The year 2023 quickly came and went and as we close out the first month of 2024, it has us wondering what will be the top wedding trends for this year? What colors will we see the most? Will a first look remain the standard? Will we see more intimate gatherings? Only time will tell. But until the most popular trends reveal themselves, here’s a few that we at Lesner Inn would LOVE to see more of at our waterfront wedding venue in Virginia Beach!

Smaller weddings with a lot of personality.

Don’t get us wrong. We love a big soiree, but there’s something about these smaller gatherings with a lot of focus on the details that we just can’t get out of our heads. The more intimate weddings seem to allow the couple to really go big on their décor, and we are here for it. Allowing the personality of the couple to really shine through on their wedding day with only their closest friends and family is something we won’t soon forget.

Only the bride and groom standing for ceremony.

While we absolutely love having your best gals and guys stand by your side on your big day, a part of us prefers that they sit by you instead. The reality is this day is about you, your fiancé and your love. Being surrounded by those that have supported you and will continue to support you is so important, but when it comes to the photos, it looks best with just the bride, groom and officiant standing during the ceremony. Bridesmaids and groomsmen can be very distracting standing up in front of all the guests. With them taking a seat after they walk down the aisle, this will limit the distractions and allow for guests to really focus on the couple during the ceremony. Plus, with this option, now the bridesmaids and groomsmen get to watch the show too instead of only being able to see the back of someone else’s head!

Giving guests a certain attire or color palette to wear.

Whether it’s a black-tie affair or garden party chic, we absolutely love it when guests are given a fashion assignment by the bride and groom. Depending on the venue and the vibe, what-to-wear can be such a mystery for guests; they don’t want to be underdressed but also don’t want to be overdressed. Providing a guideline of colors or style leaves no room for error. And most guests actually welcome the direction!

No formal cake cutting.

During a wedding day, there are so many moving parts and moments that need to happen. One tradition is the cutting of the cake. Now, we are not saying to throw out this tradition completely, because we love a good cake. But the formal cake cutting with an announcement where everyone is watching can be, well, a bit awkward. We are seeing more and more couples opt to have an informal cake cutting where no announcement is made, and they slip over on their own to cut the cake. It’s a nice moment with just the couple where they aren’t overwhelmed. Once the cake is cut, then the DJ can make an announcement for guests to get cake at their leisure if they want a piece.

EXTRA after parties.

You know what they say, after the party it’s the AFTER PARTY. We are so invested in this trend for 2024. Weddings are such a wonderful experience, but there’s a timeline that you must follow for your event in order to ensure that all those big moments actually happen. Having an afterparty really allows you to let loose after what can be an extremely packed day! Pro tip: The Back Deck makes for the ultimate after party experience!

Fruit incorporated in décor/centerpieces.

Another trend we are wanting to see more of is fruit incorporated in wedding décor and centerpieces. This is such a unique detail! Utilizing different fruits to bring in some color and texture can really transform a space. Whether it’s adding citrus trees for a summer wedding or artichokes to your centerpieces for an early fall event, we can’t wait to see more of this in 2024!

 While these are just a few of the trends we are looking forward to seeing more of this year, we cannot wait to see what creative ideas the year brings!