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Updated Oct 14, 2024The Top Gen Z Wedding Trends Every Generation Should See
The youngsters are making their mark on 2026.
Photos: Rachel Fosbenner Photo,,Apollo Fotografie,Ruét Photo,Michelle Lange Photography, Jill DeVries Photography, Carlie Statsky,Design: Natalie Romine
Young couples are modernizing traditions without hesitation, and rewriting the rules for dating and proposals is a part of the journey. That means 2026 Gen Z wedding trends are ushering in a new era of crazes, like small guest lists, delayed engagement posts and unconventional vendors. Want to know more about how this generation is changing the wedding industry? Then check out what Gen Z weddings will look like next year, according to expert predictions. Regardless of what generation you claim, I bet you'll find at least one new-age trend you'll want to incorporate into your future affair.
Psst: Don't forget to see what other 2026 wedding trends should be on your radar. Once you figure out the trends you like, use The Knot Vendor Marketplace to book your vendors so they can help you actualize the ideas below.
2026 Gen Z Wedding Trends
Before you start looking at the following trends, Ashley Powell, a talent manager for SEA MGMNT, lead consultant at Frost & Co. and pioneer in the wedding and social media industry, wants you to understand the key component in each. "Gen Z weddings are redefining what it means to celebrate love. In a world that's often divided, their weddings will be moments of unification, cultural expression and personal storytelling. They'll remind us that love isn't only personal but also communal and cultural," she says.
As a proud Gen Z-er, you can trust that the list I've compiled is preapproved and worth considering for your celebration. So keep reading to see what cool ideas are on the horizon. Also, ensure you're logged into your account on The Knot, so you can add the Gen Z wedding trends of 2026 to Your Favorites. Simply save this article (along with all the pictures) by clicking the heart icon.
- Unique Reception Activities
- Vintage Wedding Looks
- Wedding Content Creators
- Delayed Engagement Posts
- "Real Engaged" Influencers
- Wedding Home Movies
- Interactive Guest Wedding Videos
- Minimal or No Wedding Party Members
- Small Guest Lists
- Intimate Ceremonies Followed by Large Parties
- Unconventional Wedding Itinerary
- Opting Out of or Remixing Wedding Traditions
- Meaningful Wedding Venues
- Out-of-the-Box Wedding Vendors
- Creative Dress Codes
- Dramatic Wedding Drapery
1. Unique Reception Activities
Photos: Sposto Photography,
,LA76 Photography
,Design: Natalie Romine
According to The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study, 41% of Gen Z couples hired or provided guest entertainment for the ceremony or reception. That fact isn't much of a surprise, but the kind of entertainment at the reception is changing. Amy Lynn, owner of Poppy + Lynn and on the cusp of being a part of Gen Z, states that she's starting to see a lot of untraditional activities at the reception. "Recently, I had a couple set up a Mario Kart corner for their friends and family, and it was packed. I think we will see a rise in more fun and unique ways to give guests personalized experiences—whether that's through tattoo artists, tarot readers, games or anything that's special to the couple's interests and hobbies," she says.
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2. Vintage Wedding Looks
Photos: Anya Kernes Photography,
,Maura Jane Photography
,Design: Natalie Romine
"Everything old is new again. We're seeing a resurgence of vintage-inspired designs, like drop-waist gowns and parasols. These are trends that were popular in the '80s and '90s, and they're making a comeback," says Kendra Coons, the owner and creative director of Confetti and Co. who leads a primarily Gen Z team.
The love for all things vintage doesn't stop at the fashion and accessories. Lauren Ladouceur, a fellow Zoomer and the founder of Plan With Laur, says that the dated look is present in videos and wedding photography trends too. "Gen Z is loving all the little moments and capturing it in different mediums. I recently had a couple ask for the full day to be captured and edited on camcorder," she says. Wondering what the video looked like? Here's the final result.
3. Wedding Content Creators
Mary Salmastyan, a Gen Z-er and lead planner and co-owner of WYK Events, explains why our generation supports wedding content creators. "Gen Z is all about feelings and capturing the real moments. Couples are turning to wedding-day content creators or social-first storytellers who document behind-the-scenes, organic and emotional moments. It's about preserving the vibe, not just the posed shots," she says.
Nicole Arena, the founder of Nicole Arena Parties who's always on TikTok, isn't part of Generation Z, but says she loves seeing wedding content creators at weddings. "They have a totally different POV than photographers and videographers, and they allow a couple to have access to content fairly quickly post-wedding," she adds. Ladouceur is a wedding content creator and keeps it real about this topic. "Content creators continue to grow and transform the wedding industry. Couples want fast, vertical video-storytelling that complements photo and video vendors. This means same-day recaps to roaming interviews and confessional moments that capture their personality and all of the fun of their celebration," she says.
