3 Wedding Trends Gen Z & Millennials Think Are Going Out of Style - YPulse (2024)

Back to insights

  • Article
  • Article

North America

3 Wedding Trends Gen Z & Millennials Think Are Going Out of Style - YPulse (1)

  • Mar 16 2022

3 Wedding Trends Gen Z & Millennials Think Are Going Out of Style - YPulse (2)
2022 is supposed to be a wedding boom, but Gen Z and Millennials think these three wedding traditions are going out of style…

TL;DR:

  • Traditional white and ivory dresses are no longer the default choice for young brides—more are choosing colorful, bold, and celestial-inspired patterns
  • Grooms are stepping in to help plan weddings instead of leaving it all up to the bride, as more young couples say goodbye to gendered traditions
  • Big, expensive engagement rings are slowly going out of style among young people opting for simpler, affordable gemstones and gender-neutral statement bands

The wedding industry is certainly one that was hit hard by the pandemic. But The Knot predicts there will be a wedding boom in 2022 with an estimated 2.6 million wedding celebrations expected to take place this year. Meanwhile, YPulse’s recent weddings report shows that 35% of young people have attended or plan to attend a wedding this year, compared to 29% in 2021. The wedding boom is on—but what wedding trends will come with it?

Brides and grooms might be leaving some traditions behind in this new wedding wave. We told you about the top pandemic wedding trends young consumers think will stay in style, which included everything from backyard weddings to micro-weddings with a few friends and family. Our behavioral data found the number of young consumers who say big receptions are staying in style went down from 80% in 2019 to 64% in 2022. So, even though experts are predicting that some couples are expected to host “blowout bashes” to make up for lost time, many are still opting for smaller wedding celebrations to continue keeping themselves and their guests safe, with some hosting “sequel weddings” (multiple weddings with smaller guest counts). In fact, some wedding planning businesses have already adapted to this change: D’Concierge Weddings, Essential I Dos, and Minnie Weddings began offering a “micro-wedding package” for their clients early on during the pandemic.

But our research has been showing that some wedding trends have been falling out of style with young consumers for some time. In our behavioral survey, we asked 13-39-year-olds “Do you think the following wedding traditions are staying in style?” and compared them to previous years. Along with big receptions, we found that these three wedding trends have seen significant declines among Gen Z and Millennials:

3 Wedding Trends Gen Z & Millennials Think Are Going Out of Style - YPulse (3)
Brides Wearing White / Ivory Dresses
Gone are the days of brides only wearing traditional white / ivory wedding dresses. YPulse research found that the majority of young females want their dresses to be unique and different, and the number of young consumers who say wearing traditional white / ivory weddings are in style went down from 78% in 2019 to 60% in 2022. And the proof is in the dresses: We told you that dopamine dressing was one of the fashion trends that would take off in 2022, and that seems to be applicable to wedding fashion, too. Etsy predicted that colorful wedding dresses would be hot this year, and it’s already been showing up everywhere. Celebrities like Mandy Moore, Gwen Stefani, and Kaley Cuoco have all donned colorful dresses on their big days—and designers including Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana, and Dior have incorporated “fabulous prints and colors” in their bridal collections. Social media-famous dress brand Selkie has been a popular pick for young brides (and their bridesmaids) and while its bridal collection offers some white options, plenty of the designs feature pastel colors and bright, floral patterns—many of which are sold out on the site. Meanwhile, cosmic wedding dresses have found their way into the bridal fashion space as well: Pulling on their obsession with astrology, young females are showing interest in designs with a celestial feel that are “highlighted by flowy, cloud-like tulle and embellished by moons, stars, or other tiny trinkets to resemble the night’s sky.” In fact, one of last year’s most-talked about bridal looks was from 26-year-old heiress Ivy Getty whose “unique” wedding dress was designed by John Galliano, and featured pieces of broken glass from a real mirror. Pinterest’s trend report shows that searches for “moon wedding dress” were up 180% in 2021, while celestial-themed events like “star-themed parties” and “moon party decorations” have also been driving up searches.

3 Wedding Trends Gen Z & Millennials Think Are Going Out of Style - YPulse (4)
Brides Planning The Wedding Without The Groom
However, wearing all-white isn’t the only tradition that brides are saying goodbye to. While it used to be accepted that women plan weddings alone, Millennial couples have been saying goodbye to this tradition—especially with the rise of degendered weddings. About two in five young consumers tell us they don’t want their wedding to be traditional, and one Seattle-based wedding planner told USA Today that couples have been questioning “anything that feels super gendered or patriarchal or anything that supports the notion that women are property to be handed off from one man to another man.” Traditions like taking the husband’s last name, the father giving away the bride, and the bouquet and garter toss are some of the gendered traditions couples are choosing to forgo. And yes, this includes brides planning the wedding without the groom. Our research shows that young females are more likely than young males to say that planning a wedding is too much work—and the number of young consumers who say brides planning the wedding alone are staying in style went down from 78% in 2019 to 47% in 2022. And more grooms have been vocal about supporting their brides-to-be during this time. One 32-year-old groom told Brides that when it comes to planning weddings, couples “are in it together,” while another 32-year-old groom told the same publication that couples should agree on “a wedding that is a unique reflection of both you and your partner.” Even the engagement process is becoming more collaborative, with 60% of young consumers telling us that couples should shop for an engagement ring together.

