As we look toward 2025, weddings are taking on new, personalized meanings that reflect the values, preferences, and experiences of modern couples. As a luxury wedding photographer and videographer based in both Southern California and Chicago, I’ve had the honor of documenting weddings that perfectly balance intimacy, culture, and personality. Looking forward, I’m excited to share some of the biggest trends we can expect in 2025—trends that will make weddings feel less like performances and more like celebrations of love and connection.

Weddings Shift from Performances to Intimate Gatherings

For years, weddings have been seen as grand productions, where couples often feel the pressure to entertain, ensuring everything is perfect down to the smallest detail. They become the center of a show, spending most of the day managing timelines, orchestrating events, and performing for their guests. But as we approach 2025, more couples are leaving this "showtime" mentality behind. Instead, they're embracing a more personal, relaxed approach that prioritizes intimate moments with their loved ones over elaborate performances.

The shift is profound. Rather than focusing on impressing a large crowd or adhering to traditional expectations, couples are choosing to be present in their own celebration. The result? Weddings that feel more genuine and less like a scripted event. Instead of crafting a spectacle, they're creating experiences where each moment is soaked in meaning.

This trend is leading to smaller, more intimate guest lists. Rather than inviting everyone they've ever met, couples are prioritizing close relationships—those who truly matter to them. This change not only allows couples to interact more meaningfully with each guest, but it also fosters a relaxed, joyful atmosphere where everyone feels like a part of the celebration, rather than just a spectator.

With the emphasis on intimacy, the need for over-the-top productions is diminishing. Grand entrances, choreographed dances, and elaborate displays are being replaced by heartfelt conversations, shared laughter, and spontaneous moments. Couples are focusing on creating an experience that’s deeply personal—one that reflects their values, their love, and the people closest to them. A smaller, more relaxed celebration allows for these personal connections to truly shine through.

Another important aspect of this trend is the time spent with guests. Couples are now prioritizing moments with their loved ones, whether it's during cocktail hour, dinner, or dancing. Gone are the days when the couple disappeared for long portrait sessions or orchestrated photo opportunities. Instead, they are present with their guests, enjoying every toast, every hug, and every laugh.

This move away from spectacle is liberating for many couples. It removes the pressure to put on a flawless performance and instead allows them to focus on the true purpose of the day: celebrating love and connection. And by focusing on these intimate, authentic moments, couples are creating weddings that feel less like productions and more like cherished memories.

Infusing Cultural Elements into the Celebration

One of the most beautiful trends on the rise is the incorporation of cultural traditions into wedding ceremonies. Couples are increasingly celebrating their heritage through decorations, music, attire, and even food, creating weddings that are unique to their backgrounds. From including mariachi bands at Mexican weddings to traditional Chinese tea ceremonies, these personal touches honor cultural roots while adding depth to the wedding experience.

In a recent wedding we captured, a Mexican couple chose to integrate vibrant cultural elements, such as a mariachi band for the cocktail hour, followed by a Banda group—a traditional Mexican music style—that performed during the reception. Not only did this fill the event with energy, but it was a nod to the bride’s northern Mexican heritage. The guests, especially family members, were moved by the music that represented home and tradition. The couple also included cultural decorations like colorful paper picado banners and traditional Mexican foods, giving the wedding a celebratory and authentic feel.

But it’s not just about the big, noticeable elements. Some couples opt for smaller, quieter tributes to their cultures, such as including family heirlooms in their attire, like a grandmother’s veil or an antique brooch passed down through generations. Others choose to include readings or blessings in their native languages, bringing even more sentimentality to the ceremony. These moments not only honor the past but also create a powerful bridge between the couple’s heritage and their future together.

For many couples in Los Angeles and Chicago, where diverse cultures meet, weaving in these personal and cultural elements makes their wedding feel like a true reflection of who they are. This trend is helping to make every wedding not just a celebration of love, but a celebration of identity, history, and family.

Alcohol-Free Weddings: The Rise of Sober Celebrations

In 2025, we're also seeing a surprising yet exciting trend emerge: alcohol-free weddings. Yes, you read that right! With the rising interest in wellness and mindful living, many couples are opting for dry weddings—focusing on meaningful connections rather than cocktails.

But don’t think this means the celebration will lack fun or flavor. On the contrary, couples are getting creative with mocktail bars, bringing in skilled bartenders to craft delicious, alcohol-free beverages that everyone can enjoy. These sober celebrations allow couples to stay true to their lifestyle choices without sacrificing the fun, proving that you don’t need alcohol to have an unforgettable wedding.

Breaking Free from Tradition: Redefining Wedding Photography

Another standout trend we’re seeing is a break from traditional, cookie-cutter wedding photography. Couples are redefining what’s important to capture on their special day, choosing to focus on the moments that matter most to them. This means less time spent on formalities and more on candid, spontaneous moments.

