Rather than formal and fussy, today’s wedding couples are choosing a more rustic ‘au natural’ approach when it comes to their ceremony, flowers, food and photos. The growing number of outdoor wedding ceremonies is driving the trend for flowers that are more natural looking rather than precisely arranged and photos that include candid shots. Food trends include farm-to-fork experiences and late-night treats like pizza and poutine.
Local wedding experts share this year’s hottest trends.
Trending themes
Rebecca Blance, owner of Loving Embrace Events in Orangeville has been a wedding planner for more than three years. She said the number one trend is outdoor wedding ceremonies, which influences the trends for flowers, food and even the colour of bridesmaid dresses.
“Eighty per cent of my wedding couples want their ceremony held outside with their reception indoors, and often ceremonies take place at a forest wedding site or a winery or a unique outdoor space,” said Blance. “This year we are seeing many shades of green, from the greenery used in the flowers and the décor, to the colour of the bridesmaid dresses. Macha green is a huge trending colour, along with pastels. Into fall we are seeing the more autumnal tones of orange, red and silk yellows.”
Blance said some of the traditions of the past have changed with new ones being introduced each season.
“Champagne towers are not a thing anymore – now it’s Espresso Martini towers or Aperol Spritz towers. Mobile bars are also trendy along with ‘His & Her Cocktails’.
One of the biggest trends the wedding planner is seeing for 2025 is the ‘old money aesthetic’ driven by the popularity of social media sites like Tik Tok and Pinterest.
“Sofia Richie really switched things up when she adapted the old money aesthetic with classic silhouettes and refined details,” said Blance. “It’s like that vintage Ralph Lauren look. The old money aesthetic has been popular for about a year or more and it has translated into wedding trends. I am seeing more lace in wedding glows in dresses that are chic, classy and minimal with an old money aesthetic. And lots of hair updos again. Black bridesmaid dresses are trendy, and one of my weddings couples made a rule that their guests must wear black. Only the bride and groom wore white. Black and white is such a classic, elegant look.”
While the ‘first look’ is still a huge trend (where the bride and the groom meet privately prior to the ceremony to exchange personal vows and take photos), a new trend is the ‘first touch’.
“This is where the couple meet prior to the ceremony and don’t look at each other, but instead they stand back-to-back and link arms and exchange private vows,” Blance said. “They can’t see each other but they can hear each other’s voices. This helps take away some of the anxiety of the big day before they walk down the aisle.”
Candid camera
Brendan Joel Purdy, Owner of Brendan Joel Photography in Orangeville is renowned for his documentary style of wedding photography.
“My style is laid back, documentary photography which is quite trendy now,” Purdy said. “Social media has been a huge influence on this more natural style of photography. It’s important to me to capture special moments to document a couple’s love for each other.”
The former music concert photographer shot his first wedding in 2012.
“Some of my photos I help stage, such as family photos to ensure everyone is in the photo, but I found that after I say look at the camera and smile over and over, there were these cute, more genuine moments that I captured, and everyone loves these candid photos.”
Purdy’s day as a wedding photographer starts early and ends late. He begins the day taking ‘getting ready’ photos of the groom and groomsmen followed by photographing the bride and bridesmaids before heading to the venue for the ceremony.
“The first look photos are still a big thing,” he said.
Purdy captures candid moments of the bridal couple and their guests at the ceremony, reception and dance. The photographer provides both colour and black and white edits of each image, so the couple has an option.
“Black and white photos are very on trend with the documentary style of photography as it really gives a soul to the image,” he said.
Asked if he has caught any mishaps during his years as a wedding photographer filming indoor and outdoor weddings, Purdy said, he had no horror stories to relay, but did have to watch myself when shooting and walking backward at the same time.
Fabulous floral fads
Jess Giovanatto, owner of Twine and Tendril in Grand Valley near Orangeville said her design style aligns with the current trend of more natural looking wedding florals.
“My style can be described as natural and a bit wild, leaning toward a more organic look by letting the flowers influence the bouquet, rather than a structured look,” said Giovanatto. “If a flower has a bend in it, I go with that and highlight it for a more natural look.”
