1. Soft Focus
Wedding photography is as much about capturing moods as it is about moments. Blurred images—like these portaits taken during Elizabeth “Ellie” Kairis and Andrew Rubin’s reception at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden—simulate a blissful, buzzy vibe. After taking more traditional group shots, photographer Hannah Laning remembers, “Ellie was so effervescent and full of joy, we told them to just start running around.” The shots, she says, “reflect the emotion of the moment.”
2. Pony Up
There are no rules when it comes to your wedding day. Don’t like wearing white? Choose another color! Not a fussy updo kind of gal? Style your tresses how you please! Physician’s assistant Julia Brown spends most of her days with her hair in a ponytail. “I feel most comfortable with my hair pulled back,” she says. For her wedding to Kelby Sullivan, she worked with her hair stylist at Brite Beauty to achieve a more elevated ponytail style that made her feel beautiful and like herself. Plus, it turned out to be practical, too. “It held up perfectly throughout the rain during the ceremony and during all of the dancing at the reception!” says the bride.
Photography: John Cain Photography
3. The New Neutral
Eschewing the classic white scheme, Whitney Graham opted for beige—more in keeping with her neutral aesthetic—for her May 26, 2024, wedding to Jonathan Rosenberg. “I definitely feel like you can make a statement with understated ‘colors,’ ” she says. The Julian Leaver Events and GRO Floral and Event Design teams incorporated the desaturated palette into bar facades and florals, while Fancy Cakes by Lauren delivered this cake in a coordinating shade. Says the bride of staying true to her tastes, “I wanted to look back on our wedding photos in 20 years and still love everything we chose.”
Photography: John Cain Photography
4. Bright Ideas
With their ability to add warmth to a reception space without the risk of open flames or the inconvenience of clumsy glass hurricanes, rechargeable lamps are the latest trend in wedding lighting. Available in a variety of sizes and styles, lamps also add a decidedly homey feel to any table, which was precisely the intended vibe for Natalie Goff and David Hansen—who said “I do” at her family’s lake house. “Incorporating table lamps was one of the key decisions in achieving the overall look and feel,” explains planner Corinne Sullivan of Social Graces Weddings and Events, adding that they “added an intimate ambience.”
Photography: John Cain Photography
5. Bigger is Better
When the height of your venue allows for it, we encourage couples to go big with their floral—advice Katie Kahrnoff and Chad Lyons took to heart! Large-scale faux flowers added a touch of whimsy to their Fort Worth Zoo wedding. The bride credits Molly Rasmussen of Pop Parties and David Kimmel of David Kimmel Design with bringing them to life. “I loved that it was unlike anything I had ever seen,” says Katie.
Photography: Stephanie Brazzle
6. Words from the Heart
When it comes to personalizing your wedding, no detail is too insignificant. Lynden Orr went so far as to customize cocktail napkins with words Luke Halbert had written to her during their high school days. “Little did he know, when he penned those words in 2011, that they would come full circle [and be] beautifully displayed at our wedding,” she says.
Photography: Jenna Routh
7. Behind (Almost) Closed Doors
Payton Shoemaker and Grant Fate, Aimee Seale and Cody Farmer, and Andrea Hawkins and Taylor Hearn are a few couples we saw partaking in the trend of stealing a smooch as the elevator doors close.
Photography: Shoemaker-Fate: Megan Kay Photography; Seale-Farmer: Copper Poppy Studios; Hawkins-Hearn: Megan Kay Photography
8. Two Looks In One
More brides are opting to change into second (and third!) looks as their wedding nights wear on. But separates can provide versatility without requiring entirely new ensembles. Taylor Revling topped her Romona Keveza gown with a sheer Peter Langner cape for her wedding ceremony to Hunter Westmoreland but removed it for the reception. “It gave me the versatility I was looking for without needing a complete outfit change!” she says.
