The Best Summer 2023 Wedding Trends

My own wedding was over 30 years ago but that doesn’t mean I don’t remember how stressful it was to organise and today I think it is even worse with so much influence from social media, wedding planners (it was me and my mum!) and what seems to me to be a huge amount of pressure. I had a wonderful early Spring wedding, and the weather was very kind, but summer weddings are always a popular choice with their more likely warm weather, beautiful outdoor venue opportunities and the colours and greenery of nature around you.

But before we even get to planning the big day, it all starts with the engagement ring. Although it is simply a symbol of ‘intent to marry’, it is something that you will wear every day of your life so needs some careful thought. And if your partner is surprising you, they need to think about the style and design you would like. (And get a receipt…).

If a real diamond or gem ring is out or your price bracket, Cavendish French have a wide range of beautiful handmade sterling silver and cubic zirconia rings which are rhodium plated to prevent tarnishing and set with the best AAA* quality stones. With all the look, quality and detail of fine jewellery this range of rings offers affordable luxury for everyone.

So, what style of ring do you fancy? Vintage and Art Deco style in particular, are always popular as engagement rings. The Art Deco era was a huge moment of liberation for women with bold shapes, show-stopping stones, detailed geometric settings and really showing off that bling. Our Deco Heaven Ring would be perfect.

If you are after a more traditional single solitaire, then Sweet Twist Solitaire Ring or Love You Ring would be wonderful, and they look just like fine diamond engagement rings.

A truly romantic ring is the ‘toi et moi’ ring which was first given by Napoleon Bonaparte to Empress Josephine de Beauharnais when he proposed in 1796. Meaning 'you and me' this ring has two diamonds or gemstones sitting side by side to represent the meeting of two lovers. Our ‘A Heart Each’ Ring with two sparkling heart shaped cubic zirconia solitaires captures this feeling perfectly.

Finally, more people are choosing mixed metal rings with a combination of yellow, rose, and white gold, which gives a really lovely, impactful look and is versatile to wear with other jewellery of any colour.  We offer a more affordable alternative crafted in sterling silver, plated with 18 carat yellow and rose gold. Choose our Solitaire Twist Ring.

So now the engagement ring has been chosen, let’s explore the exciting trends emerging in the world of weddings this Summer.  I’ll take a look at some of the top trends including wedding dresses, bridesmaids, colour palettes, jewellery, venue, flowers, food and cakes!

Wedding Dress Trends 

Choosing a wedding dress can by quite overwhelming with so much choice and also the exorbitant cost of some designs. Try narrowing it down to designs you think will suit your shape best and then consider your budget, the time of year and also which of the current trends appeals to you. Flowy bohemian style dresses with lots of romantic lace detail are really popular and at the other extreme so are off the shoulder and strapless designs often with simple sleek dresses with minimal embellishment – inspired by the clean and timeless wedding dress of Grace Kelly – the epitome of classic bridal style. These elegant dresses also fit the modern, sophisticated bridal look that is all over social media.

Feathers are making an appearance on wedding dresses, shoes, veils and headdresses. You could choose to add a feather trim to turn your sleek wedding dress into evening glamour. You could also add some silver feather jewellery or make a real statement and add in abundance to your wedding décor maybe dyed to match you colour palette.

Floral or botanical inspired embroidery or appliques is definitely in trend, particularly on veils which started with some celebrities including personal messages or motifs within their veil. For example, Justin Bieber’s bride Hailey Bieber had ‘til death do us part’ on her veil in 2022 or Kourtney Kardashian who had her new husband's head tattoo embroidered onto her veil. You might want to be a little more subtle with your message but personalising a part of your wedding outfit is very touching – whether it be your veil or something more private such as a beautiful quote or your wedding date on a sleeve or the inside of a suit jacket.

Bows – Following bridal style from the 1970’s and 80s bows are making a big comeback in weddings this year, whether they are on your dress, shoes, hair or bow ties. Incorporate them into your décor too – on the backs of chairs, floral designs or even around the cake! They definitely add some drama to your look with many celebrity stars adding bows to their look such as Ariana Grande and Gwen Stefani. 

Trousers and trouser suits - many brides are getting married later in life and are more sure about their individual style, their favourite colours and the money they that to spend. Not everyone loves a wedding dress and demand for trousers for brides and particularly bridesmaids has grown by 150% this year. Mixing and matching silhouettes and shapes looks great with the bridal party.

Bridesmaid Trends

Mismatched dresses in the same colour or colour palette.

I think it’s fair to say the days where all the bridesmaids had to wear exactly the same style and colour of dress are thankfully well gone. Whoever thought it was a good idea to put all shapes, sizes and ages into the same style which may suit some but look hideous on others? All you want on the big day is for all your wedding party to feel amazing. So why not give your bridesmaids and matron of honour a theme: whether it be shades of a particular colour, floral, or perhaps metallics, and then let them decide what works best for them. 

Any colour goes these days for bridesmaid’s dresses, but popular colours this summer are shades of blue, green, and pink. 