For instance, some couples are skipping the typical detail shots at the beginning of the day (like invitations or rings) in favor of images that capture genuine emotion and connection. Others are forgoing endless combinations of family photos and opting for larger group shots to keep things simple and fast. Instead of disappearing for an hour of couples portraits, many are now choosing to spend that time mingling with guests during cocktail hour.

This shift allows for a more relaxed day, ensuring couples can savor their wedding instead of feeling like they're on a strict photo schedule.

Intentional Wedding Design: Prioritizing What Matters

As couples continue to move away from the idea of a “perfect” wedding, they are also streamlining their day to reflect their true values. Rather than focusing on elaborate decorations or multiple outfit changes, they are prioritizing moments over material details. This means focusing more on experiences, such as meaningful speeches, personal vows, or surprise performances, rather than the typical “showy” elements that have long been associated with weddings.

For example, many couples are scaling back on grand floral displays or choosing sustainable wedding attire to better reflect their values. This minimalism doesn’t mean sacrificing style; rather, it shows that a wedding can still feel luxurious and intentional without going over the top.

Smaller, More Intimate Weddings

We’ve seen the rise of micro-weddings and intimate gatherings, and this trend is here to stay in 2025. Whether due to budget, preference, or a desire to keep things personal, smaller guest lists have become increasingly popular. These intimate celebrations allow couples to spend more time with each guest, ensuring meaningful connections and moments that might get lost in a larger event.

With smaller guest lists comes the opportunity to personalize every detail, from custom menus to more thoughtful and curated experiences for everyone attending. In turn, these intimate weddings often feel less formal and more relaxed, making it easier for couples to enjoy their day without feeling overwhelmed by the scale of the event.

Ditching the Formal Wedding Timeline

In 2025, couples are redefining what it means to plan their wedding day, and one of the biggest shifts is the move away from rigid, traditional timelines. Rather than sticking to a minute-by-minute schedule, couples are embracing a more flexible and personalized flow for their big day. This allows them to be present, spontaneous, and fully immersed in the celebration without feeling pressured by time constraints.

Why the change? It stems from the desire to make weddings feel less like a performance and more like a personal, heartfelt experience. Instead of feeling like they are rushing from one scheduled event to another, couples are opting to slow down and savor the moments that matter most. This means less adherence to traditional formats and more freedom to shape the day around their unique vision and desires.

For instance, walking down the aisle at sunset is becoming a favorite choice for couples who want a more romantic and visually stunning ceremony. The golden hour light not only creates breathtaking photographs but also adds an intimate, magical feeling to the ceremony. Similarly, some couples are choosing to have their first dance as soon as they enter the reception, setting a joyful, celebratory tone right from the start. This relaxed approach allows them to kick off the evening with fun and excitement, rather than waiting until later in the night when the energy might have shifted.

The flexibility also extends to traditional milestones like toasts, cake cutting, and even dinner service. Some couples are choosing to spread out these events throughout the reception, creating a more organic flow that allows them to engage with their guests rather than adhering to a strict timeline. For example, instead of interrupting the flow of the evening with a scheduled cake-cutting moment, some couples are opting to cut the cake casually, when they feel it’s the right time.

This shift towards flexibility and spontaneity reflects a broader movement in wedding planning—couples want their day to feel authentic, stress-free, and enjoyable. By ditching the rigid timeline, they can create a wedding experience that’s true to who they are, full of unexpected and unscripted moments that add depth and joy to the day.

Moreover, vendors—especially photographers and videographers—are adjusting to this trend by becoming more adaptable and creative. Without the pressure of following a strict schedule, professionals have more freedom to capture candid, authentic moments as they naturally unfold. This flexibility results in a wedding gallery filled with genuine emotions, from the spontaneous laughter shared during dinner to the unplanned dance-offs late into the evening.

Incorporating this flexibility doesn’t mean sacrificing structure; it’s about finding the right balance. Couples are working closely with their wedding planners to ensure that all key moments are captured, while still leaving space for the unexpected. After all, the beauty of a wedding lies not only in the planned events but in the surprises and emotions that come when everything flows naturally.

The 2025 wedding trends show us that couples are shifting toward more authentic, meaningful celebrations that reflect who they truly are. Whether through incorporating cultural traditions, breaking away from cookie-cutter photography, or embracing intimate, alcohol-free weddings, this year’s weddings will be more about savoring the experience than putting on a show.

If you're planning your wedding and want to capture every beautiful, candid moment, Moments by Frank can help you bring your vision to life. Let's make your 2025 wedding one to remember—filled with genuine emotion, beautiful moments, and a celebration that's perfectly you.