3 Wedding Trends Gen Z & Millennials Think Are Going Out of Style - YPulse (5)
Big, Expensive Engagement Rings
“Big” receptions aren’t the only thing going out style, according to young consumers. YPulse research found that the number of young people who say big, expensive rings are staying in style went down from 69% in 2019 to 58% in 2022. In fact, the majority of 13-39-year-olds tell us that engagement rings are too expensive, and that engagement rings don’t have to be diamonds. While some young consumers are opting for sustainable, lab-grown rings (which YPulse has been tracking as a trend for some time), others have been going for simpler, less expensive gemstones. Etsy predicts that colored gemstones like rubies and sapphire, which are more affordable in comparison to diamonds, will be big this year. The company reported that they saw a 249% increase in searches for ruby engagement rings and a 12% increase in searches for sapphire engagement rings. Meanwhile, The Knot expects standalone bands, which are gender-neutral and more affordable, to be in style in 2022. In fact, we told you brands like Tiffany & Co., Brilliant Earth, and other indie jewelers have been introducing engagement rings for men.

YPulse Business users can access the full Weddings behavioral report and data here.

Don’t have a YPulse Business account? Find out more here.

3 Wedding Trends Gen Z & Millennials Think Are Going Out of Style - YPulse (6)

Tired of Paywalls?

Subscribe to YPulse Daily Intelligence and unlock all daily articles on Gen Z and Millennial consumers. $199/month.

Learn more

3 Wedding Trends Gen Z & Millennials Think Are Going Out of Style - YPulse (7)

Subscribe to YPulse Daily Intelligence and unlock all daily articles on Gen Z and Millennial consumers. $199/month.

Get more from YPulse with a Prime account

A daily dose of stats, 
news, and insights to 
keep up with Gen Z and 
Millennial consumers.

Learn more

3 Wedding Trends Gen Z & Millennials Think Are Going Out of Style - YPulse (8)

Subscribe to YPulse Daily Intelligence and unlock all daily articles on Gen Z and Millennial consumers. $199/month.

Get more from YPulse with a Daily account

A daily dose of stats, 
news, and insights to 
keep up with Gen Z and 
Millennial consumers.

Learn more

Related content

3 min read

2 min read

What Millennial Debt ...

3 min read

How BIPOC Young Consu...

5 min read

The Whys Behind Festi...

3 min read

Invite a team member

Reports referenced in this article

Enjoy your free YPulse article! Want to see more? Just sign up for 3 free articles a month

Sign up for our Daily Intelligence plan and receive unlimited access to all articles

Sign up

Continue reading

Upgrade your account to have access to the best marketing content

Create your free account or log in to keep reading

Get started

Already a user? Log in

3 Wedding Trends Gen Z & Millennials Think Are Going Out of Style - YPulse (2024)

FAQs

3 Wedding Trends Gen Z & Millennials Think Are Going Out of Style - YPulse? ›

2022 is supposed to be a wedding boom, but Gen Z and Millennials think these three wedding traditions are going out of style… TL;DR: Traditional white and ivory dresses are no longer the default choice for young brides—more are choosing colorful, bold, and celestial-inspired patterns.

What is Gen Z wedding? ›

Gen Z couples are rejecting traditional norms and putting their own unique spin on their big day. From personalized ceremonies to innovative decor, these trends are reshaping the world of weddings in a way that truly reflects the values and style of this generation.

What do millennials wear to weddings? ›

Many millennials are opting for more casual, laid-back wedding attire. Instead of formal suits and dresses, some couples choose to have their wedding party wear jeans, sneakers, and t-shirts. This can create a more relaxed, informal atmosphere at the wedding.

How do millennials dress vs Gen Z? ›

In terms of clothes, Eagle said, Gen Z prefers anything baggy, while millennials opt for form-fitting garments. And when it comes to shoes, the younger generation loves chunky footwear, while millennials gravitate toward flat options.

How to dress like Gen Z? ›

Gen Z prefers comfortable and expressive clothing like loose-fitting jeans, crop tops, and oversized pieces. Born between 1997 and the early 2010s, Gen Z accounts for 30% of the world's population. With the oldest members turning 26 this year, the group has a purchasing power of about $360 billion in the US alone.

