This year will see a range of quirky wedding trends become more mainstream as more and more brides and grooms step outside of the box and put their own personal stamp on their dream day. From couples embracing pampas grass décor, brides opting to walk down the aisle with their dogs, to a Hollywood style film of your big day, if you’re looking for unique ideas that will wow your guests, then make sure to visit the Bride of the Year Show in the RDS, Dublin on January 25-26. Ahead of the show we called on Sara Kennedy, one of Ireland’s leading wedding bloggers and author of ‘The Ultimate Wedding Planning Guide Ireland’ – and host of the ‘I Do’ School at the two day show - to reveal the biggest wedding trends you can expect to see in 2020.

Proposal and engagement trends2020 is a leap year, meaning you can expect to see more women proposing. Yes, that tradition is still alive and well, despite it being perfectly okay for women to propose on any day they fancy, not just February 29.

Sustainable WeddingsA white wedding with a green twist for those who are passionate about playing their role in saving the planet is easier than ever as brides, grooms and vendors recognise the increasing popularity of creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly wedding. Central to this is drastically reducing the amount of plastics used in your wedding and your carbon footprint – and there’s lots of ways you’ll see this happen. For their flowers, couples are choosing locally grown, seasonal and even foraged flowers to give an aesthetic edge and boost their eco-credentials. Expect to see more living trees and plants in ceramic pots and cool containers instead of cut flowers. These will be planted after the wedding or given as gifts to guests. Plastic favours and place settings will be replaced by seasonal fruit, like lemons in the summer, and used in alternative centrepieces and paper or bamboo straws will be the norm in reception drinks. Renting décor rather than buying everything for one use will become more popular with people sourcing and buying of social sites, and of course vegan. 2020 will be the year that we start to see more couples requesting vegan menu options.  

Animal MagicYou have invited your whole family, your cousins who you see once a year and your aunt who you only see at family weddings so why should your best (furry) friend miss out? 2020 will see more and more couples involving their pets in their wedding. Although pets at weddings can pose many challenges there are several creative ways to make sure your family pet is involved in the day. From hiring a pet sitter to having a quick photography shoot after the ceremony or having your furry friend donning a bow tie, the popularity of having your ‘extended’ family at your wedding will be a big hit in 2020.

Lights, Camera, ActionThe time for a standard wedding film with little creativity and extras added in is quickly becoming a thing of the past as many couples are using the opportunity to star in their own romance movie! With music incorporated in the right places, a mix of stills and moving footage, slow motion and drone shots, and even a teaser trailer, watching back your big day will be a cinematic experience for newly married couples and their guests.

Picture PerfectPhotography is a perfect way to capture all the various special moments of your big day however one trend that will really take off in 2020 will be the idea of capturing a special moment from your wedding day in a work of art. This artsy wedding trend of 2020 will see couples hiring artists to capture their special day on canvas. Whether the masterpiece is created by an artist on the day or through a commission from your wedding photos is up to you but the end product will be a treasured piece of art that is sure to capture the atmosphere of your big day forever.

To get wedding inspiration and to visit hundreds of exhibitors under one roof, make sure to check out the Bride of the Year Show at the RDS, Dublin on January 25-26. Featuring some of the hottest, hand-selected experts in the industry, brides and grooms will have the opportunity to enjoy bespoke fashion shows with the latest in wedding couture, preview elaborate floral designs and timeless wedding venues, discuss upcoming trends and tips with wedding experts, mingle with event designers, and sample the best desserts in the city. A great way to celebrate your engagement and get inspired for the big day, with show features, including the ‘I Do’ School and exclusive catwalk shows. For more show information or to book your ticket visit www.wed.ie or check out @WEDDublin on social.