Colour Trends

Matching the colour themes for the bridesmaids, bridal décor colours are shades of blue, green and pink.

Bold vibrant colours are really popular with the pink trend continuing with shades from hot pink, bright fuchsia or bubble gum pink. Our teardrop silver earrings and matching pendant with pale pink diamond colour cubic zirconia stones would make a perfect finishing touch to bridesmaids dressed in any shade of pink.

Shades of green from mint to emerald are also definitely in vogue and we have both mint green and emerald green cubic zirconia jewellery collections with many designs perfect for bridesmaids, or anyone in the wedding party.

The other big trend this year is the colour clash – putting together unusual and clashing colour combinations such as pink and yellow or blue and orange to create your own unique and memorable look.

Bride and Bridesmaid Jewellery 

I couldn’t really write this blog without writing a little bit about jewellery trends for weddings this summer which are all about delicate feminine pieces that complement the bride and bridesmaid’s dresses.

Delicate vintage jewellery designs are always popular for weddings and this trend isn’t about to change. If you are looking for this style, then Cavendish French has a wide range of vintage style cubic zirconia jewellery to choose from. With a range of prices and styles from Art deco influenced to Victorian – all our jewellery is great quality and an exquisite addition to your wedding look.

Simple stud earrings are also popular at the moment, so why not choose some modern rub over cubic zirconia stud earrings which are available in a number of carat sizes and in other colours if you want your bridesmaid jewellery to match. These look lovely stacked with some elegant drop cubic zirconia earrings too. Beautiful if you are wearing your hair up.

I talk in this blog about how flowers can bring together all the different elements of your wedding and jewellery with a floral design would add that extra little bit of details. Maybe our Circled Flower Pendant and matching earrings. We have a full collection of floral inspired jewellery if you want to take a browse.

Other accessories in vogue are hair accessories like tiaras and pins with floral or crystal details and also sunglasses which now seem to be a permanent feature of the bridal look. 

Wedding Venues

Outdoor venues are a popular choice for summer 2023 weddings with many couples opting for garden or beach weddings. It’s so wonderful now that you can get married in almost any venue. When I got married it was either a church or a registry office.

Popular choices are rustic outdoor venues such as farms or vineyards or garden weddings with all the beauty of nature around you with brightly coloured flowers, lush greenery and trees.

Beach weddings also continue to grow in popularity with many opting for a romantic bohemian or tropical theme.

The bold colours I mentioned earlier are also prominent in the wedding décor. Although some may still opt for the traditional white, green and gold combination there are now so many other options and it really is a case of anything goes! Express your personality through the colours you choose. Bight blues, vivid pinks and brash oranges are all popular choices. Incorporate your colour is the flowers, maybe streamers and drapes to decorate the aisles, ceilings, and reception area. You can even design your own custom-made coloured confetti from flower petals. 

Wedding Flowers

This summer is all about making an impact with your wedding flowers. They will be all about lush abundant arrangements incorporating vibrant colours amongst the greenery. Arrangements that are contemporary and bold will continue to be popular as they were in 2022. Large statement floral arrangements at the entrance to the venue are a fantastic way to frame your ceremony and your wedding photos.

Wild and organic flowers also feature heavily this year with many brides opting for a natural handheld bouquet or table displays which look as if they had just been picked from a wild meadow. These flowers also make beautiful natural flower crowns or hair pieces for both the bride and bridesmaids.

The natural organic look is definitely popular with the use of jam jars or plant pots rather that ornate displays stuck into oasis. For added texture and interest, some are introducing unexpected elements like fruit or vegetables into the floral arrangement, dried flowers or grasses also add texture and interest to the design. 

The Food

Deciding on food choices for your wedding day can be tricky especially with timings, allergies to consider and choices for everyone. This summer the food seems to be all about fresh seasonal ingredients and unique presentations. Menus that feature local organic ingredients straight from the field or farms which is presented in a different way – maybe on slate boards or in mini mason jars.

There is a move towards having grazing boards and charcuterie and also more interactive ‘experience’ type food with ‘make your own tacos’ or create your own pizza station.

The focus is very much on interaction and sharing the food experience, sharing platters or more traditional family style dining with shared dishes. 

The Wedding Cake

Some couples are choosing not to include the traditional wedding cake into their nuptials or opting for a tiered ‘cheese’ cake. But if a wedding cake is important to you, then in summer 2023 they’re all about unique flavours and stunning presentation. Make the cake a statement for you as a couple and the day you share with your family and friends.

Popular trends include naked cakes with fresh fruit or floral accents, geometric shapes, or unique textures like a cake with a marble effect or metallic finish. Florals are a particular favourite with searches for floral cakes on Pinterest way up.

In terms of flavours, some of the more unique flavours you could incorporate could be lavender or earl grey tea.

Or if you want to continue the grazing experience you could always choose to have a dessert table with a variety of delicious, sweet treats – from macaroons, fruit tartlets, mini chocolate eclairs to mention just a few of my favourites!

There only one thing left to say.. have a wonderful and very special day making memories that will last lifetime and remember if something does go wrong then it will only be minor and something to giggle over in the future.