Fashion

80s Revival

For 2023, the 80s are back! At the Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week in 2022, the catwalks were full of the classic 80s-style puff-sleeve wedding dresses. In fact, the search volume for the term ‘puff sleeve wedding dresses’ has increased by 39% this year.

Bridal suits

Bridal suits are a great way to break away from tradition and bring a sense of your own style to the day. If you’re not really into wearing dresses, then why not mix it up and wear a suit? Or, if you fancy getting changed halfway through your day then a suit could be a great evening outfit! The search term ‘wedding suits for women’ has increased by 125% this year, with nearly 10,000 monthly searches for the term.

Coloured wedding dresses

Wedding trends are now leaning towards more personalised styles for wedding dresses. Whilst white and off-white remain the most popular colours, reds, greens, pinks and many other colours are starting to increase in popularity.

The search volume for ‘pearl wedding dresses’ has increased over the past year. The pearlescent colour can be anywhere on a bride’s outfit from embellishments to veils, shoes and jewellery. Pearls are seen as elegant and timeless pieces that elevate any outfit.

Mismatched bridal parties

We’re beginning to see a shift in couples moving away from the traditional uniformity of matching bridesmaids’ outfits. With bridesmaids that have different body types and skin tones, mismatched dresses allow you to find a dress that suits everyone, helping them to feel confident and comfortable whilst still fitting in with your theme.

Sustainability

In every industry, there is an increasing push towards more sustainable practices, and the wedding industry is no exception. Couples are thinking about the environmental impact of their wedding day and trying to reduce it as much as possible. Here are some of the ways you can incorporate sustainability into your day.

Wedding favours

Wedding favours can sometimes be seen as a big contribution to waste. They’re often something small and gimmicky, rather than something guests will actually use. In 2023, we expect to see more couples moving towards eco-friendly favours such as seeds, candles, soaps or even edible gifts.

Wedding flowers

Couples are beginning to question where their wedding flowers come from and their carbon footprint. Couples are tending to prioritise sourcing flowers that are in season at the time. Florists are now looking into new ways to cut down waste, moving away from floral foam and working with locally grown flowers.

Dried and preserved bouquets are seeing a sharp rise in popularity, particularly for winter weddings. This means that brides can keep their flowers for longer and even use them again in their own home after the wedding day.

Stationary

In 2023, we’re predicting that we’ll see a rise in more sustainable stationary options. We’re seeing couples cut down on how much paper they’re using, with some opting to go paper-less entirely, replacing them with apps.

With couples who would prefer to keep their weddings technology-free, we’re seeing an increase in using recycled paper or seed paper which can be planted after the wedding.

Colour

No more neutrals

Over the last few years, neutrals have been a big trend in the wedding world. However, as couples embrace seasonal flowers, naturally they tend to adapt their colour choices to complement the floristry. We think that summer 2023 weddings will be full of brightly coloured flowers and colour schemes, whilst winter weddings will be more foliage-heavy with jewel-toned flowers.

For wedding ideas throughout every season take a look at our gallery for some of our best sources of inspiration from real life weddings.

Keep your nearest and dearest close

Local weddings

Destination weddings were really popular back in 2019, but throughout the lockdown years, there were a lot of cancellations. This massively impacted travelling for weddings and whilst now restrictions have lifted, we’re noticing that couples are preferring to stay closer to home for 2023 and beyond.

Another reason couples are opting for local weddings is because of the focus on sustainability. Destination weddings are worse for the environment and are expensive for both the couple and their guests. Now that pandemic restrictions have relaxed across the UK, couples are really enjoying having all of their friends and family together in one place.

Guests stay overnight

In 2023, we’re predicting that wedding couples are going want to continue their celebrations with their closest friends and family by inviting them to stay over at their wedding venue. That way, they can reminisce about the day’s events over breakfast together the next morning.

The good news is, here at Old Palace Chester, we have 23 ensuite bedrooms available for your guests to enjoy so there’s no need for you to say goodbye if you don’t want to. And whilst they enjoy a comfortable night sleep, you’ll be staying in the most enchanting and luxurious honeymoon suite, The Palace Suite.

