Festive, fun or formal — this year’s weddings can be as personal as the couple’s imagination. Local experts share this year’s trends.
Regan Duffy offers wedding planning and day-of coordinating. Often, brides have already made their selections by the time they hire Duffy to make sure their special day goes according to plan. So, Duffy has seen several ideas and trends for central Illinois.
Fabrics and colors
Mismatched bridesmaid dresses of different styles and colors that fit each one’s body and style better are popular, according to Duffy. Bridesmaid dresses now include patterns, not just solid colors, and bolder colors.
Keep it personal and calm
“This is one of the most important days of your lives. It’s a reflection of your love and commitment to each other. What’s most important to you should be reflected throughout your day,” said wedding planner Regen Duffy.
It’s personal, and can be unconventional, but some elements are tried-and-true. The first dances, couple’s portraits and some kind of personal vow – whether before or during the ceremony – are always in style.
“Find someone who will bring your vision to life. Interview them like you would any professional service. Ask your friends. You want someone who can keep it together when things go wrong and no one ever knows,” Duffy said. “A calm wedding day doesn’t happen by accident. When you’re not worried about the vendors getting there on time, the candles being lit, the flowers being delivered, you can take a deep breath and enjoy your day.”
“This is definitely the year of the colorful look,” she said. The all-black timeless look is also still popular, she added, but now in a combination of mismatched styles.
The patterns and bold colors trend continues into the reception with patterned table linens and napkins. Duffy likes the trend. “I love it. I’m here for that.”
Duffy is seeing more texture and dimension in both the ceremony and reception, such as a designed backdrop for the ceremony and more depth and beauty on the tables. More elaborate designs may include a mirror or stone under the floral arrangement, greenery around the table – not just in the floral centerpiece – and more.
Wedding planner Regan Duffy at the winter Springfield Elegant Wedding Expo.
“You’re not going to see designers just set a flower arrangement onto the table,” Duffy said. “They’re using more elevated designs.”
Guest experiences
Guest involvement continues to evolve beyond the perennially popular photo booth. Duffy likes the use of shared photo albums, whether with one of the websites or do-it-yourself. Couples can put a framed QR code at the bar or on cards on tables that guests can use to share their photos and videos with the couple.
“It gives the couple access to guests’ perspectives that are different from the photographer, videographer, or content creator who was hired for the event,” Duffy said. The shared photos show the guests’ point of view of the day in candid moments which can also be used for TikTok and reels.
Duffy worked one wedding where the couple created a giant white-board crossword puzzle with 20 or so clues about the couple’s personalities and history. Guests had fun figuring out the clues and filling in the answers during the cocktail hour.
“The guests really loved that! It’s the type of playful and whimsical thing that engages the guests and is a reflection of the couple,” she said. “These are the unique elements people remember about the day.”
Some couples hire live artistry experiences for guest caricatures and wedding scenes. Guests can mingle and share drinks while they watch the artist paint or draw the experience.
And couples are increasingly making food choices that reflect what they really love. Instead of a traditional choice of plated chicken or steak, couples are offering a taco bar, barbecue buffet, pasta bar or other food station. Some add an actual food cart.
Kelly Koch, owner of Clementine Cart Co., curates a variety of options popular at area weddings. Her mobile food cart experience is styled to fit the event with desserts presented on a specialty food and beverage cart specifically chosen by the couple.
Kelly Koch, owner of Clementine Cart Co., uses mobile food carts to curate a variety of options for area weddings, with each styled to fit the event. PHOTO COURTESY CLEMENTINE CART CO.
“Guests get to watch their treats being prepared, customize them and engage with the experience – that’s a big part of the appeal,” Koch said. “Interest has grown very quickly.”
Reservations and details for mini-pancakes, loaded acai, savory and dessert charcuterie, signature drinks and popcorn are arranged online, and then Koch curates experiences on site.
Whether guests are waiting for the wedding party photos to be finished or they want to take a break from the dance floor, the mobile cart offers a fun diversion and delicious treat. The choices are all popular, but the guest favorite so far is the mini-pancake cart.
“People love that it’s not just about the food. It’s the experience,” Koch said. “Guests stop, watch, customize their pancakes, and it becomes a little moment of joy during the event. It’s nostalgic, interactive and fun to photograph, which makes it especially popular at weddings and celebrations. It’s one of those things guests talk about long after the event is over.”
Lights and flowers
Jamie Sneed is owner of Alpha-Lit Marquee Letters, which is a collection of giant lighted marquis letters. “It’s a big, bold, fun, unique statement.”
Ashley Peecher, owner and producer of The Elegant Wedding Expo, highlights Alpha-Lit and other big-experience immersive lighting such as LED dance floors, projection mapping, interactive lighting, cold sparklers and more as exciting aspects of the “highly intentional, experience-driven celebration wedding.”
Peecher said, “Meaningful moments, guest experience, interactive entertainment, elevated food and drink, and personalization over excess … are all design choices that feel curated rather than cookie-cutter. They create memories.”
However, when it comes to flowers, the trend is smaller. Sneed also owns True Colors Floral in Springfield and said this year, popular looks will feature wildflowers in bouquets with lots of stems and smaller heads, in many colors.
Roses will always be timeless, classic and gorgeous because they come in so many colors, and can be used in so many ways, whether as sprays or bouquets. But Sneed said featured flowers this year will more likely be calla lilies, daisies, lavender, poppies, ranunculus, anemones and other wildflowers arranged in more of a “just-picked look.”
“The clean, classic whites and greens that lasted several years,” as well as muted colors, “are on the way out. When I look at a room, I’ll see white linens with bold floral accents,” Sneed said.
“It is important to work with an educated florist who can guide you to the correct flowers for your season and the time and setting of your wedding,” Sneed said. You may love tulips, for example, but the minute they are exposed to bright light and warmth, they will likely open beyond the intended design of the bouquet. Peonies, which are in season locally April through June or so, will be harder to keep and much more expensive for a September event.
This article appears in February 12-18, 2026.
