28/34
Lady Melissa Percy with her father Ralph Percy, Duke of Northumberland prepare for the wedding
Carl Sims/Jon Berretta/REX/Shutterstock
29/34
Pippa Middleton attends Lady Melissa’s wedding
Carl Sims/Jon Berretta/REX/Shutterstock
30/34
Selby Drummund marries Steven Dubb at at the Belmond Cap Juluca resort in Anguilla in 2019
derekblasberg/Instagram
31/34
Selby Drummund wore a a white Giambattista Valli gown with a ruffled neckline
lucyxdrummund/instagram
32/34
Selby Drummund and her family
lucyxdrummund/instagram
33/34
Amanda Hearst married Disney director Joachim Rønning at Hearst Castle with a slew of a-listers in attendance
Instagram/@oscardelarenta
34/34
The Hearst Castle estate consumes 127 acres of the central California coastline with the castle planted right at the top of one of the property’s many rolling hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean
Instagram/@micaela
The food
Grub will reflect the changing eating and drinking habits of the UK – with a number of ‘free-from’ and non-alcoholic receptions. Shephard says: “In 2020 there will be yet more vegan and free-from menus. There will also be more food stations and less informal eating arrangements. Aperitifs are becoming more and more popular, more commonly being served before the ceremony.
“Couples are not only creating their own signature cocktails, but they are personalising canapés and desserts too. In contrast to that there will also be a rise in non-alcoholic weddings for the health warriors.”
For the couple that loves a tipple, however, gin will be the spirit of choice at weddings during the 2020 season. Shephard says: “There will be a big rise in gin at weddings for 2020. Expect make your own G&T stations and personalised gin cocktail menus.”