The Knot Worldwide 2025 Wedding Trends to Watch Report
Unveiling our 2025 Wedding Trends to Watch Report, combining search data from The Knot Vendor Marketplace, insights from engaged couples marrying within the next year and a survey of dating Gen Zers.
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As we move into 2025, new trends are shaping how couples approach marriage and wedding planning—and Gen Z is leading the charge.
To provide a comprehensive overview, we combined search data from The Knot Vendor Marketplace, insights from engaged couples marrying within the next year and a survey of dating Gen Zers. Here’s what we’re seeing for the year ahead.
Economic Headwinds
Unstable macroeconomic conditions bring uncertainty, and 85% of engaged couples report that inflation has affected or will affect their wedding plans. However, fewer than half are adjusting their original plans—41% are cutting down their guest lists, while 30% are tweaking their budgets, often by increasing their spending.
Despite these challenges, an overwhelming majority (95%) of couples remain excited about their upcoming wedding day and approximately 8 in 10 feel it will be worth the investment.
The Impact of the Presidential Election
Although most engaged couples don’t expect the presidential election to impact their wedding plans, a significant portion holds a different view. While 50% believe the election result won’t influence their wedding, 35% think it could affect their planning journey, and 15% are still unsure.
Similar to broader polling trends, couples were divided on whether each candidate’s presidency would have a positive or negative effect on their wedding plans. Nonetheless, the election outcome may influence how couples manage their budgets, choose vendors and even curate their guest lists.
Gen Z Continues to Pave the Way for a Golden Age of Marriage
Despite macroeconomic uncertainty, the outlook for marriage remains promising. Marriage continues to be highly valued by Gen Z as they reach peak marrying age, with an impressive 86% of respondents envisioning it in their future. Of this group, 58% intend to legally marry, while 28% are considering it—marking a notable 5% increase since the Future of Marriage Report in 2023. These numbers reflect a growing enthusiasm for marriage among younger generations, signaling a bright future for the industry.
Strong Demand for Microweddings
Microweddings are gaining popularity, with 48% of couples considering this option—rising to 57% among those currently engaged. Elopements typically have up to 15 guests, while microweddings can include up to 50 people—both of which can be a great option for budget-conscious couples and those most impacted by the current state of the economy.
Psst—we recently welcomed Simply Eloped into our family of brands to expand offerings for couples and increase business opportunities for wedding professionals on our platform. Simply Eloped allows couples to purchase customized elopement and microwedding packages, ranging from $450 to $5,500. These smaller-scale events allow for personalized, meaningful ceremonies with a close-knit group of family and friends.
AI: The New Personal Assistant
One of the most significant shifts in the wedding industry is the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), with 20% of couples now using AI tools—double the 10% reported in 2023.
AI is streamlining aspects of the wedding planning process, allowing couples to focus on personalizing their big day while saving time on logistics. It’s also proving valuable for wedding vendors, offering a competitive edge in a crowded market. Read more about how to leverage AI as a wedding business owner here!
Bucking Tradition
More couples are reshaping the wedding experience by infusing their celebrations with personalized, cultural, and ethnic elements. Notable trends include:
Wedding Planning Sites Remain Essential
While many couples are redefining tradition, some elements of the planning process never change. Although 65% of couples use social media as a leading source of inspiration, 75% still view wedding-planning websites as irreplaceable resources.
We might be biased, but platforms like ours can be a crucial part of the planning journey—offering end-to-end solutions including valuable vendor directories, budgeting tools and tailored content that social media can’t fully replicate.
The Top Wedding Cultural Influences of 2025
Couples who are engaged to marry in the next year and Gen Zers who are not yet engaged agree the following influences will make the biggest impact on wedding culture in 2025, reflecting a mix of modern tastes and nostalgic flair:
The bouquet toss is a time-honored wedding tradition that has seen a 22% decline in popularity over the last seven years—but it may be poised for a resurgence. Interestingly, 1 in 2 Gen Zers would like to see the bouquet toss make a comeback, showing that even in a world where modern trends dominate, there’s still room for nostalgia.
The Hottest U.S. Wedding Markets
According to search data from The Knot Vendor Marketplace, these cities are set to be among the most popular wedding hotspots in 2025.
Popular Wedding Destinations Around the Globe
Couples having a wedding far from home are gravitating toward unique and picturesque locations for destination weddings.
Unique Vendors Rising in Popularity
Couples tying the knot at the end of 2024 and into 2025 are increasingly looking for vendors that will provide memorable, one-of-a-kind experiences for their guests. As we learned in the 2024 Global Wedding Report, guest experience is a top priority among couples getting married in the next year, with couples considering the following:
- Experiential bartenders
- Tattoo artists
- Social content creators
- Fire dancers
- Dogsitters
- Cultural dancers
As for venue trends, the top searches on The Knot Vendor Marketplace highlight a desire for distinctive and scenic settings, such as:
- Library weddings
- Garden venues
- Castles
- Beaches
- Mountain venues
Casting a Spotlight on Wedding Professionals on The Knot Vendor Marketplace
As we know, wedding professionals are the heart of the industry and couples are increasingly relying on the vendors they hire to bring their wedding to life and help them stay within budget.
Here are a few of the vendors within The Knot Vendor Marketplace whose storefronts garnered significant web traffic and are likely to be in high demand for 2025:
A unique venue in Chicago, Illinois that overlooks the Nature Boardwalk, a lively pond ecosystem at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Located in Augusta, NJ, The Conservatory is an eco-friendly building constructed of mahogany and glass, creating a beautiful blend of indoor and outdoor.
For more than 150 years, Renault Winery has been producing wines spanning 1400 acres in Egg Harbor City, NJ.
Based in Lancaster, PA, 3 West Productions is a beloved wedding DJ and MC business with more than 500 5-star reviews.
Family-owned and operated SB Photography and Design in Waukesha, WI places high priority on reliability and personalization.
Wrapping it Up
Looking ahead to 2025, it’s evident that the landscape of weddings will continue to transform, blending tradition with contemporary influences. Gen Z is at the forefront of this evolution, introducing innovation, inclusivity, and technology—signaling the golden age of marriage is just beginning.
At The Knot Worldwide, we’re excited to see these trends take shape and help couples create unforgettable celebrations, while supporting our partners.
Methodology
To provide the most comprehensive view, The Knot Worldwide 2025 Trends to Watch Report combines multiple studies along with interactions on The Knot Vendor Marketplace from couples with wedding dates in 2025.
The Knot Worldwide captured responses in September 2024 from approximately 500 people who plan to get married through December 31, 2025; respondents were recruited via email or SMS invitation from The Knot Worldwide (i.e. The Knot and WeddingWire membership) between [Kirsten to confirm]. Respondents represent couples from all over the country with various ethnicities, income levels, race, age, sexual orientation and gender identity.
The report also includes findings from approximately 500 Gen Zers, ages 18–27, who are still in the dating phase; respondents were recruited via email or SMS invitation from The Knot Worldwide (i.e. The Knot and WeddingWire membership) in September 2024.
Lastly, the report includes wedding destinations from a study of approximately 800 recently married and engaged couples fielded between July and August 2024.