Promoting public safety never goes out of style. During the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor gatherings are a lower health risk than anything indoors, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For this reason, 2021 ceremonies and receptions will commonly be held outside of the typical banquet hall and in the open air instead.

Multiple virus outbreaks have been linked to large 50-plus-person weddings across the U.S. So long as the coronavirus pandemic continues, the smaller and more intimate the wedding, the safer it is for all involved.

Still, not everything about the 2021 wedding is scaled down. Instead, consider spending a portion of the money you save by accommodating fewer wedding guests on bigger and bolder decor. Think voluminous floral arrangements, ceremony backdrops and light installations.

So long, white wedding. Fresh and vibrant colors like ‘60s-era pastels, peaches and powder blues as well as nature-inspired hues and other brighter color pallets are expected to be all the rage in 2021.

As with promoting public safety, supporting Black-owned businesses and vendors from other diverse backgrounds is more than a 2020 trend. Now more than ever, couples are looking to hire entrepreneurs from various backgrounds who stand for causes they support.

From dress shopping to virtual venue tours and digital invites, the internet was many couples’ saving grace in 2020. Video-chat services like Zoom and social media sites like Facebook also allowed for couples to broadcast their nuptials live to virtual attendees. All this is likely to continue in 2021, including “watch-party kits” sent to remote guests.

In-person attendees have and will continue to be treated to individual welcome kits stocked with hand sanitizer and a spare face mask. Other favors and take-home gifts can be easily stored in these simple gift boxes too.

As ceremonies and receptions head outdoors, tents have proven to be an affordable and customizable venue option. Not only do they come in all sizes and materials, tents can also be staked just about anywhere and provide a perfectly blank canvas to decorate how you please.

With the right lighting scheme, a larger indoor space can feel more intimate and comfortable. As for the outdoors, warm twinkling lights create a magical feel made for starting happily ever afters.

The standard rows of ceremony chairs and reception tables for eight are not conducive to social distancing. Instead, in 2021, turn to a more mismatched approach; scatter smaller tables fit for four or six across a larger outdoor space for a homey feel.

Furnish your venue like you would a home with plush pillows, sofas and throw blankets. Guests will likely spend more time seated with their party during a socially distanced gathering, so provide spaces for comfortable outdoor lounging.

Nothing warms the heart quite like nostalgia. And after 2020, all our hearts could use a little warmth. Whether by involving mid-century vintage charm or more familiar ‘90s throwback foods and drinks, look back for inspiration in 2021.

With a shorter guest list of just close friends and family, you may feel comfortable asking your guests to stick to an aesthetically pleasing wedding day look. Whether this means coordinating colors or styles, consider requesting that your guests stick to a dress code you like to help ensure your visual vision comes across as desired.

According to The Knot, weekday weddings have been on the rise for years. Venues charge less for off-peak days, meaning your dream venue may be doable for some other time during the week. Also, ready the mimosas because brunch weddings may be more cost-effective too.

Fewer people makes for fewer wedding-day complications. That means you can add a bit more fun to your day by surprising in-person guests or the virtual crowd with a personal touch. Consider a special guest performer or other fun forms of entertainment.

Plated hors d’oeuvres fit for one makes for a safe and easy cocktail hour. Arrange bite-size samplings of your favorite snacks and appetizers on grazing boards or in picket baskets for guests to take to-go. Another cocktail-hour trend is canned custom cocktails to-go.

Expect 2021 wedding cakes to grow smaller in size but bigger in detail. Single-tier cakes fit the look of a smaller wedding. It’s up to you whether to feature just a single one-tier cake or present two or more together in a row.

Take some pressure off your maid of honor or best man and embrace the tiny toast. Allow the intimate group of loved ones who get an in-person invite to share their favorite memory with you and your new spouse dinner-party style.

The social media reveal continues to get bigger and bigger. Work with a photographer to create an ultra-stylized photo shoot. Then, blast the photos all over your various social media accounts.

With COVID-19 travel restrictions carrying over into the new year, your best bet for a right-now honeymoon has got to be a “nanomoon” in your own backyard. This trend takes an even more small, local approach to the “minimoon” concept from previous years. For an ideal place to start, look no further than the most romantic adventure in your state. 

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