Find out more about our accommodation here.

Unique entertainment

As couples move away from the traditional, we’re starting to see them focus on finding unique and interactive entertainment for their guests. We’ve seen couples hire retro game machines, palm readers, fire performances, artists and so much more.

Food and drink

Delicious food is more important than ever

In 2023, we’re predicting that food will be one of the most important aspects of your celebration. Millennial couples are extremely passionate about food, and love eating out. Couples are spending up to 20% more on food, despite actually lowering their guest numbers. This is because couples are choosing more luxurious food packages for their guests to enjoy.

Here at Old Palace Chester, we’re also passionate about food! We know that the food at your wedding is one of the most important aspects of your whole day. Your friends and family will gather together around a table, chatting and sharing stories and you want to create an unforgettable experience for them. Our dedicated team of chefs will work together with you to create a menu with the best seasonal ingredients that perfectly complement your tastes and desires.

Meal entertainment

A growing trend for 2023 is wedding couples wanting their guests to be entertained whilst they eat. Some couples want their guests to see the food being prepared, or use a firepit to create cosy, warm vibes. We’ve even seen singing waiters serving the food to your guests!

For some added excitement for your guests, why not add a surprise fourth course? Add this unexpected extra to your day which is sure to delight your guests. You can work with our team to pick your surprise element, we have lots of choices from lollipops to cheese tasters. Find out more here.

Cocktail hour

As couples add more creative spins to their wedding days, cocktail hours have risen in popularity. Some couples opt for a cocktail of choice each, with elements of their personality sprinkled in. You can serve the cocktails before the wedding breakfast whilst you escape off for some photographs, or you could serve them at the start of the evening reception as your evening guests arrive.

If you did want to serve cocktails, we’ve got lots of options for you. Our bar staff will work with you to create the cocktail menu of your dreams that will help get your guests in the mood for dancing. We can also set up a gin or rum station if you’d prefer, the choice is entirely up to you.

Photography

Keep it candid

Rather than posed group shots, we’re seeing couples move towards more documentary-style photography. Couples are asking their photographers to focus on candid, more natural shots to capture realistic, emotional memories throughout the day. If you’re keen for this style of photography, make sure you ask to see photographers’ portfolios and check it’s in-keeping with your style. We’ve got a list of recommended suppliers for you to have a look through here.

First look photos

In America, there’s always been a trend to create a ‘first look’ photo shoot for when the couple see each other in their wedding outfits for the first time. Now this trend is becoming more and more popular in the UK, and we think it’ll increase throughout 2022. This usually means making sure your photographer has a second shooter with them to capture both people.

Shaking off gender rules

Gender-less wedding parties

Another trend we’re predicting for 2023 is the rise of gender-less wedding parties. Traditionally, in straight bride and groom couples, the bride would have bridesmaids and the groom would have groomsmen. With the rise of same-sex weddings, we’re seeing people realising that they don’t need to stick to these rigid rules, whether they’re same-sex couples or mixed.

Couples want their closest friends and family to be part of their wedding party, no matter their gender. Searches for ‘male bridesmaid’ has increased by 23% and there’s been an increase in the usage of terms such as ‘man of honour’, ‘bridesmate’, ‘wedding squad’ and ‘I do crew’.

Pre-wedding celebrations

Modern couples are steering away from single-sex pre-wedding celebrations. Searches for ‘sten do’ have risen by 100% as people want to celebrate with their entire friend group, no matter their gender. We’re also seeing couples combining their pre-wedding celebrations, particularly when both of the couple have the same close group of friends.

We’re here to help

If you’ve booked your wedding with us in 2023 and you want to incorporate some of these trends into your day, we’re here to help! Have a chat with your dedicated wedding coordinator about the different options you have to make your day perfectly bespoke to you.

If you’re still hoping to secure your 2023 date, don’t worry, there’s still time! Check our availability calendar to see what dates we have left.