A LOOK AT THIS YEAR’S BIGGEST WEDDING TRENDS
Gen Z has officially entered the wedding chat.
Our latest survey of 11,500+ couples (our largest survey ever!) shows that 2026 is all about intentionality. Today’s weddings are deeply sentimental yet modern—think budget-savvy planning meets highly personal details. It’s a year of remixing traditions to ensure every choice feels right for the couple at the heart of the celebration.
2026 marks the first year that Gen Z makes up the majority of our surveyed couples at 51%—officially surpassing Millennials.
Planning continues
to precede the proposal.
1 in 5 couples are taking real planning steps before getting engaged.
• 18 months is the average engagement length, holding steady from last year.
• Early venue planning is on the rise: couples touring venues before getting engaged increased from 8% to 10%, while those booking venues rose from 6% to 7%.
• Approximately 64% of couples find beginning wedding planning before an engagement to be "acceptable" etiquette.
Costs remain high, while couples prioritize big-budget items.
Rather than scaling back celebrations, couples are making intentional tradeoffs; saving on smaller details to protect their “hero” categories.
• Average costs hold steady: Weddings in 2026 average $36,000, remaining at a record-high for the second year in a row.
• Strategic "scrimp vs. splurge": Couples are saving on items like favors (48%) and stationery (36%) to “splurge” on categories like the venue (47%) and photography (45%).
• Budget realities: 52% of couples are putting other major life milestones, like buying a home or paying down student debt, on hold to afford their wedding.
Social media is fueling the budget vs. aspiration gap.
Comparison is shaping real spending behavior. 87% of all couples say they have made wedding planning decisions based on something they saw on social media.
• The most "essential" social tool: 25% of couples now rank TikTok as their #1 planning tool—up from 15% in 2025—while Pinterest’s "most essential" status has slipped from 51% to 47%.
• The comparison cost: Nearly half of all couples (48%) updated their budget specifically to achieve something they saw online.
• Pinterest is still the go-to: 77% of all couples use Pinterest for wedding inspiration, up from 75% in 2025.
• TikTok takes the stage: 50% of all couples now get their wedding inspiration from TikTok—up from 41% last year, driven largely by Gen Z.
This year’s aesthetic
is natural, by design.
Couples are choosing beauty that feels timeless, not attention-seeking.
• Color of the year: Sage Green appears in 30% of weddings, with 53% of weddings incorporating green in some shade.
• Documentary-style photography: 67% prefer natural, unposed photos.
• Eco-conscious decor: 49% use locally sourced or seasonal blooms, and 39% incorporate vintage or pre-loved decor.
• Romantic venues: Outdoor garden venues remain the #1 choice for the second year in a row, followed by rustic farms, barns, and ranches.
The 2026 wedding approval matrix.
Here’s what’s in and out for this year’s wedding trends:
AI handles the admin. Humans handle the moments that matter.
AI has become a core planning tool for 2026 couples, but with clear boundaries. They’re embracing AI for efficiency, while keeping emotional milestones firmly human.
• Mainstream AI adoption: 54% of couples planning weddings use AI in some capacity; a 150% increase in one year.
• Logistical heavy lifting:
- 54% use it to answer complex etiquette questions (e.g., plus-one rules or dress codes).
- 44% use it to manage timelines and to-do lists.
- 40% use it to draft emails to vendors or guests.
• Human-first vendors: Despite rising tech use, 99% of couples agree that human wedding vendors remain essential to bringing their ideas to life.
Self-care is a high-priority investment.
To feel confident heading into the big day, couples are spending an average of $1,100 on beauty, physical health, and mental well-being.
• Looking and feeling their best: Every couple surveyed cares about this; 85% say it’s extremely important, and the remaining 15% say it’s important.
• Mental health matters: 32% of couples are changing their mental health routines, be it through therapy, journaling, or meditation.
• Counseling as wellness: 20% are investing in pre-marital counseling or couples therapy as part of their “wellness” budget.
Why this matters: As wedding culture evolves, couples are navigating more pressure alongside more choice. By sharing this data, we aim to reflect that reality, and remind you that you’re not alone.
Planning for the partnership.
Wedding planning isn’t just about the day; it’s practice for marriage. Beyond logistics, planning reveals how couples share responsibility, support each other, and define what matters most in their future together.
How planning impacts the partnership:
- 44% say planning brought them closer together.
- 40% say their relationship remained strong and unchanged.
- Partners consistently rank each other as their #1 source of support.
How the planning is shared:
- 84% of women say they carry more of the planning load in heterosexual relationships.
- Only 29% of same-sex couples report splitting planning equally.
- 93% of primary planners say they take on more because they’re more detail-oriented, not because they have more time.
How the planning is shared:
- 84% of women say they carry more of the planning load in heterosexual relationships.
- Only 29% of same-sex couples report splitting planning equally.
- 93% of primary planners say they take on more because they’re more detail-oriented, not because they have more time.
