As we step into 2025, Black weddings are continuing to evolve in exciting and meaningful ways. We asked several veteran wedding vendors what trends did they notice are on the rise. Honestly, some of these trends have been increasing in visibility over time. Essentially, what they shared is that couples are prioritizing personalization, intimate celebrations, and unique experiences that reflect their love stories and heritage. From smaller wedding parties to the rise of weekday ceremonies, this year’s trends reveal a shift toward creating moments that feel personal, intentional, and unforgettable. Here’s a look at the Black wedding trends taking center stage in 2025.
Interactive Wedding Experiences
Couples in 2025 are moving beyond traditional receptions and focusing on creating engaging and immersive experiences for their guests. Whether it’s portrait stations, cigar bars, or post-reception food trucks, interactive elements are becoming essential for modern weddings. “Couples are prioritizing immersive elements that engage their guests,” explained Marcia Alphonso, a floral designer of Marcia Alphonso Designs in Maryland. “These elements not only entertain but also create lasting memories.” By inviting guests to not only witness your nuptials but enjoy themselves through these touches, couples are ensuring that their weddings stand out while thanking your guests at the same time.
The Groom’s Entrance
An emerging trend in 2025 is the intentional focus on the groom’s entrance, shifting away from the traditional, understated walk to the altar. Grooms are now embracing this moment as an opportunity to express their personality and make a memorable impression. Wedding photographer Jamenda Whitehead of JAM & Co Studios shared, “Traditionally I think most grooms have been made to think the wedding day is all about the bride, and what she wants. Now, I’m beginning to see the grooms take their time coming down the aisle, dapping up guests, dancing, including the other groomsmen and really taking time to make the most of their entrance. It’s their day too.” Grooms are starting to make sure they have a song that speaks to them to accompany their entrance along with really making this moment theirs. This trend reflects a broader movement toward inclusivity and individuality, ensuring that both partners feel equally celebrated on their special day.
The Rise of Wedding Content Creators
In the age of social media, content creators are becoming a must-have for weddings. These professionals, distinct from traditional photographers and videographers, focus on capturing raw, real-time moments that can be shared on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Julie Harris Fisher of Julie Harris Designs noted, “Couples are hiring content creators to document the wedding for social media.”
This trend is about more than just going viral. It’s also about preserving candid, authentic memories of the day and getting your wedding media back sooner than later. “They are taking raw, on-the-spot action photos and creating visually captivating content for the wedding day. They’re using fun editing styles and transitions and they’re delivering it with a quick turnaround,” added Camille Plummer, a wedding planner of JunePlumm Events based in Brooklyn. As social media continues to influence how couples plan and share their weddings, the role of content creators will only grow.
Drapery as a Statement Design Element
Drapery has always been a staple in wedding design, but in 2025, it’s going to be taken to a whole new level. Gone are the days of simple panel drapes; today’s drapery is artistic, architectural, and intentional.
“I think it elevates and brings a unique touch to traditional draping. It modernizes yet sustains a level of sophistication for weddings.” said JaaEL Shebioba, a wedding planner of Yanie+Yael Event Planning from New York and Trinidad. She also mentioned how she thinks we’ll see a shift from standard tents to more “artistic and structural dreamy drapery installs.” Shebioba wasn’t alone in this thinking: Plummer and makeup artist B. Gandy of B for Beaute agree. Plummer remarked, “I will always try to incorporate draping because it really adds another design element to your wedding day.”
Whether it’s creating dramatic backdrops or using light, airy fabrics for a romantic atmosphere, drapery is proving to be one of the most versatile and impactful design elements of the year.
Smaller Wedding Parties—or None at All
Like we said last year, the oversized bridal parties of the past are slowly giving way to smaller, more intimate groups, if they even have a wedding party at all. Couples are choosing to focus on their love and the experience of their day rather than managing a large group of bridesmaids and groomsmen.
“Brides are starting to prioritize their own experience,” said Gandy. “choose the people that are going to really show up for you.” Ashley Strickland, wedding photographer of Ashley Nicole Photography, agreed, noting that smaller wedding parties allow couples to “get rid of the fluff and focus on themselves and their love.” Makeup artist Kimberly Yasmine said, “You’re not that intimate with that many people.”
This shift is especially meaningful for couples who want to simplify their day and create a more personal and stress-free celebration that’s truly about the two of them.
Intimate Weddings with Personal Touches
As the trend of smaller weddings continues, 2025 sees a rise in intimate ceremonies that focus on quality over quantity. Micro weddings, elopements, and smaller guest lists are becoming more popular as couples prioritize meaningful connections with their closest loved ones.
Whitehead highlighted how these celebrations allow couples to truly enjoy their day. “As conversations around inflation, budgets, and the economy come up, I had a quite a few couples do a destination wedding, or opt to elope and really make their day about them and their wants and needs above everything else.”
Intimate weddings also allow couples to invest more in personal touches, from elevated decor to curated menus, creating a memorable and luxurious experience for everyone in attendance.
Weekday Weddings
In 2025, couples are breaking free from the traditional weekend wedding mold and embracing weekday ceremonies. Whether for budget reasons or to secure a specific date, weekday weddings are becoming increasingly common.
“Weekday weddings are happening more often,” said Steven Fabius of Premiere Emcee. “I’ve had weddings on Mondays, Tuesdays, and even Wednesdays.” He said that this opens up the ability to work with certain vendors by selecting midweek wedding days, too.
This trend is also reflective of couples’ desire to do things their way, rather than adhering to traditional norms. By choosing weekday weddings, couples can save money without compromising on quality or style.
The Pre-Wedding Baecation
Another rising trend in 2025 is the rise of pre-wedding vacations, where couples take a trip together before their big day. These intimate getaways allow fiancés and/or fiancées to relax, reconnect, and refocus amidst the often overwhelming demands of wedding planning. It’s an opportunity to celebrate their relationship in a personal, low-pressure environment before the big day. As Ashleigh Coffie of Hue I Do and Aisle Tell You What explained, “This trend reflects the growing desire for couples to prioritize their bond over the chaos of wedding. By taking this time together, couples not only recharge but also create lasting memories that set a meaningful tone for their wedding celebrations.”
Creating Authentic Moments in 2025
The wedding trends on the rise in 2025 reflect a broader shift in how couples approach their big day. From interactive experiences and content creators to intimate celebrations and weekday weddings, today’s couples are prioritizing what matters most to them. These trends emphasize personalization, intentionality, and a focus on creating meaningful moments that will be cherished for years to come.
Wedding planner Alyson Thompson of Birdcage and Blushers Events sees this, too and said, “Couples are really leaning to making sure that the details of their wedding ties into their theme and tells a story.” Kimberly Yasmine agreed, saying that couples “want to have the wedding that they want to have and really show up and cater to the people that are closest to them who share that intimate space.” And this shift is something we expect to stay around for quite some time.
Special Thanks
We are truly grateful to the wedding vendors that shared their insights with us. Those wedding vendors are: Alyson Thompson of Birdcage and Blushers Events / Ashley Strickland of Ashley Nicole Photography / B. Gandy of B for Beaute / Camille Plummer of JunePlumm Events / JaaEL Shebioba of Yanie + Yael Event Planning / Jamenda Whitehead of JAM & Co Studios / Julie Harris Fisher of Julie Harris Designs / Kimberly Yasmine of Kimberly Yasmine Makeup / Marcia Alphonso of Marcia Alphonso Design / Steven Fabius of Premiere Emcee