Insights · Wedding trends
Wedding trends change along with the couples. Rather than a generic list, here is what we actually see at the weddings we photograph, with a real couple for each trend.
Some are new, like next-day sessions abroad or a second dress for the party. Others are very old and coming back, like the customs at home before the church. They all have one thing in common: couples want their wedding to feel like them.
Contents (10)
- Next-day photo shoots abroad
- A second, shorter dress for the party
- Sparkler entrances and first dances under string lights
- Champagne towers
- Tables outdoors at sunset
- A wedding and a baptism on the same day
- Customs that stay: the groom’s shave
- A wedding film alongside the photographs
- More personal weddings, in your own style
- Frequently asked questions about wedding trends
Next-day photo shoots abroad
More and more couples combine their honeymoon with a session just for the two of them, somewhere they have always wanted to see. After their wedding in Patras, Alexis and Mina were photographed in Paris, at the Eiffel Tower by day and by night (a next-day session in Paris). Panagiotis and Anna travelled to Positano on the Amalfi Coast (a next-day session in Positano), and Vasilis and Ifigeneia to Cappadocia (their story).
What it is, when it happens and what to wear are all covered in our guide to the next-day photo shoot.
A second, shorter dress for the party
The gown for the ceremony, and something freer for the dancing. Anna, who married in Ancient Corinth, later changed into a short fringed dress for the party (their story). You can see the shift in the photographs straight away: the day changes pace, and the bride dances without minding her train. If you are considering it, see our guide on how to choose a wedding dress.
Sparkler entrances and first dances under string lights
The couple’s entrance to the reception has become a moment in its own right. At Ktima Vasileiou, Manolis and Vanessa made their entrance between sparklers and shared their first dance under a canopy of string lights (their story). At Angelos and Katerina’s wedding, string lights hung over the dance floor and a dance among sparklers opened the party (their story).
For photography, string lights are a gift: they put warm light on faces and give depth to the background, with no need for a harsh flash.
Champagne towers
A tower of glasses that the couple fill together is a lovely way to open the celebration. At Panagiotis and Anna’s wedding at Ktima Pietri, there was a champagne tower (their story). If you would like one, ask your venue to set it up somewhere with good light and room around it, so it shows in the photos too.
Tables outdoors at sunset
Garden receptions, with tables laid under the open sky, are one of the most popular choices in summer. At Alexis and Mina’s wedding at Agouridis Venue & Catering, the tables were laid outdoors as the sun went down (their story).
If you want that light too, the time of the ceremony matters. Our wedding day timeline guide shows how to plan the day around sunset.
A wedding and a baptism on the same day
Combining a wedding and a baptism is now a common choice in Greece: two ceremonies, one celebration, everyone you love in the same place. Panagiotis and Anna had a wedding and a baptism on the same day, in Ancient Corinth (their story). For how a baptism is organised and photographed, see our baptism photography guide. If you need words for the card, there are ideas in our wedding wishes.
Customs that stay: the groom’s shave
Alongside the new ideas, old customs are coming back strongly. At his wedding in Arta, Vasilis went through the traditional shaving of the groom, and as the couple came out after the ceremony they were showered with rice (their story). It is one of the most fun moments of the day, and one of the most natural sets of getting-ready photos.
For what the symbols of the ceremony mean, from the crowns to the sugared almonds, read our piece on the meaning of marriage.
A wedding film alongside the photographs
More couples want a film of their day as well as photographs: the voices, the music and the movement a still image can’t hold. The film is delivered in about six months, the photographs in 6–8 weeks. You will find what a film includes in our guide to the wedding film, and examples on our films page.
More personal weddings, in your own style
The most lasting trend of all: couples want their wedding to tell their own story. Some prefer fewer guests and a more relaxed, intimate day. Others choose a distinctive setting, like an old monastery or a country estate, or dress in a more personal way. You don’t have to follow every trend. Keep the ones that suit you, and for ideas on the setting, see our guide to wedding decoration.
The best trend is the one that feels like you. Everything else is just ideas to choose from.
Frequently asked questions about wedding trends
What are the latest trends in modern weddings?
At the weddings we photograph, we see next-day sessions abroad, a second dress for the party, sparkler entrances, first dances under string lights, champagne towers, sunset receptions and wedding films.
Are traditional customs still popular?
Yes. Customs such as the groom’s shave and rice as the couple leave the church are very much alive, alongside the new ideas.
What is a next-day photo shoot?
A session just for the couple after the wedding, usually in the gown and the suit again. We suggest about a week after the wedding.
When is the wedding film delivered?
The film is delivered in about six months, and the photographs in 6–8 weeks.
Do we have to follow the trends?
Not at all. Keep the ones that suit you. A wedding that feels like you never dates.
Planning your wedding?
Tell us your date and what you have in mind, from getting ready to the party and a next-day session. We will plan it together.
Photographs: Dimitris Stergiou and the studio team