Are you in the middle of planning a 2020 wedding for yourself or your loved ones? If so, you’re in the right place. In this blog post, we share 3 must-see wedding trends for a stunning wedding in 2020! We offer specific tips on how to plan a trendy wedding in the best way possible, including tips on how you can make your wedding more environmentally-friendly, planning a smart menu, and current wedding dress trends.

As each new year arrives, some trends are lasting and some fade away. We’ll highlight some trends that are here to stay to help inspire your 2020 wedding plans. But, there’s also something very special about planning the wedding of your dreams, even if that dream is against the grain and not “trendy”.
So, for some inspiration and ideas to make your wedding one for the books, here are 3 Tips for a Stunning Wedding in 2020!

1) Make Your Wedding Eco-Friendly

Green weddings have been on the rise for a few years now and continues to grow in 2020. More wedding planners and couples are interested in decreasing unnecessary waste in their big day. An estimated 400 pounds of garbage is created plus 63 TONS of carbon emissions from each wedding. At an average 2.3 million weddings a year in the US, that’s 1 BILLION pounds of trash produced a year from weddings in the US alone. It’s pretty shocking when you look at those numbers on paper, so an eco-friendly wedding aims to reduce waste first and foremost. Reducing waste is the first step, before reusing, and then recycling.

We understand a lot of time and money in wedding planning is all in the details – and we get it. But, you can still have lovely details and create less waste. Here are some helpful tips for planning an eco-friendly wedding:
    • Limit the number of printed paper items you have (menus, place cards, etc.) Have only one menu per table, rather than individual menus. Use stationary made of recycled materials or, even better, seed paper. Invitations printed on seed paper will be appreciated, and then instead of going into the landfill, ask your friends to plant the seed paper. This is something fun and unique that will make your wedding invitations stand out among the rest! Most importantly, it’s a way to reduce your waste and offset your carbon emissions by planting something new.
    • Choose locally-sourced foods and beverages – as local as possible. This will reduce the amount of emissions caused from transportation of those goods. Plus, you’ll be supporting local businesses which is always nice.
    • In menu planning, consider how many courses are truly necessary. So much food gets wasted during weddings – people are excited, busy, talking, and dancing. There are countless plates tossed out at the end of the night from uneaten food.
    • Encourage guests to carpool or arrange a shuttle service to transport everyone.
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    • Hold the ceremony and reception in the same location. While this isn’t always an option, it’s a great way to reduce emissions. Plus, that means no one has to leave and everyone can let go and enjoy themselves.
    • Look for an eco-friendly wedding venue. These are growing in popularity, so look for venues that use low-energy electricity or maybe even solar power.
    • Set up your ceremony and reception area in a way that makes it easy for everyone to dispose of their waste properly, including in the back of the house where the staff will be handling the waste. For example, place clearly marked compost, recycle, and landfill bins visible so that the staff (or guests) know where everything goes. People are more prone to do the right thing if it’s easy and accessible for them in a pinch. Place several bins in the kitchen or prep area and instruct all staffers what items go in each bin.
    • Consider upcycling the bridal gown or ring. “Upcycling” means you take something that’s already made and repurpose it. It reduces waste and is a special way to integrate an heirloom into your big day.
    • Buy a second-hand wedding dress. More brides are choosing this option because they know they’ll only wear the dress once.
    • Decorate with potted plants instead of cut flowers and plants. At the end of the night, flowers are just thrown in the trash. Most couples think their guests will take them home, but that doesn’t happen most of the time. So, decorate with potted plants still attached to their roots. Consult local plant nurseries to inquire about renting plans and potted flowers.
    • Communicate with your caterer and wedding planner that it’s important to you to reduce waste as much as possible. Ask them for ideas about how to reduce waste.

2) Plan a Smart, Inclusive Menu

Today, it’s becoming more common for people to have dietary restrictions and special diets due to food sensitivities or personal choice. Instead of the traditional chicken, beef, or fish, ask your caterer to get creative with the menu. The foodie scene is alive today, so I’m sure your guests will appreciate exciting options that they might not encounter elsewhere. Include a vegan option for those who don’t eat animal products (dairy or meat). Be sure to list a vegan option in the RSVP meal order, that way you can determine if a vegan option is necessary.

Another fun trend within menu planning is to plan an interactive experience for your guests. Invite local businesses, food growers, distillers, brewers, wine or cheese makers, or olive growers to supply local products for your wedding and hold a tasting for the guests. This is a fun alternative to the traditional cocktail hour and wedding guests seem to love it! We hear it’s a great way to break everyone out of their shell and encourage people to mingle, interact, and try something new while they’re at it. It’s classy and fun, inclusive to the local community, and will bring everyone together.
As we mentioned above, opt for fewer courses in your menu. A two-course meal is rising in popularity because so much food had gone uneaten or wasted in years past. Plan only two delicious courses for your guests so they’re not overstuffed, that way they’ll have more energy to have fun and party.
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3) Consider Ruffles or Puffy Sleeves for Your Bridal Look

What kind of bridal dress company would we be if we didn’t mention the 2020 wedding gown trends? This year, bridal gown designers have brought back the ruffle and puffy sleeve look. We’re seeing beautiful gowns that balance these features well with the rest of the design. Instead of thinking 80’s big gown, big sleeves, big shoulder pads – think, modern, airy design with nostalgic ruffles or puffy sleeves. Some are saying it’s about finding a tasteful balance between ruffle and slim.

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If you choose a gown with especially pronounced ruffles or puffy sleeves, we suggest minimizing your accessories. Draw the attention to your gown and you by not overdoing the look with unnecessary accessories.

These are our top 3 tips for planning a stunning wedding in 2020! We hope you feel inspired and excited to plan your celebration the way you and your partner want it to be. As a loving reminder, Madame Bridal encourages every person and couple getting married to remember what’s important to them! Whatever that is, be sure to incorporate those themes into your special day. Time and time again, we’ve heard wedding couples announce later that they wish they’d done things differently. So, if you’ve been hoping to be given this permission – take it from us here. There is no such thing as a perfect wedding, even though it looks perfect on Instagram, in magazines, and on blogs. Get inspired by what others do and get excited to make it your own. You can do whatever you want for your wedding – it’s your day and we celebrate that!