4. Delayed Engagement Posts
If you have any Gen Z couples in your life, you may have noticed this group is taking their time publicly announcing their engagement. What does this mean? To-be-weds are basking in the engagement bliss before hopping onto social media to share the news. You can also transition this mindset to your wedding too. So instead of announcing your wedding on social media the week of, enjoy celebrating with the loved ones present at the affair first.
5. "Real Engaged" Influencers
From showing TikTok wedding hacks to giving a detailed explanation of how they organized their wedding planner book, Powell says you'll see more engaged influencers authentically connecting with their followers through their wedding planning process. "They're sharing genuine moments, like planning details and dress shopping, allowing the audience to feel like part of the process and further strengthening their digital footprint and personal brand," she says. Powell believes Gen Z couples will "approach their weddings as chapters in their story, capturing meaningful, in-the-moment content that doesn't just document, but brings their followers along on the journey."
As an extension of this, Powell says we'll see the wedding industry become an influencer. "While influencer to-be-weds will still exist, vendors and creatives will increasingly leverage their own followings for brand collaborations and trendsetting," she says.
6. Wedding Home Movies
Remember the times when families recorded their precious memories on tape so they could rewatch them together later? Well, according to Ladouceur, this sentimental moment is going to start showing up at ceremonies and receptions. "I just shot a celebration where, prior to the wedding, the couple had filmed and edited a Super 8mm home movie. They then projected it during their reception. For them, it was a way to bring 'home' with them to their destination wedding. We will continue to see more of this, as video is evocative and nostalgia is at the forefront of so many design decisions," she says. Check out an example of what Ladouceur is talking about from a recent wedding she captured.
7. Interactive Guest Wedding Videos
Another Gen Z wedding trend that you've probably seen are wedding videos where guests are the stars of the show. Ladouceur breaks down what these viral recordings look like. "Couples aren't just hiring a wedding content creator for their social media. They're planning interactive moments like confessional booths or roaming-reporter interviews—which is a personal favorite of mine to shoot—that capture their guests' personality in real time. It's less about a single hero video and more about creating a story arc across the weekend that feels cinematic and candid," she says. If you want to copy this idea, get inspiration from this roaming-reporter interview that Ladouceur did recently.
8. Minimal or No Wedding Party Members
As tariffs impact the wedding industry, the increase in prices will result in a higher average wedding cost. All of this connects to why Gen Z wedding spending aims to cut expenses wherever possible. One way Gen Z couples and their loved ones are saving money is by having minimal or no wedding party members. Why's that? Well, because it's tradition for the to-be-weds to pay for things like wedding-day hair and makeup or accommodations, while for the wedding party they're expected to pay for the bach party, wedding-day attire and more. By making the wedding party small or nonexistent, the to-be-weds can take the financial burden off of their loved ones by helping pay for wedding party expenses or they can eliminate monetary responsibility for themselves altogether. But don't just take our word for it. Coons says she has noticed this more as a wedding planner. "I've seen a significant reduction in wedding parties this year and expect that trend to continue into 2026. Many of my couples have opted to have no wedding party, and in some cases, they have their grandparents sign as their witnesses. Also, scraping the wedding party is such a good move. Less stress, fewer expenses and fewer people to corral throughout the day. You can still have your besties join you for getting ready without the commitment (or drama) of a formal wedding party," she says.
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Lynn informs me that there are other factors that contribute to couples switching things up. "I've been seeing this a lot with my couples for a few reasons. One, it draws your focus to the couple more and really makes it about them. Two, your friends probably don't love standing for 30 minutes and being on display for everyone. Three, your wedding party actually gets to watch your ceremony." So if you're considering keeping your wedding party small or avoiding the tradition all together, don't feel like an outcast. Do what makes you happy.
9. Small Guest Lists
Wondering how Gen Z is shaking up millennial wedding conventions? Say hello to small guest lists. "With intention in mind, Gen Z weddings are leaning more and more towards semi or even micro-weddings. Smaller guest lists allow for deeper connections, curated details and a more meaningful celebration," Salmastyan says.
Lynn talks more about how a tiny wedding can be a great choice. "It creates a more intimate feel and allows you to go wild with customization since you're creating on a smaller scale. There are so many personal touches that are more realistic to accomplish at a 50-person event than at a 200-person event. It's also more budget conscious and gives you more options while searching for venues," she says. Lisa Gaskarth, the founder of Lisa Gaskarth Design, says she likes that Gen Z couples are paring down their guest list. "I think we'll continue to see an influx of intimate, luxury destination weddings. I'm all for bucking tradition and spending money on the wedding experience as opposed to the traditional cookie-cutter affair," she adds.