What do Millennials think about marriage? ›

On the other goals, most Millennials think it doesn't make a difference whether a person is married or single. For example, 67% of Millennials say that happiness is not related to whether you are single or married, and 61% say that social status is irrelevant to marital status.

What is the attitude of Gen Z towards marriage? ›

The generation overwhelmingly said serious relationships were important to them. More than 40 percent are currently involved in serious relationships, while 27 percent are looking for one. And a clear majority, 93 percent, said they were interested in marriage if they weren't already in the process of getting married.

What is everyone wearing to weddings? ›

1) Do Consider the Wedding Dress Code

Black Tie: floor length gowns, black ties, tuxedos. Formal: floor length gowns, tuxedos optional, black suits acceptable. Semi-Formal: below the knee dresses, dress shirts, slacks. Casual: sundresses, collared shirts, khakis.

What is taboo to wear to a wedding? ›

Anything Loud and Flashy

One of the biggest rules of dressing for a wedding is to never outshine the couple. Avoid sequined ball gowns, sparkly tiaras, sky-high platform heels, or other articles of clothing that will draw attention away from the bride. A wedding isn't the proper time to make a bold fashion statement.

What color should an older bride wear? ›

Older brides can and do wear white on their wedding day if they choose to. White is a classic and timeless choice for wedding attire that symbolises purity, new beginnings and the celebration of love.

Does Gen Z wear bras? ›

Gen Z is embracing a taboo new trend and there's not an underwire in sight. The hashtag 'No Bra' has been used more than 600 million times on TikTok and young women are sharing their bra-free buxom lewks.

What's the biggest difference between Gen Z and millennials? ›

Generation Z vs Millennials: Key Takeaways

Millennials value stability (34%), while Gen Z puts more of an emphasis on finding their dream job (32%). More Gen Zers follow their parents' influence (42%), compared to their Millennial counterparts (36%).

What styles do millennials like? ›

While Gen Z embraces baggy, low-rise pants in fun prints, millennials cling to their high-waisted, skinny-fit denim. "A great alternative to try for mom jeans since they're not as trendy right now would be high-waisted, wide-leg jeans," she said. "They're longer; it hits you where you can still wear your booties.

Why do Gen Z wear hoodies? ›

But why are Millennials and Gen Z flocking to hoodies like bees to honey? 🐝 Let's break it down: 1️⃣ Comfort is King: In a world that's constantly on the move, comfort reigns supreme. Hoodies offer the perfect blend of coziness and style, whether you're lounging at home or hitting the streets.

What color does Gen Z like most? ›

Like Millennial Pink, Gen Z colors favor the eye-popping Cyber Lime (forecasted to be big in 2024) and Digital Lavender, also aligned with inclusivity. “[Cyber Lime] can speak to all, which Gen Z is very sensitive to,” said Guilbert.

What color does Gen Z prefer? ›

Gen-Z yellow (a bright and sunny color) was seen as being labeled as the next trend that will rival millennial pink. Similar to how Millennial Pink gained popularity, Gen Z today has its own set of preferred colors, with Cyber Lime and Digital Lavender taking the spotlight.

Is Gen Z getting married earlier? ›

“One of the big things that is happening now after 2022, which was a very busy year for weddings after the biggest pause button ever pressed for the industry in 2020 and 2021, is that we're seeing the earliest cohorts of Gen Z start to get married,” said Tim Chi, CEO of The Knot Worldwide, in an interview with CNN to ...

What are kids born after Gen Z called? ›

Born between roughly 2010 and the end of 2024, “Generation Alpha” is the demographic successor to Gen Z. Its oldest members are not quite ready for a quinceañera, while its youngest will be conceived in the coming weeks.

What is a Gen Z relationship? ›

Gen Z prioritizes qualities like loyalty, respect, and open-mindedness over just looks. They are open and honest about their feelings, mental well-being, and value being true to themselves...

What is the Gen Z way of dating? ›

NATO dating is Gen Z's version of casual dating—but with a dash of self-love. Picture this: You're on a first date. You lock eyes with the person seated opposite you and voilà; there are sparks in the air, butterflies in your stomach, adrenalin coursing through your body. That's it, it's love at first sight.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rubie Ullrich

Last Updated:

Views: 6538

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rubie Ullrich

Birthday: 1998-02-02

Address: 743 Stoltenberg Center, Genovevaville, NJ 59925-3119

Phone: +2202978377583

Job: Administration Engineer

Hobby: Surfing, Sailing, Listening to music, Web surfing, Kitesurfing, Geocaching, Backpacking

Introduction: My name is Rubie Ullrich, I am a enthusiastic, perfect, tender, vivacious, talented, famous, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.