The 2020 Wedding Trends You Need to Make Your Big Day Next-Level

Local wedding professionals share what they see coming up for nuptials in 2020.

“People are looking for natural settings. Many of my clients are from the city and want to share the beauty of the Hudson Valley with their friends and family. It is special!”

—Gina Maloney, Gina Maloney Events, Woodstock


food Photo by Femina Photo + Design

“Brides and grooms want personality from their relationship to shine through as much as possible on their special day. For instance, a recent wedding featured a paella station, made in the kettle on the spot, to bring out the bride’s culture. She is of Spanish decent, and it was extremely important for them to share her heritage with their guests.”

— Kelli Teglas, Kelli Teglas Events, White Plains


cake photo by maria delgado gambini

“I have started noticing a shift in cakes from fondant to all buttercream in the recent years. My favorite trend has been the painted buttercream flower cakes and buttercream cakes with fresh garden flowers adorning the front the cake — think Victorian still-life paintings. I think both trends are a nice way to keep the styles modern, sophisticated and quite organic.”

—Maria Delgado Gambini Chantilly Patisserie, Bronxville

“We’re seeing a lot of simple text invites, enhanced with foil printing, paired with bold florals. Then we’re seeing vellum used in every possible way to soften the invite suite: bellybands, jackets, invite overlay.”

—Amy Eddy and Stephanie McHoul, Graphic Nature, Fishkill

“So many of our clients are having gorgeous, custom crests made for their weddings. While guests may note their beauty on the invite, I love to blow them up for the dance floor, signage, as bar crests — everywhere really. 

This way everyone can see how thoughtful they are and really have a chance to examine and enjoy them. They also help to tie your wedding theme together so seamlessly — without any extra work!”

—Claudia Hanlin The Wedding Library, New York

“We are full-on obsessed with envelope liners. Whether a custom-colored stripe, an illustration of the venue, or an inventive expression of how the couple fell in love, we find a way to express it in the envelope liner.”

—Shari Lebowitz, Bespoke Designs, Westport

“I used to see couples simply trying to out-do the weddings they have attended in the past, but now they are simply trying to make them more sentimental and personal to themselves, their relationship, and their families, which is a refreshing change to witness and be a part of.”

—Cathy Ballone, Cathy’s Elegant Events LLC, Catskill

- Advertisement -


courtesy of Laura Damiano Designs

“Custom invitations continue to trend with creative elements such as acrylic, wax, vellum and foil. Adding your personal and unique twists are what make them next-level.”

—Laura Damiano, Laura Damiano Designs, Briarcliff Manor


photo by Tory Williams Photography

“I find clients are looking for an experience. It could be dining under the stars with candlelight only, having a teepee to hang out in, having a culinary experience — such as open-fire cooking — or a weekend of fun activities around the wedding.”

—Gina Maloney, Gina Maloney Events, Woodstock


photo by the rosery flower shop

“What I am being asked for more and more is to create a floral installation that is really a statement piece for the event that also can serve as an area for guests to take photos in front of, foregoing the other trend of photo booths. 

We have been asked to add creeping vines to barn doors, which gives a romantic garden vibe. These pieces are very eco-friendly, which is a huge concern for lot of brides. I abandon floral foam, which is a plastic and not good for the environment, and use other items that can be either reused after or composted.”

—Erin Goldman, The Rosery Flower Shop, Hudson


Photo by BRETT MATTHEWS PHOTOGRAPHY

“Branding has become popular. Here, a dance floor is wrapped in white with a monogram.”

—Melisa Imberman, The Event Of A Lifetime Inc., Chappaqua

“A lot of brides are requesting ‘color spackle’ techniques that look like thick brushstrokes you’d find on an oil painting. We’ve created both realistic oil-like renderings of scenery and florals and abstract expressions with thick swaths of random-applied color strokes — which can look stunning on a simple, elegant white cake!”

—Jay Muse, Lulu Cake Boutique, Scarsdale


photo by karen hill photography

“I love creating moments at weddings. A Champagne tower is not only visually spectacular — it’s participatory, fun, and glamorous. By using Champagne coupes, we create a glam, Gatsby vibe that puts everyone in the mood for a party.”

—Claudia Hanlin, The Wedding Library, New York

- Partner Content -


Photo by Viridescent Floral Design

“The newest trend we’ve been drawn to in the floral design industry is using a limited amount of green, focusing on unique shades of foliage as a base. While we still love the classic shades of green, we imagine the 2020 wedding will be flower-forward in muted, dusty color palettes with lots of texture.”

—Kate Amato, Viridescent Floral Design, Beacon


photo by Tory Williams Photography

“Everyone is striving for an Instagramable moment. There is the rose petal cannon after the ‘I do’ and sparkler send-off, and another is to get the bridal party matching outfits — usually PJs — to get ready in. Just about every wedding of late does that and posts a photo.”

—Melisa Imberman, The Event Of A Lifetime Inc., Chappaqua


photo by Ilana Natasha Bar-av

“More than ever, a major wedding trend is the element of surprise! I’m not talking about your typical groom cake, which I love, but big surprises! I recently had one of my grooms surprise his bride with two special guests — alpacas! 

The newlyweds are passionate animal lovers and made a generous donation on behalf of their guests to several animal welfare causes, including adopting an elephant from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. A wedding planner comes in very handy in these instances to ensure all goes smoothly. His bride was happily surprised, guests loved it, and it made for some fun and unique photos!”

