9 Summer Wedding Trends You'll See at the Best Events This Season

One of the best parts of working at Brides? We get a front-row seat to the industry’s latest and greatest innovations, which allows us to make trend predictions early and accurately—but it’s always a plus when so many of our (informed) guesses are affirmed or approved by wedding planners, the vendors who directly shape the event landscape. After putting our heads together with some of the most creative planners and designers working today, we can officially share this excellent news: Summer 2024 is shaping up to be an epic wedding season, complete with a fresh slate of trends that will send guests’ jaws right to the floor. (For context, we asked our experts to sum up the upcoming event season in one word, and almost all of them opted for “fun.”)

The general takeaway is that weddings held during summer 2024 will pack a real punch—through colors (sunrise-coded palettes and chrome-inspired details, anyone?), details (get ready for tomato-themed tablescapes and maximalist design schemes), drinks (signature cocktails are being leveled up), and experiences (from elevated after-parties that feel like another wedding to day-after pickleball tournaments). Ahead, discover the nine summer wedding trends that will seriously impress guests this season.

Summer Sunrise Color Palettes

Summer’s saturated sunsets get all of the attention, but any early bird knows that sunrise has its own appeal—and this season, couples are taking notice, says Laura Ritchie of Grit & Grace. “We are seeing an uptick in color palettes that have tones in pink, yellow, and orange taking center stage,” she says. “This works so well for summer weddings and can be paired with lots of other colors across different themes. We love seeing this brighter main palette paired with black and white for a modern vibe or paired with navy for a nautical pop.”

Tomato Girl Summer Tablescapes

Summertime and the living’s easy—and the garden is in full swing. Though many fresh fruits (think pomegranates and sliced citrus) have had a place on wedding tabletops for years now, this summer, a fresh crop of edibles are joining the party; think unexpected vegetables (like garlic and cabbage) and plenty of in-season fruits (including tomatoes and cherries). Adding a summer harvest’s bounty to a big-day tablescape is also inherently casual, a vibe that so many duos strive for when temperatures rise. “Incorporating fruits and veggies into a more casual, family-style tablescape is such a fun way to bring in interesting shapes and colors,” notes Richie, adding that, depending on the edibles you opt for, the trend is completely adaptable. “This trend can lean tropical, Italian, modern, etc., so this really can be molded to your event’s theme.”

Major Maximalism

Editors at Brides headquarters recently had a conversation about the evolution of big-day tabletops and we came to one conclusion: These days, the very best tablescape designs feature a unique, colorful, or patterned dinner plate. This idea plays right into yet another wedding trend for summer 2024. “After years and years of quiet luxury, it's so fun to see a return to pattern on pattern,” says Layne Kula, a wedding and event planner. “Farm tables are out—think bold patterned linens paired with pop-tone dinner napkins and layered with hand-painted china and textural fabric menus, among other elements. It really is a feast for the senses and it can feel equal parts unexpected, exhilarating, and accessible.”

Florida-based event planner Kelly McWilliams is seeing maximalism play out on another reception surface. “Bold dance floors will be everywhere this summer,” she says. “With the ability to bring any pattern to life, you can be inspired by anything from table linens to a tile pattern to the illustrations your stationer created for you.”

After-Parties That Aren't Afterthoughts

If there’s any season that’s synonymous with partying, it’s summer—which is why there will be a stronger emphasis on the after-party during 2024’s warmer months. Gone are the days of the “semi-coordinated” bar meet-up, though, says wedding planner Lauryn Prattes. Hovik Harutyunyan of Harutyunyan Events agrees: “What used to be a mere footnote to the wedding has taken front and center stage in the planning calculus of many couples,” he says. Adds Prattes, “Now, after-parties have exploded and require their own design plan, theme, and dress code.” 

The most defining element of the new-age after-party, say our experts, is a tone shift, which doesn’t necessarily require a change of location. “The key to executing it successfully is to create a noticeable shift and pivot in experience from what guests have had up until that point,” explains Harutyunyan. “Introduce a new type of music entertainment; replace tired late-night snacks with an immersive culinary experience; create a unique cocktail that varies wildly from what you had at cocktail hour and dinner; change your outfits; and, most importantly, come up with a fun (dare I say, zany) theme you love!” (Ritchie is all for a “This Ain’t Texas” theme—think Western wear, fringe, cowboy hats, and more. “This trickle-down effect from Beyonce’s album and Fashion Week trends will definitely continue through the summer festival season,” she explains, adding that a ranch water station, custom bandanas, and hoedown-inspired bites are worthwhile additions.)