She grows some flowers in her own garden, buys from local flower farms, orders flowers from select wholesalers and forages wildflowers on her parent’s 10-acre property.
“Today’s bridal bouquets are light and airy in beautiful colourful pastels in shades of lavender, buttercream yellow and pinks with light blue accents,” Giovanatto said. “Bridal bouquets are hand-tied rather than structured. The biggest trend we are seeing is that brides want seasonal flowers to showcase what’s in bloom and they appreciate being able to support local. There is a big movement toward flower farms. Flowers are grown locally and are picked fresh and don’t require several days of shipping.”
Spring wedding flowers can include tulips, larkspur, daffodils, raucous and other seasonal flowers, while summer bouquets can include peonies, zinnias, phlox, snapdragons, foxglove, yarrow and roses. Dahlias are popular garden-grown flowers for fall florals. Bouquets also feature foraged wildflowers such as Sweet Annie, Queen Anne’s Lace and others.
Bridesmaid bouquets typically match the bride’s bouquet but are smaller in size. Pocket boutonnieres for men are popular where a single flower pops out of the pocket of the groom and groomsmen, according to Giovanatto.
“The ceremony flowers depend on the setup,” she said. “If there is a stationary arch, we will add floral pieces to the arbour to match the bouquets. For the outdoor ceremony, I like to create what I call ‘floral meadows’ which sit on pedestals and look like they are growing in a meadow. These can also be repurposed for the reception.”
Floral arrangements are often used on the head table with a variety of bud vases displayed on the guest tables.
“For each vase I like to choose flowers that have interesting shapes and use them on their own or with a bit of greenery.”
Karen Cal, owner of Cedar & Stone Floral Studio has been a florist for more than 20 years. She moved into her studio in the Alton Mill Arts Centre in 2013. The floral designer has noticed a dramatic shift in wedding flower styles moving away from more traditional, structured looks to a more natural aesthetic which includes garden-grown flowers and items foraged in nature such as wildflowers, branches, and foliage.
“When Pinterest exploded several years ago this was the springboard for couples becoming more creative with their weddings, especially weddings held outdoors or in barns, vineyards and tents,” said Cal. “Personalization is the biggest wedding trend I am seeing right now with couples wanting to create something that speaks to them. It is a less cookie cutter approach. Flowers are a bit wilder and more rustic and natural with more foraged looks. I would describe the current trend as being natural and reflective of the environment they are getting married in.”
Cal said her signature style perfectly aligns with the current ‘au natural’ trend.
“My design style is unstructured, natural, organic and garden inspired.”
The florist lives in Caledon in a log cabin and forages on her property for branches, moss, and wildflowers. She grows her own peonies and hydrangeas and sources flowers from local growers as well as importers.
“For summer most people prefer pastels in shades of pink, light yellow, peach, purple and white,” said Cal. “Fall flowers are more vibrant in reds, yellows, and oranges with a mix of dahlias, hydrangeas, and foraged branches. Most bride’s bouquets are hand tied and are asymmetric with trailing greenery.”
For outdoor wedding ceremonies Cal prefers to use meadow flowers on arches and mounted floral pieces that can be moved indoors for the reception.
“If the guest tables are a mix of harvest tables and rounds, I like to suggest mixing styles of flowers in bud vases and larger centrepieces, so they add interest to the space and are not so perfectly matched. No two weddings are ever the same. I like to be creative and work with a couple to create something is unique and special to them.”
On the table trends
Born on the original Earth Day in the ‘70’s, Cynthia Beretta said she was destined to become an organic cattle rancher. She and her husband Michael own Beretta Farm and Beretta Kitchen in King City where they cater to weddings and events in their large barn, providing guests with unique farm-to-fork experiences. Beretta Farm animals are humanely raised without the use of antibiotics or hormones.
“The trend for organic farm-to-fork experiences is growing as couples are looking for something different for their wedding and a more wholesome approach,” said Beretta. “Our approach to farm-to-fork catering with vegetables and meats coming from our farm makes us unique. We are also an all-in-one venue where guests don’t have to leave as they can have the ceremony, reception and dinner on site. People love the farm experience.”