Photography: Kalyn Shae Photography
9. Taking Shape
Over the years, we’ve seen plenty of unique takes on wedding cakes, but we can honestly say Rachel Champlin and Michael Jost’s custom-fit, table-sized confection was a first. For their wedding in Big Water, Utah, the couple collaborated with Utah-based baker The Shabby Iris Cottage and planner Jessica Pancake of ’Cause We Can Events to bring the idea to life. Says the bride of the confetti-flavored cake, “We loved the balance of elegance and fun.”
Photography: Lauren Mihae
10. Paint it Pink
There’s no reason not to let your signature color shine on your big day—especially when it coordinates with your new last name! “I love baby’s breath and wanted it to be everywhere in soft shades of pink,” says bride Mallory Taub of her wedding to Zachary Pink. She turned to the team at Branching Out Events, who tinted tufts of the delicate blooms that were used in decorative arrangements and bouquets.
Photography: Camera Shi Photography
11. Where the Heart Is
Sarah McLaughlin and Kurt Hanson know there’s no place like home. With the help of planner Caroline Fair of Caroline Events and designer Jackson-Durham, the couple welcomed guests to their reception at Fort Worth’s The Crescent Hotel with a simulated porch scene featuring a striped awning, lanterns, potted plants, and a large personalized doormat. Once inside, guests were treated to more residential touches, including a terra cotta–inspired dance floor that the bride says “was made to look like Mexican Saltillo tile—an homage to our ranch house in West, Texas.”
Photography: Sarah Kate, Photographer
12. Reservations Required
If an outside-the-box wedding is what you’re craving, why not celebrate at your favorite restaurant, bar, or concert venue? Following a ceremony at Temple Emanu-El, Rachel Lipkin and Rob Bajors celebrated their union at Oak Cliff’s Paradiso—the first place they’d dined after relocating to Dallas from Brooklyn, New York, three years earlier. “We knew we would have a lot of out-of-towners and wanted to show them our version of Dallas, and Paradiso was part of that,” Rachel says. The couple’s team—Blissful Weddings & Events and The Floral Eclectic—enhanced the restaurant’s decor with floral and fringe elements.
Photography: Bruna Kitchen Photography
13. Initial Impressions
Prior to saying “I do” in Aruba, Callie Lee and Matt Domagala kicked off their weekend festivities with a sunset-cruise welcome party. To get everyone in the island spirit, guests were greeted with a drink served in a coconut that featured the couple’s initials branded on the side. Callie praised her planner, Alice and Apricot’s Leslie Ochs, for turning “even the ‘expected’ or ‘mundane’ details into unforgettable moments.” Says Leslie, “It’s the smallest details of intentionality that take an event to the next level.” No coconuts? No problem. We’ve seen this branding technique used on everything from hamburger buns to leather luggage tags given as favors.
Photography: Lyndi Ruth Photography
14. Freshly Picked
Floral arrangements will always have their place at the table, but we love seeing more inventive centerpieces starting to flourish. Artfully arranged fruits and vegetables create a beautiful, bountiful backdrop for a culinary experience. For Megan Buhr and William Johnson—whose wedding was held at Flora Farms, an organic working farm in San José del Cabo, Mexico—the use of vine tomatoes, rambutan, and dark berries made perfect sense, bringing “a fresh, organic touch that complemented the deep red florals,” says planner Alexa Sharkey of Alexa Kay Events.
Photography: Meghan Baskin
15. They Got Game
Not wanting their Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden wedding to feel stuffy, Sally Wang and Ryan Mulvaney incorporated touches designed to help their guests let loose. In addition to a late-night candy machine, lawn games were “a great way to encourage guests to interact with one another,” Sally says, “and also encourage guests to explore the beautiful grounds and views of White Rock Lake.”
Photography: Sommer Daniel Photography
16. Show Your Stripes
Classic, preppy stripes are making their way into all manner of wedding-day details, from getting-ready pajamas to this pink-and-white twist on the traditional checkerboard dance floor. Julian Leaver Events’ Sarah Kane worked with Center Stage Floors to create the custom acrylic floor within the ballroom at Brook Hollow Golf Club, calling the finished look “impactful and still subtle.”