Surprising (and Seasonal) Food and Beverage Concepts

The bar for wedding food has been raised in summer 2024, says wedding planner Nancy Park, who says to expect “multiple courses with beautiful presentation, palate cleansers, and cuisine that leans into the location of the wedding complemented with interactive action stations and roaming/tray-passed bites and desserts.” The main takeaway? “Food is not an afterthought,” she says. “It is a part of the wedding design and a top priority for guest experience.” In a lot of ways, this trend is tied to the resurgence of fruits and vegetables on the tabletop, notes Kula. “Clients are foregoing traditional florals and candles for more off-the-cuff edible elements, like heirloom tomatoes, garlands of citrus, statement cakes and desserts, extra-long baguettes, and more,” she says. “Clients always love experiential dining, so it makes perfect sense that we would see people really start taking that all the way. It feels high-end, a little cheeky, and really inventive.”

Summer wedding cocktails and hydration stations are getting the same treatment. Why serve ice water when you can present a Topo Chico wall, poses McWilliams, who encourages couples to find more unique ways to serve big-day basics. On this season’s boozy front, Harutyunyan suggests reinventing the signature cocktail, a wedding element guests have come to expect. “For example, in addition to your main bar, picture an entire setup dedicated to a curated flight of specialty cocktails, spirits, and food pairings,” he says. These are a few of his favorite concepts right now:

• Amaro shots paired with Italian cookies served as a nightcap course after dinner. 
• An after-party martini bar featuring modern takes on classic martini recipes.
• A whiskey tasting station featuring the couple’s favorite whiskeys, each paired with a different handmade chocolate truffle to enhance that spirit’s flavor profile. 
• Magician mixologists who wow and thrill guests with impressive show-stopping performances while they make cocktails.

Chrome Details (and Fashion)

From Haley Bieber’s signature manicure to virtually every fashion storefront, silver metallics are everywhere right now. “Thanks in part to Beyonce’s Renaissance tour last year, which sparked a renewed fascination with the color, silver or chrome is experiencing its own renaissance. Gold feels predictable—and silver is regaining its allure. After years of steering clear from silver in designs, it now feels fresh and cool again, without veering into excessive glamor,” says Harutyunyan. “I think one of the best ways to incorporate the color is in your after-party fashion.”

Greenhouse-Style Glass Tents

We love a garden wedding in summer (who doesn’t?), but we’re loving this increasingly seasonal take that lends itself to several event styles. “Greenhouse glass tents have been growing in popularity over the past two years or so, but have really exploded in 2024,” says Prattes. “Tent companies now all have their own unique version of a black iron, clear top and side, greenhouse-style tent. They work really well with a variety of wedding styles, from crisp and modern to romantic and European-inspired. They also let in a ton of natural light and feel more spacious than many options.”

Calla Lily Bouquets

The summer wedding flower of 2024 is the calla lily, says Harutyunyan, who is seeing this in-season bloom (most varieties grow continuously throughout the warm-weather months) everywhere—and particularly in bouquets. “A standout that deserves special recognition is white calla lily bouquets. They are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among fashion-forward brides,” he says. “Whether on their own or paired with unexpected florals, they create a fresh, sophisticated, and architectural bouquet.”

Group Experiences Guests Actually Enjoy

The day-after pool party will always be a classic summer alternative to the Sunday brunch—but more and more pairs are getting creative with their summer wedding weekend’s final act, says Prattes. “Pool parties are giving way to unique events like pickleball tournaments, pasta making classes, ax throwing, and more,” she explains (McWilliams affirms that pickleball is in for summer 2024 and says to spring for branded paddles to really impress your guests). Prattes suggests tying that activity to both the time of year (get outside, if possible!) and/or your big-day locale. “Getting married in Italy? How about a pasta making class? Throwing a Wyoming wedding? Try horseback riding or archery. Mexico? Enlist a local artisan to teach a pottery class.”

Park agrees, but adds that you don’t need to save these excursions for your wedding’s denouement. These types of casual activities double as great ice breakers, so you might want to schedule them as a kick-off event. “This allows all of your guests to meet each other, mingle, and start the celebration in an approachable way,” she says. She loves the idea of a boat tour, a croquet match, or a hike come summer. “It makes the big day feel like a family reunion. The energy at the start of the ceremony is already palpable—and everything starts off on such a high note.”