The Bodleian Team would like to wish you a big happy 2024! Although the Christmas trees are coming down and the gift wrap is being put in the (recycling) bin, we are still full of cheer at the Bodleian Libraries. Why? Because we get to share with you all the most wonderful wedding trends for 2024! So, get comfy and scroll down to find out what you could likely be seeing later this year.
1 Bright & Bold Colours
Say goodbye to magnolia, cream, and off-white – in 2024 bright and bold colours are going to be centre stage. This might not be a shock to those who saw the huge success the Barbie film had at the box office. For those that might not be attracted to such powerful colours, pretty pastels such as lilacs and peach naturally blend into weddings – just recently Pantone announced that “Peach Fuzz” is the Colour of the Year for 2024, so you can still be on trend without needing to be bold! Also, why not use a seasonal colour palette if you’re looking for a splash of colour for your big day?
Table settings and flowers are an excellent method of using bright and bold hues without feeling like they might overpower photographs or guests. Wedding cakes are also a convenient way to add some more colour, even if you’re not keen on flavoured icing you might want to decorate your cake with flowers for an elegant finish.
At the Bodleian, you can request our partner AV suppliers THAT Event Company specific colours for your uplighters in the Divinity School to make your special day truly pop. With your standard Ceremony or Ceremony and Reception package at the Bodleian Library multiple uplighters are included so do not waste any chance to spread some colour on our medieval stonework! If you feel like getting creative, you can always contact THAT Event Company to add fairy lights, mirror balls or even disco lights for your evening party as well.
The bright and bold trend has even pushed over to wedding dresses. Whilst we don’t anticipate the white wedding dress disappearing any time soon, brides and designers have started to experiment with changing colour trends. Colours such as champagne, peach, and pastel pinks have seen an upswing in popularity – but as it’s your big day, feel free to wear whichever colours you fancy!
If you’re looking for inspiration for your big day, then please do get your ticket for our Spring Showcase on 2nd March! As you can see, we are using the bright and bold trend as our theme for the evening so expect a cacophony of colour across the Divinity School and Convocation House.
2 Vintage Styles
Looking to the past seems to be a trend for the foreseeable future! Retro styles from the 60s and 70s have creeped back into popular fashion, joined with plenty of nostalgia for late 1990s/early 2000s and weddings are no exception. Whilst a floor length wedding dress is generally a given, when looking for your dress why not try an empire line shape or a full 1950s skirt. If high necklines or long sleeves are just not your style, why not instead rock some bold earrings or platform heels on the day?
The vintage trend has also moved into hairstyles and make up, with beehive hair and winged eyeliner also spotted too. If you see anything that catches your eye, please do keep those photos or videos saved as hairdressers and make-up artists absolutely love (and appreciate) a great set of reference images. Unsure of where to start? Do have a look at our recommended hairstylists and make-up artists who will ensure you look beautiful at your Bodleian Wedding.
Another iconic wedding accessory is also making a comeback: Wedding Veils. Not only does a veil give your gown an excellent vintage touch, but a long veil lends itself perfectly for a dramatic walk down the aisle or striking photography. Speaking of which…
3 Film Photography
The hazy, grainy quality of film isn’t for everyone, but for those after a nostalgic and dreamy feel to their wedding photos, it is the ultimate option. But a note to those reading, film photography takes time, so it is not for the impatient. However, it is worth every minute to achieve those retro, vintage, timeless photos that have a certain je ne sais quoi – let alone those gorgeous colours and romantic tones that film photography just enhances. One thing to say is make sure you book a photographer who specialises in film photography as handling and using film (let alone the developing of it) is no easy feat.
4 Celebrant-led Ceremonies
As you can see so far, 2024 trends are all about injecting a bit of personal pizzazz into weddings and what better way to do this than with a celebrant-led wedding.
Before we continue here’s the nitty-gritty and the difference between a Registrar and a Celebrant-led Wedding. The Registrar wedding is the legal ceremony, which means once this is completed and marriage license is signed, the couple is now legally married! To be recognised as a married couple by the law, this must take place.
Whereas a celebrant-led wedding can be a lot more flexible and creative in the ceremony! It is not a legal requirement to have a registrar-led service before a celebrant wedding, but some couples chose to have a very small private ceremony at a local registry office with a few witnesses – before having the much larger celebration led by a celebrant. It is also possible to have a registrar lead with all the legal parts of the wedding, before having a celebrant step in afterwards to properly celebrate the life and story the happy couple has had so far.
At the Bodleian we have a have a whole list of excellent celebrants who are guaranteed to add a little bit of extra personality to your special day!
5 Sustainability
Whilst this shouldn’t really be called a trend, the growing topic surrounding weddings is of course sustainability. Weddings are sadly, are not traditionally environmentally friendly. Large amounts of leftover food, use of plastic confetti, and outfits that you only wear for one day do not make for a particularly green event.
However, more and more couples are looking towards more environmentally friendly weddings. Second-hand reselling apps such as Depop or Vinted mean that wedding attire can find a new home once used, or help a couple track down vintage gems. Single-use plastic, most often used for confetti, is now being phased out for either paper or dried flower petals instead. Not only are these options bio-degradable, but dried flowers also smell wonderful too! Additionally smaller weddings are becoming more popular too. Not only do small weddings make for a more intimate day, but also help to cut down on your carbon footprint too.
At the Bodleian we are actively involved in working with local suppliers and where possible, encouraging them to source local produce such as flowers or food.
We hope you enjoyed our rundown of the most wonderful wedding trends of 2024, and the entire Bodleian Weddings Team is wishing you an incredible year ahead!
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