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Our latest survey of 11,500+ couples (our largest survey ever!) shows that 2026 is all about intentionality. Today’s weddings are deeply sentimental yet modern—think budget-savvy planning meets highly personal details. It’s a year of remixing traditions to ensure every choice feels right for the couple at the heart of the celebration.
2026 marks the first year that Gen Z makes up the majority of our surveyed couples at 51%—officially surpassing Millennials.
Gen Z has officially entered the wedding chat.
1 in 5 couples are taking real planning steps before getting engaged.
- 18 months is the average engagement length, holding steady from last year.
- Early venue planning is on the rise: couples touring venues before getting engaged increased from 8% to 10%, while those booking venues rose from 6% to 7%.
- Approximately 64% of couples find beginning wedding planning before an engagement to be "acceptable" etiquette.
Planning continues
to precede the proposal.
Costs remain high, while couples prioritize big-budget items.
Rather than scaling back celebrations, couples are making intentional tradeoffs; saving on smaller details to protect their “hero” categories.
- Average costs hold steady: Weddings in 2026 average $36,000, remaining at a record-high for the second year in a row.
- Strategic "scrimp vs. splurge": Couples are saving on items like favors (48%) and stationery (36%) to “splurge” on categories like the venue (47%) and photography (45%).
- Budget realities: 52% of couples are putting other major life milestones, like buying a home or paying down student debt, on hold to afford their wedding.
Comparison is shaping real spending behavior. 87% of all couples say they have made wedding planning decisions based on something they saw on social media.
- The most "essential" social tool: 25% of couples now rank TikTok as their #1 planning tool—up from 15% in 2025—while Pinterest’s "most essential" status has slipped from 51% to 47%.
- The comparison cost: Nearly half of all couples (48%) updated their budget specifically to achieve something they saw online.
- Pinterest is still the go-to: 77% of all couples use Pinterest for wedding inspiration, up from 75% in 2025.
- TikTok takes the stage: 50% of all couples now get their wedding inspiration from TikTok—up from 41% last year, driven largely by Gen Z.
Social media is fueling the budget vs. aspiration gap.
Couples are choosing beauty that feels timeless, not attention-seeking.
- Color of the year: Sage Green appears in 30% of weddings, with 53% of weddings incorporating green in some shade.
- Documentary-style photography: 67% prefer natural, unposed photos.
- Eco-conscious decor: 49% use locally sourced or seasonal blooms, and 39% incorporate vintage or pre-loved decor.
- Romantic venues: Outdoor garden venues remain the #1 choice for the second year in a row, followed by rustic farms, barns, and ranches.
This year’s aesthetic
is natural, by design.
Here’s what’s in and out for this year’s wedding trends:
The 2026 wedding approval matrix.
AI has become a core planning tool for 2026 couples, but with clear boundaries. They’re embracing AI for efficiency, while keeping emotional milestones firmly human.
- Mainstream AI adoption: 54% of couples planning weddings use AI in some capacity; a 150% increase in one year.
- Logistical heavy lifting:
- 54% use it to answer complex etiquette questions (e.g., plus-one rules or dress codes).
- 44% use it to manage timelines and to-do lists.
- 40% use it to draft emails to vendors or guests.
- Human-first vendors: Despite rising tech use, 99% of couples agree that human wedding vendors remain essential to bringing their ideas to life.
AI handles the admin. Humans handle the
moments that matter.
To feel confident heading into the big day, couples are spending an average of $1,100 on beauty, physical health, and mental well-being.
- Looking and feeling their best: Every couple surveyed cares about this; 85% say it’s extremely important, and the remaining 15% say it’s important.
- Mental health matters: 32% of couples are changing their mental health routines, be it through therapy, journaling, or meditation.
- Counseling as wellness: 20% are investing in pre-marital counseling or couples therapy as part of their “wellness” budget.
Why this matters: As wedding culture evolves, couples are navigating more pressure alongside more choice. By sharing this data, we aim to reflect that reality, and remind you that you’re not alone.
Self-care is a high-priority investment.
Planning for the partnership
Wedding planning isn’t just about the day; it’s practice for marriage. Beyond logistics, planning reveals how couples share responsibility, support each other, and define what matters most in their future together.
How planning impacts the relationship:
- 44% say planning brought them closer together.
- 40% say their relationship remained strong and unchanged.
Partners consistently rank each other as their #1 source of support.
How the planning is shared:
- 84% of women say they carry more of the planning load in heterosexual relationships.
- Only 29% of same-sex couples report splitting planning equally.
- 93% of primary planners say they take on more because they’re more detail-oriented, not because they have more time.
Why couples really want to have a wedding:
- 8 in 10 couples believe marriage is about growing together and building a future.
- 74% say the wedding is about bringing family and friends together.
A LOOK AT THIS YEAR’S BIGGEST WEDDING TRENDS