A Beretta Farm tradition is to curate a welcoming harvest table for the cocktail reception, laden with a bountiful array of farm-fresh produce, charcuterie, dips, spring rolls and more.
“We also do some hors’ oeuvres that are passed around. Our most popular ones are our Deep-Fried Mac & Cheese, Beef Sliders and Chicken and Waffles.”
It’s not unusual to see wedding couples taking photos with the horses or with a backdrop of cattle lazily grazing in the pastures.
“We can move our horses here from our farm in Mono to the King farm and can stage them for photos if requested,” said Beretta.
While the ceremony is often held outside, the dinner/dance is held in the Beretta Barn where they can accommodate up to 200 people.
“We can provide a buffet which can be a bit more economical, but most couples prefer French service for the plated sit-down meal,” she said. “Many couples are requesting family style service where the guests pass around the platters of food. This is fun and interactive and a nice way to break the ice with guests who may not know each other.”
The most popular dinner choice is the farm’s organic Black Angus Beef rib eye steaks or beef tenderloin, followed by chicken or fish.
“And no meal is complete without pasta or risotto! We can also accommodate vegan and vegetarian meals.”
There is a mobile kitchen on-site and most of the food is brought hot and fresh from the corporate catering kitchen in Etobicoke.
“We prefer that couples bring their own wedding cake, but we do dessert service. Our homemade chocolate chip ice cream sandwich is divine,” Beretta said. After all that dancing, guests get hungry. “People want fried food late night. We can do French Fries and our homemade corn dogs; various kinds of pizza and we have also done churros. Food can often make the occasion even more special.”
Cakes to cupcakes
Emily Clipperton did what many people dream of doing, she gave up her day job to follow her passion and opened her own bakery.
“I had been working in television and worked my way up to segment producer and when I got home, I would bake as a way to unwind,” said Clipperton. “I would often take some of my cupcakes to work to share with others. One day someone from MuchMusic asked me to do a cupcake display. Seeing the reaction, I left TV and opened my own bakery 15 years ago. I started out selling cupcakes at farmers’ markets before opening my own shop to specialize in wedding cakes and cupcakes.”
Clipperton’s work caught the eye of Martha Stewart. She designed a wedding cake for a couple in Toronto for their outdoor wedding and believes the couple submitted a photo of the cake to Martha Stewart Weddings.
“It was an abstract floral trend in a palette of pinks, blues and creams that looked like it was painted on to the cake. The photo was published on her website, and I saw my cake on her Instagram page. This was my biggest goal achieved.”
Clipperton sums up the trends for bridal cakes in three words, whimsical, abstract and bright.
“Brides are going back to vintage looks with heart shaped cakes or a romantic palette of painted florals that are pressed edible flowers that look like a work of art. Brides are also moving away from the traditional white or soft blush cakes we’ve seen for the past 10 years and are now choosing bright colours like citrus yellow, orange and coral. Abstract cakes can include domes and other interesting shapes. Whimsical is the non-shape where you let the buttercream work go naturally, but not too much.”
Edible flowers on a wedding cake can include pressed pansies, rose petals, lavender and apple blossoms.
“The pansies are bright yellow and purple. The bright colours are trending because people just want to have more fun with it and are choosing a cake that is just for them (for the cake-cutting ceremony).”
Instead of traditional vanilla or chocolate cake, the most popular wedding cake flavours at Crumb & Berry are Earl Grey Cake with Lavender Buttercream, Lemon Cake with Elderberry Buttercream and Pistachio Cake. The most popular cupcake flavours are the same, in addition to Vanilla Espresso, Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing and Vanilla Confetti Cupcakes. All cakes have Swiss meringue buttercream because with so many weddings being outdoors, this icing is the most stable.
Bride and groom cake figurines are making a comeback, according to Clipperton. “We are also seeing a big trend of couples wanting a little dog figurine placed at the bottom of the cake to look like their own dog is there with them and taking a bite of the cake. For heart-shaped cakes, it’s fun to pipe the words ‘Just Married’ across the top of the cake.