At the beginning of each new wedding season, the industry naturally pauses to reflect. Vendors, creatives, and professionals look back at what has just unfolded and forward toward what is quietly taking shape, noting subtle shifts in tradition, emerging preferences, and evolving expectations. Trend forecasting is less about predicting what everyone will do and more about understanding how couples are choosing to celebrate and tell their stories.
This process allows industry professionals to remain ahead of the curve, not to dictate direction, but to offer thoughtful guidance rooted in experience, observation, and care. When done well, it leads to more informed design, more meaningful recommendations, and celebrations that feel both timely and deeply personal.
Over the past several wedding seasons, we’ve seen clear moments of evolution. In recent years, couples began moving away from rigid traditions in favor of weddings that felt more reflective of who they are. Last season, in particular, we saw a confident embrace of color, layered textures, playful pattern-mixing, and celebrations designed with personality at the forefront. Champagne towers made their return, fashion became more expressive, and weddings felt less like formal performances and more like intentional gatherings.
Why Trend Awareness Matters
For those of us working within the wedding industry, this awareness informs how we guide couples, how we design spaces, and how we execute each event. Staying attuned to subtle shifts allows us to serve with intention, offering recommendations that feel thoughtful rather than reactive. Couples deserve professionals who understand not only what is popular, but why certain elements resonate and how to translate inspiration into something meaningful and enduring. For couples, seeing what’s possible opens the door to possibilities that resonate with their vision and love story.
With that perspective in mind, we began looking ahead to what the 2026 wedding season may hold.
To do so, we sat down with Shelby Vance, lead planner and designer of Foundations Wedding Planning & Design, our in-house planning service for couples marrying at Westwood and The Sixpence Wedding Venue and Event Space. Actively planning weddings across both venues, Shelby has a consistent finger on the pulse on what couples are asking for, how priorities are shifting, and which design choices feel like lasting evolutions rather than fleeting moments.
What’s Emerging for 2026
Metal Moments
After several seasons dominated by gold, from chargers to flatware to candleholders, we’re seeing a subtle return to silver. It’s a quiet shift, but one that noticeably softens palettes and introduces a more classic, refined tone.
Beyond tablescapes, silver is also appearing in small, thoughtful details: brooch-style boutonnieres, bouquet pins, and heirloom-inspired accents that feel elegant without being overstated.
A Linen Renaissance
Fabric is taking center stage. Following insights from New York Bridal Fashion Week, textures are becoming richer and more expressive. Lace, draping, fringe, and layered textiles are showing up throughout the wedding day. Shelby Vance notes that fabric is being used far beyond traditional linens: ceremony backdrops, signage, menus, and subtle styling moments that add depth and softness. These tactile elements bring warmth and movement, allowing spaces to feel more immersive and intentional.
Color + Customization
Despite Pantone naming Cloud Dancer (a soft, billowy white) as the Color of the Year for 2026, we anticipate color continuing to flourish. Couples are increasingly choosing palettes that feel personal rather than prescriptive, blending tones, experimenting with contrast, and stepping outside traditional schemes. Customization remains key, with color appearing in fashion, florals, stationery, cocktails, and décor in ways that feel expressive and story-driven.
What’s Staying from 2025
Mismatched Textures and Color
One trend with clear staying power is the thoughtful mixing of textures and hues. From bridesmaid attire to tablescapes and floral design, couples are layering elements to create depth and visual interest. Rather than uniformity, the focus is on cohesion, a curated mix that feels intentional, yet creative and alive. This approach allows couples to tell their story through detail, adding dimension across every touchpoint.
Looking Ahead
As we move into the 2026 wedding season, the throughline remains clear: weddings are becoming more personal, more expressive, and more reflective of the people at the center of them. Trends serve as inspiration, not instruction, helping couples articulate how they want their day to feel.
To our 2026 couples, we cannot wait to see what you create. It’s an honor to witness and support celebrations that are thoughtfully designed, deeply personal, and uniquely yours. We look forward to a season of meaningful gatherings at Westwood, and to continuing to learn, evolve, and be inspired alongside you.
We save and share inspiration on our other social platforms:
Instagram: @westwoodvenue
Pinterest: @westwoodvenue
TikTok: @westwoodvenue
Facebook: @westwoodvoweryandestate
SAVE THE DATE: Westwood’s Grand Opening Party is on Saturday, April 25th, with tickets available on February 11th. Keep an eye out on our socials + newsletter to stay in the loop. It’s a debut you won’t want to miss.