—Dana Miele, Just Call Dana, New Rochelle

“The trend that’s moving with the most traction is cannabis at weddings — or ‘weed-ings’ — as we like to call them. We have seen cannabis and marijuana leaves used in bouquets and boutonnieres, in centerpieces, as favors for guests to take home, and also as a ‘cannabis bar’ at the reception.”

—Melissa Fife, Events by Missy & Company, West Harrison


photo by jen huang

“Let’s face it: There are only so many ways to style a food station. With gorgeous farm-to-table and artisanal charcuterie, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and breads so plentiful and available, there is nothing that expresses abundance as well as a laden farm table.

It’s another way to have a big bang with a station you might be considering anyway.  The concentration, artful display, and abundance make this a homerun.”

—Claudia Hanlin, The Wedding Library, New York


photo by Femina Photo + Design

“Backyard weddings are another huge trend. A lot of my couples are doing intimate backyard weddings.  Whether it be at their home or a friend or family member’s home, they are saving on the venue fee, bringing in amazing décor, and sprucing up these intimate special places to exchange their vows.”

—Kelli Teglas Kelli Teglas Events, White Plains

“One very strong trend is dropping the cummerbund. Guys like the super-trim and sleek look. Since they think the cummerbund adds bulk, they are trying to avoid the horizontal line at the waist.

The standard tuxedo is still black with black satin or grosgrain lapels, but midnight blue tuxedoes are newly very popular. They are made one of two ways: either with matching blue lapels or, less often, with contrasting black lapels. [And] instead of a plain, white formal pleated shirt, a few raised printed pattern designs have been introduced.

While they make sense for creative black-tie and festive attire dressing, they do seem hard to swallow in a traditional wedding setting.”

—Lois Fenton, columnist, author, men’s personal shopper

- Advertisement -


photo by Brett Matthews Photography

“Food trucks are trending; lots of brides and grooms are treating their guests to an exit treat, like this doughnut truck.”

—Melisa Imberman, The Event Of A Lifetime Inc., Chappaqua

“The wedding dress has driven our industry to the next cycle of trends. The gown has changed from destination, boho, walk-in-the-sand weddings to lavish trains, cascading bouquets, and grand church affairs. Millennials are marrying Old-World elements with refreshing color palettes and dramatic floral installations.”

—Brenda LaManna, Damselfly Designs, White Plains

“Neutral color palettes have been rampant in recent years, as minimalism and greenery trends took over the bridal industry. Those gorgeous varieties of eucalyptus that so many brides love play so well with soft tones like ivory, blush, champagne, and even metallics. But now I am seeing a steady increase in women making the bold decision of bringing color back into the picture.

One of my favorite things about helping brides plan their weddings is being able to encourage women to bend or break some of the rules, instead of being so bogged down by old-school traditions. It’s 2020 — Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette from 1945 isn’t cutting it anymore for today’s women. So why not add a little color?”

—Kelley M. Ward, À La Carte Event Services & Consulting, LLC, Monroe


photo by Pear Photography

“Nude and pastel wedding flowers are what’s trending with many of our brides. Blush, pale pink, and off-white flowers are replacing classic white florals. [Another trend is] the addition of fragrant garden roses, stock, and anemones, especially the white with the black center.

The use of baby’s breath is also making a comeback, along with cascading bridal and bridesmaid bouquets.”

—Joseph R. Pugni, Joseph Richard Florals, Armonk 


photo by ira lippke

“Flowers and greens as a chandelier or as an overhead piece creates an immersive experience. Guests feel like they are in the décor and are visually delighted everywhere they look! They are also very impactful as they are raised from the tables and everyone can see them — they are truly at eye level.”

—Claudia Hanlin, The Wedding Library, New York

“We’re seeing a lovely trend toward more natural themes in both wedding décor and invitations. Gone are big, flowery and formal, instead replaced by a more thoughtful aesthetic, with plenty of leafy foliage, natural accents, and a clean, casually elegant motif. Keeping it simple, fresh, and beautiful, couples are creating a beautiful sincerity in their celebration with a more natural approach.”

—Kat Parrella Merrily Paper Boutique, Sugar Loaf

“This season more than ever we’re seeing modern takes on classic silhouettes, such as the wraparound pleated ball gown skirt with a front slit, which gives brides a tiny waist and a peekaboo shoe — and is easier to walk down the aisle in.

We’re also seeing printed fabrics like floral silk jacquards and painted skirts, as well as luxurious textured materials that give brides a rich, regal feel for their wedding days.”

—Jessica Ulrich, Jessica Haley Bridal, Rye


photo by Jason Wyche

“We are seeing a lot of bold, vivid color on trend. Brides aren’t shying away from color as much as they used to and aren’t afraid to add pops of color to their cakes, either, through florals, patterns, ribbons, and even hand-painted expressions of color.”

—Jay Muse, Lulu Cake Boutique, Scarsdale

“There are many beautiful ways to add color to your wedding. The more obvious options are through your flowers. If bright florals aren’t your taste, an easy way to enhance a neutral bouquet is wrapping the stems of your bouquets with a romantic, brushed velvet ribbon in an accent color.

[For adding color to your florals,] some impactful, yet still beautiful, options I’d suggest exploring are: blue thistle, pink veronica, purple freesia, or yellow dahlias. Adding just one or two different colored and unique flowers to your overall floral design can make the most incredible visual impact.”

—Kelley M. Ward, À La Carte Event Services & Consulting, LLC, Monroe

Our Digital Partners

Learn how to become a digital partner ...

Our Best of Hudson Valley ballot is open through March 31!

Unveiled: A Boutique Bridal Brunch is February 25!

Holiday flash sale ... subscribe and save 50%

Limited time offer. New subscribers only.