Top Wedding Trends in 2020

Wedding trends are often an evolution of last year's ideas, which in turn reference the continuation of themes from the year before that. Some concepts – like vintage wedding themes – have come full circle and resurface as "new" trends. We ask our wedding planners across 39 hotels in Thailand to share their predictions on wedding trends that will be prevalent in 2020. Across our 16 brands in the kingdom, personalization continues to be a top driver for curated weddings next year. Our Thailand wedding packages are customized to each unique event. From bringing in street food vendors that are meaningful to the couple to unconventional wedding gowns and the most Instagrammable Koh Samui wedding venues, couples are increasingly involved in every single aspect of their celebration. Here we take a look at three big 2020 wedding trends which may spark more ideas for your own upcoming celebrations.

Sustainability

Sustainability is increasingly a conversation being heard in hotels (including our pledge to do away with plastic straws, and by 2020, small plastic bottles of toiletries in Marriott hotels and resorts across the globe). This stance is also something couples have been taking on board in a philosophy being incorporated into wedding celebrations. Ideas for infusing sustainability into wedding celebrations include a tree planting unity ceremony – the perfect representation of the nurture and love that goes into marriage. A tropical spin on this is coral planting and interested couples can contact a JW Marriott Phuket wedding planner to ask about conservation activities at the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation. Locally sourced ingredients can play a big part in the reception menu, while floral decoration can showcase the beauty of tropical plants found in the hotel's vicinity. Particularly in resort destinations, the honeymoon is often a continuation of the wedding reception, which can help minimize the carbon footprint of the celebration.

Experiential celebration

We see increased attention being paid to wedding guests through organized experiences and fun ways to get the them involved. In a particular Phuket wedding, for example, instead of handing out traditional wedding favors, wedding guests are being treated to experiences such as a visit to a local rum distillery. A Marriott wedding planner in Koh Samui says snorkeling and sunset cruises are increasingly an important component of the wedding celebration. In city weddings, we're seeing the emergence of live sketch artists alongside the classic photo booths, as well as fun activities for the guests such as DIY cocktail mixing corners being included in a bespoke wedding package in Bangkok. Guest participation in the wedding ceremony itself is also encouraged more often with features like a flower bar – where guests are engaged in making their own floral headpieces or lapel pins – or a DIY corner where guests can fill paper cones with their choice of petals for the petal toss.

Intimate nuptials

Traditional wedding celebrations and big families often call for elaborate weddings. While there's always a time and place for these lavish celebrations to honor the couple's heritage and culture, many couples now opt to go small when it comes to saying, "I do". A beachfront villa in a Thai resort destination easily doubles as the ideal wedding venue for an intimate Thai wedding ceremony. With just the core group of friends and family in attendance, a wedding gathering can become a wider celebration of love with tailored activities designed for the couple to spend time with those nearest and dearest to them. Thailand is also a popular destination for vow renewals, during which a married couple can reaffirm their commitment to each other. With a choice of ready-made romantic beach or mountain settings, renewing your promises to one another can be a memorable way to celebrate a milestone anniversary.