10. Intimate Ceremonies Followed by Large Parties
Related to the Gen Z wedding trend above, experts say you'll soon notice (if you haven't already) small ceremonies with only the couple and maybe a few loved ones, followed by a big bash. "I've already started seeing this in small doses, but I think this generation values intimacy. More couples will opt to keep the ceremony either fully private or just reserved for immediate family and friends and then have a celebration later with their extended circles," Lynn says.
Coons says this trend can be beneficial in several ways. "Consider getting officially married at the city hall, just the two of you and maybe your photographer, before your actual wedding. It gets the legal stuff out of the way and allows for more flexibility during the ceremony. Do you want your brother to officiate? No problem! You're already legally married, so you can have anyone run the ceremony. Plus, it makes your ceremony shorter so you can get to cocktail hour sooner," she explains.
11. Unconventional Wedding Itinerary
Arena believes unique wedding flows are on the horizon for 2026 Gen Z weddings. "I think people want to change the order of weddings and don't always want the traditional format. For example, a couple can have a cocktail hour before the ceremony or have extended dancing before guests are seated," she says. Want to steal this trend idea, but you don't know what a wedding itinerary is "supposed" to look like? Look at this customizable wedding timeline template to learn what a typical schedule looks like and determine what aspects you want to keep or get rid of.
12. Opting Out of or Remixing Wedding Traditions
"More couples are picking and choosing which traditions resonate with them and which don't. They're rewriting vows, blending cultural rituals and opting out of things like bouquet toss if they don't feel authentic. It's less about doing all the 'standard' parts and more about creating meaningful, intentional moments," Salmastyan says. For example, some say it's bad luck to see your spouse before your ceremony, but Gen Z couples are ignoring that superstition and getting ready with their partner instead.
Lynn has also seen couples forego the wedding cake smash and had clients that tossed t-shirts instead of a bouquet during the reception. In addition to these changes, Lynn wants couples to consider doing something different for their ceremony. "I would love to see more couples opt for nontraditional ceremony setups or traditions. One of my couples recently stood side by side across from their officiant rather than having the officiant in the middle of them. It was such a small but beautiful change that made the ceremony feel more intimate," she says.
13. Meaningful Wedding Venues
"This is already happening, but I have more and more clients who want to get married at restaurants and spots with meaning. They don't need to have the typical wedding layout—they just want a place they love," Arena says. Was your and your partner's first date at a local movie theater? Then have your reception there. Are you both passionate about art? Then have your wedding at a museum. No matter what venue you choose, your decision will add more personalization to your celebration and authentically reflect your love story.
14. Out-of-the-Box Wedding Vendors
I've noticed young couples shift towards incorporating their favorite hobbies and shared interests into their receptions, which means hiring special vendors to make their dreams a reality. "I see couples focusing on intentional, custom day-of details and experience-based wedding favors like a tattoo artist or aura reader, instead of your typical Jordan almonds or heart-shaped chocolates," Gaskarth says. Live wedding painters, cigar rollers, aerialists or custom cowboy hat fitters (yes, that's a thing) are just a few other pros you can book for your celebration. Sound like your type of party? Sit down with your partner and discuss what represents you as individuals and as a couple, and include those elements in your wedding.
15. Creative Dress Codes
Gen Z wedding dress codes are all about expressing oneself to the fullest and incorporating fun looks into their theme. "Creative dress codes are absolutely sticking around. Gen Z loves a prompt because it turns guests into the color palette and makes the room feel intentionally styled. I am seeing more and more Pinterest moodboards and curated links in RSVPs so everyone shows up coordinated, while still themselves. The payoff is gorgeous, cohesive photos and a guest experience that feels playful and inclusive," Ladouceur says. In addition, couples are happy to let their loved ones have fun with the dress code. "I like how Gen Z is really embracing fashion and allowing their friends or wedding party show their style and wear attire of their choosing," Arena adds.
16. Dramatic Wedding Drapery
Photo: Brandon Kidd Photography
,Florist: The Hidden Garden
,Linen: LUXE Linen,Venue: Pelican Hill Resort
Drapes here, drapes there, drapes everywhere. Gen Z couples have realized that they can easily add some grandeur and luxury to their weddings with expertly placed drapes. "Draping has become the showpiece. Think layered sheers, scalloped canopies and fabric tunnels that reshape a room from ceremony to the last dance. When you pair fabric with thoughtful wash lighting, even a simple ballroom reads like an editorial set," Ladouceur says. Don't be surprised if you see this decor idea as a Pinterest wedding trend in 2026.