Photography: Shannon Skloss
18. Coffee Break
Champagne towers are an elegant, albeit somewhat predictable, detail to add to your big day. But an espresso martini tower? That’s a spin we can get behind. Planner Kirstin Rose Godat helped Stephanie Epshteyn and Sam Glazer treat their guests to their go-to drink during their Arlington Hall after-party. “Espresso martinis fit our vibe and vision for a great party,” says Sam. “We wanted to share our favorite cocktail with all of our friends in a fun and unique way that helped keep the party buzzing until the end!”
Photography: Joseph West
19. All Together Now
Claire Buechele and Bond Foster’s Arlington Hall reception was filled with tall arrangements and floral arches featuring a variety of blooms. But planner Jess Wegner and the florists at Branching Out Events decided the bar was a good place for a change of pace. “We decided to include several monobloomed arrangements to give the eye a break,” explains Jess. Branching Out’s Katy Roden Tujague says of this technique, also referred to as bloom blocking, “It’s a fun way to highlight any flowers the bride loves.”
Photography: John Cain Photography
20. Like Mother, Like Daughter
Sentimental brides, like Amy Arrington, have taken to wearing their mothers’ gowns to their rehearsals, sometimes updating them to suit their tastes. Following her and Payne Sullins’ dry run, Amy slipped off the long skirt in favor of a shorter one, thanks to some alteration magic courtesy of bridal designer Patti Flowers. Explains Amy, “Patti was able to disconnect the bottom, so I switched it into a mini for the dinner.”
Photography: Ryan Ray
21. Theme Party
The key to a successful theme party is the same as the secret to a successful marriage: commitment. We’re seeing lots of couples personalize portions of their celebrations—especially rehearsal dinners—in ways that speak to their shared hobbies, personal interests, or love stories. Bride Sally Wang decided to throw a totally Texan welcome party at Ferris Wheelers, as her groom, Ryan Mulvaney, had grown up competing in rodeos. In addition to serving classic Western food, Sally says, “We encouraged guests to dress in their best boots and Western attire. Ryan even built a roping dummy for guests to explore their inner cowboy or cowgirl.”
Photography: Sommer Daniel Photography
22. Rainbow Bright
Why choose one color when you love all of them? Interior designer Emily Noel jokes that she’s “allergic to gray and neutral colors.” For her wedding to Collin Porter, she elected to incorporate a range of vivid shades, starting with her bridesmaids’ attire—which included bold gowns and, with the help of florist David Kimmel Design, bouquets to match.
Photography: Waking Starlight Photography
23. Gather Round
We saw a lot of new twists on banquet tables this year, like S-shaped tables snaking through ballrooms. Winning points for originality is this U-shaped table at Heather Northcutt and Sam Shafer’s Hotel Drover reception. Planner Rachel Willis of Rachel Willis Events and florist Adri Smith of Moss Floral Design worked together to conceptualize the tree installation; then Rachel designed the head table around it to maximize space in the ballroom. The nontraditional shape, Heather says, “was all Rachel’s creativity!”
Photography: Megan Kay Photography
24. (After) Party Animals
Don’t want the night to end when the reception lights come on? Take a cue from Megan Shaver and Caleb Bardin, who preemptively solved their post-wedding blues by throwing a raucous bash immediately following their elegant Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek reception. “The after-party allowed us to keep the momentum going and ensured our guests could celebrate together rather than splitting up to find another place to continue the night!” says the bride, who relished the opportunity to let loose with her all-pink theme. “It’s such a fun way to showcase your personality and create something uniquely yours.”
Photography: John Cain Photography
25. Go Viral
In the same way that social media–friendly backdrops at retailers and restaurants encourage patrons to post, giving guests a ready-made spot to take pictures gets them excited to snap and share photos of your celebration. Planner Leslie Ochs created this photogenic dessert station at the Thompson Dallas reception of former Texas Rangers pitcher (and milkshake connoisseur) Taylor Hearn and bride Andrea Hawkins. “We teamed up with Tongue in Cheek Ice Cream to create a one-of-a-kind milkshake bar for guests to indulge in!” says Leslie.
Photography: Megan Kay Photography
