Wedding trends we’re ready to retire

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Before we get into this one, a gentle disclaimer: if you’ve done any of the things on this list at your wedding, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Your wedding was yours, it was beautiful, and nobody is coming for your choices.

But if you’re still in the planning stages? Pull up a chair. We asked some of the best vendors in our directory to share the trends they’d quietly (and not so quietly) love to see retired; and their answers were brilliant, practical and, in some cases, very funny.

Consider this your permission slip to let a few things go.

Trends that prioritise content over connection.

The team at Prunella put this beautifully: weddings feel most powerful when they’re personal, not performative. They’re ready to retire overly staged “content moments,” copy-and-paste signage, bridal parties chosen for symmetry, and design choices that don’t reflect the couple’s actual story.

Whilst style can be a resonant, important part of a milestone celebration, a wedding is a rare gathering of the people you love most in one place. Consider balancing aesthetic with atmosphere. Thoughtful details with trending ones. Creating a celebration that feels grounded in who you genuinely are.

The three-page Pinterest shot list.

This one comes from photographer Georgia Verrells, and she put it perfectly: when a photographer is constantly glancing down at a list trying to tick off 47 poses, they’re not fully present. They’re not watching your mum wipe away a tear. They’re not noticing your partner’s hand resting on your back. They’re not anticipating those quiet in-between moments you didn’t even realise were happening.

The most meaningful images don’t come from recreating someone else’s wedding. They come from a photographer being completely immersed in yours.

Save the Pinterest board for inspiration by all means, but then trust the person you hired. You chose them for a reason.

Browse Ivory Tribe’s curated wedding photographers to find someone whose style matches yours.

The wedding cake as the only option (hear them out).

This one’s controversial, but the At The Heads team make a compelling case: there are other options to either accompany or replace a wedding cake.

Their alternative?

A tiramisu tower.

Layers of coffee-soaked sponge, mascarpone, a dramatic dusting of cocoa — it’s got the height, the wow factor, and an effortless Italian elegance that works beautifully as a centrepiece.

Sometimes the unexpected can be the most memorable.

Overpacked timelines with no breathing room.

This one came up multiple times, from photographers Georgia Verrells and Phoebe Dunn , and it’s something I see as a celebrant too (Chloe here – hi 👋). Weddings that are scheduled down to the minute rarely feel the way couples imagined they would. When there’s no space to pause, conversations are cut short, emotions are rushed, and the day starts to feel like a checklist rather than a celebration.

Some of the best moments happen in the gaps. The deep breaths. The hugs that last a little longer. The laughter that wasn’t planned.

Georgia actually works with her couples on their timelines to make sure this doesn’t happen — and it’s worth asking your planner/photographer/videographer/celebrant if they’ll do the same. A little breathing room goes a long way.

We explored this in more detail in our recent article, How to Make a Ceremony Feel Personal, which is worth a read if you’re still mapping out your day.

Endless speeches.

Celebrant Tee from Marry Me Tee said it best: the solution isn’t fewer speeches, it’s better-curated ones. Be intentional about who you ask, give them clear boundaries, and offer a time guide. A few well-crafted words will always land better than an open mic that runs long.

As someone who’s sat through a lot of wedding speeches (a lot), I can confirm this is universally true.

For more advice on reception planning, our Why hire a professional MC feature contains a lot of tips from Precious Celebrations, and download our MC Guide and Runsheet.

Guests arriving way too early.

Celebrant Brooke Brodie raised this one, and it’s so practical it probably doesn’t get talked about enough. When guests arrive more than 30 minutes before the ceremony, vendors and the venue are often still setting up — there’s nowhere to sit, no bar open, no music playing. Vendors work hard to ensure that guests are arriving into a welcoming space, so if you’re a guest- try and time it to arrive 15-20 minutes before the ceremony begins.

For couples, the fix is simple: be clear on your invitations about your guest arrival time and consider adding the ceremony start time also – eg. “4pm arrival for 4:30 ceremony”.

Florals that exist purely for the gram.

Jacinta from Champagne Electric had a few she’s ready to retire: calla lilies en masse, overdramatic draping, tablescapes that block conversation with too-tall arrangements, and ceremony florals that aren’t repurposed for the reception.

On the calla lily front specifically, it’s not that they’re not beautiful. But mass demand puts pressure on growers and wholesalers, quality suffers when flowers are forced to be available year-round and in huge quantities, and imports replace locally grown stems.

Jacinta’s advice? Share an overall style or vision with your florist and ask for substitutions. You’ll often end up with something more interesting, more seasonal, and more you than what’s trending on everyone else’s feed.

She’d also gently retire the pure-white palette. Whilst it is a classically elegant palette, colour, when done well, brings a rich depth and personality to a space.

The giving away.

Bellarine Celebrant Sue Warner kept it to two words, and honestly, they were enough. The tradition of “giving away” the bride has its roots in a time when women were considered property, passed from father to husband. Many modern couples (and celebrants) are moving away from this.

That doesn’t mean you can’t walk down the aisle with your dad, your mum, both parents, your best friend, your dog, or step it out solo. It just means the language around it can evolve. Being “accompanied by” or “supported by” someone you love hits differently, and perhaps, more honestly — than being “given away.”

The bouquet toss.

The team at The Shearing Shed made a fair point: this tradition not only risks putting your single friends on the spot, but spare a thought for your florist watching their work of art hurtling through the air.

Their alternative (and I LOVE this one): gift your bouquet to a family member or someone special during your speeches. It’s a moment that actually means something — and your bouquet survives the night.

See our round up of beautiful bouquets of 2025 for some stunning style inspiration.

Plastic photo booth props.

Photographer Phoebe Dunn said the quiet part out loud: it’s okay to retire the box of plastic moustaches on sticks. A beautiful backdrop and a group of happy guests is more than fun, and gives timeless images, over novelty props.

And one more (potentially unpopular) opinion…

Heart-shaped sunglasses. They’ve had their moment. Instead, look for elegant, chic styles that suit your overall vibe.

The real takeaway?

None of this is about shaming anyone’s choices. It’s about giving you permission to question the things you assumed you had to include, and to build a wedding that reflects what actually matters to you over what’s trending.

Because the weddings we remember most? They’re the ones that felt like the couple.

Every vendor featured in this article is part of the Ivory Tribe directory — hand-picked suppliers who prioritise authenticity, personality and doing things differently. If you’re looking for a wedding team that will help you build a day that feels like you rather than a trend, start your search here.

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