If you’re tying the knot next year, you’re probably already deep into wedding planning. At least we hope so!

The pandemic forced a lot of couples to postpone their weddings from 2020-2021 to next year, which means venues and vendors are booking quickly. Some report that they’re already booking weddings into 2023.

With just months to go for 2022 brides, we’ve put together a list of hot wedding trends expected next year.

Private vows.

More couples are opting to write their own vows and ditching traditional vows. Now we’re starting to see a trend of couples who are exchanging custom vows privately before or after their ceremony. We talk more in-depth about why this is becoming so popular in this blog post.

Some are even exchanging vows in a private letter, which they read apart from each other, before walking down the aisle.

Sequel weddings.

Why have only one wedding when you can have two? Many couples are choosing to have small ceremonies followed by their dream wedding — with an expanded guest list — much later. These are widely known as sequel weddings. And you’ve guessed it, we’ve blogged about sequel weddings and why the trend has been picking up steam in the last couple years.

Fringe & pampas grass.

From fringe lighting to pampas grass bouquets — boho weddings became a popular theme for weddings in 2021, and will continue to be a popular choice in 2022. This style is known for its more natural, contemporary look with a neutral, muted color scheme leading the way.

Circular wedding arches.

Whether it’s an arch for bridal showers, bachelorette parties, the alter or a wedding cake — round arches are all the craze right now. They can be decorated with flowers or made up of balloons. They come in all sizes too, and add a perfect layer of dimension to anything.

Bespoke weddings.

Bespoke weddings simply means the day has been created specifically for you and your future spouse. That includes your wedding invitations, wedding dress and the groom’s suit. Even the wedding cake is uniquely customized to your style. The list goes on. These weddings take a lot of work, time and creativity — but can be one of the most memorable weddings for guests. Not to mention, the personalizations make it that much more special to you and your fiancé(e) because nothing is cookie cutter.

Weekday weddings.

It used to be the norm to tie the knot on the weekend, but now more and more couples are booking their venues during the work week. It’s not only less expensive, but more vendors are available. We’ve got a blog post about why weekday weddings can be a smart choice.

Ghost decor.

We’re talking all things clear, including ghost chairs, acrylic table numbers and clear cake stands. We saw ghost decor become a fad in 2021, and we think it’ll continue into 2022 and beyond. Why not? It goes with just about anything — there’s no need to go hunting for matching decor to fit your wedding colors when you choose acrylics.

Minimalist wedding cakes.

Less is more when it comes to minimalist wedding cakes. Wedding cake bakers say solid colored cakes, especially white, are becoming the top picks among couples. They’re usually decorated with real or wafer paper flowers. Try out this trend, and blaze the trail, before everyone begins to jump on the bandwagon.

We love to follow wedding trends at Vows & Forever. If you’re noticing a wedding trend as you plan out your nuptials, comment below to share with Vows & Forever, other couples and wedding planners!

Vows & Forever is a wedding vows & speech writing service that also specializes in speech coaching. Maria Cid is the founder and owner of Vows & Forever, LLC.