Are you planning your dream wedding in 2024? This year is about classic, heartfelt celebrations that reflect your personality. But it can be hard to know where to start when there’s so much to consider, from the colour scheme to the venue.
Some prefer enchanting lavender hues, while others lean towards antique rustic themes, bright yellow sunflowers, and exotic Italian venues. Whatever you like, we've covered all this year’s wedding trends.
Whether you're a bride-to-be, a future groom, or helping a friend plan their big special day, our ultimate guide, put together by the experts at Slingo, will inspire and excite you with new ideas that make your wedding day unforgettable.
Rustic romance: this year’s favourite wedding theme
1. Rustic | 150,500 Google searches
This year's most popular wedding theme is rustic, attracting 150,500 annual searches. It has over 124% more searches than the theme in second place, with people searching for terms such as “rustic-themed wedding” and “rustic wedding theme.”
This themed wedding usually blends natural and vintage elements with wood, burlap, and lace materials. Venues often include barns and farms littered with decorations like mason jars, wildflowers, wooden signs, and string lights to add cosiness.
2. Autumn | 35,200 Google searches
With 35,200 Google searches, the autumn wedding theme has been a favourite for couples marrying over the last year. This theme is dominated by its rich, warm colour palette featuring shades of red, orange, yellow, and brown, echoing the natural hues of the changing leaves.
Brides might choose dresses with sleeves and heavier fabrics, while grooms might wear darker suits if opting for an autumn-themed wedding.
3. Vintage | 34,300 Google searches
In third place is the vintage wedding theme, which had 34,300 annual searches. Vintage weddings often include antique decor, lace dresses, pearl accessories, and classic suits for the bridal party.
To fit the theme, gramophones, vintage typewriters, and antique furniture could be used as decorations. Venues for vintage weddings include historic buildings, old estates, or gardens that provide a fitting backdrop.
Say 'I do' in Lake Como: the ultimate wedding destination
1. Lake Como, Italy | 270,830 Google searches
Lake Como, renowned for its stunning natural beauty and luxurious villas, has captured the interest of couples worldwide, with 270,830 searches in the past year. Nestled at the bottom of the Alps, this Italian destination offers a breathtaking backdrop of serene waters, lush gardens, and picture-perfect mountains, making it an idyllic wedding setting.
2. London, England | 178,800 Google searches
London, a city rich in history and culture, attracted 178,800 Google searches for wedding destinations over the past year. London's unique blend of traditional spaces and contemporary flair makes it a versatile location for weddings of all styles. The city's iconic landmarks, such as Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, and the River Thames, also provide beautiful backdrops for wedding photographs.
3. Tuscany, Italy | 165,260 Google searches
Tuscany, a region celebrated for its rolling hills, vineyards, and historic architecture, had 165,260 searches —- making it the third most popular wedding destination. Known for its rustic charm and romantic landscapes, Tuscany offers couples a quintessential Italian wedding experience.
San Francisco City Hall is the top venue for couples
1. San Francisco City Hall, United States | 120,000 Google searches
San Francisco City Hall is the most sought-after venue, with a yearly total of 120,000 Google searches. The building's high ceilings, grand staircase, and marble floors offer opportunities for breathtaking wedding photographs. Located in the heart of San Francisco, this iconic venue also provides easy access to the city, perfect for guests to explore in the days leading up to the wedding.
2. Casa Loma, Canada | 23,880 Google searches
Casa Loma is an impressive gothic castle in Toronto, Canada, and almost 24,000 people have searched for a wedding venue there. This historic landmark offers a fairytale setting with towers, elegant gardens, and opulent interiors. The venue has plenty of space for a wedding party, including a conservatory, a great hall, and an outdoor terrace.
3. Adare Manor, Ireland | 15,600 Google searches
Adare Manor, a historic estate in County Limerick, Ireland, drew 15,600 searches over the last year. This 19th-century manor is situated on 840 acres of beautiful parkland, providing a picturesque setting for weddings. Like Casa Loma, this luxury venue offers a variety of spaces, including the grand ballroom for large receptions and the drawing room or library for smaller gatherings.
Purple is the hottest wedding colour of the year
1. Purple | 56,900 Google searches
Purple, often associated with royalty, topped the most searched wedding colours list with 56,900 searches over the past year. It’s a rich and versatile colour that can range from deep, regal shades to soft, romantic pastels, making it a popular choice for weddings with various themes and seasons. It also pairs well with various other colours, such as gold for a lavish look or silver for a more contemporary feel.
2. Violet | 49,000 Google searches
We’re staying in the purple family for second place, but this time, it’s the softer shade of violet. People searched for this wedding colour 49,000 times over a year, making it a favourite among wedding planners and couples alike. Search phrases included “Violet wedding colour scheme,” “Violet wedding theme,” and “Violet wedding colour palette.”
3. Green | 44,560 Google searches
Green, a colour symbolising nature and growth, was searched 44,560 times for wedding colour inspiration over the past year. Green can be integrated into various aspects of the wedding, from lush greenery and floral arrangements to bridesmaid dresses and table settings. It also pairs well with neutral tones like white, ivory, and beige and bolder colours such as gold and navy blue.
Sunflowers top the list for wedding flowers
1. Sunflowers | 41,200 Google searches
Sunflowers, with their bright and cheerful appearance, were the most searched wedding flower over the past year, with 41,200 searches. They are often chosen for country or outdoor weddings and are popular in the most searched wedding theme, rustic. Sunflowers can be used as the focal point in bouquets, centrepieces, and decor or paired with other flowers and greenery for a more wild look.
2. Roses | 32,900 Google searches
Roses, a timeless symbol of love and romance, had 32,900 Google searches, making them a perennial wedding favourite. Available in a wide range of colours, from classic red and white to soft pinks and vibrant oranges, roses offer elegance for any wedding theme. Roses can create traditional or modern looks depending on how they are styled and paired with other flowers.
3. Hydrangeas | 18,140 Google searches
Hydrangeas, known for their lush, full blooms and vibrant colours, were searched 18,140 times, reflecting their popularity among wedding flowers. These flowers come in various shades, including white, blue, pink, and purple, allowing for endless possibilities in wedding decor. Due to their voluminous nature, hydrangeas are often used in large arrangements, such as centrepieces, arch decorations, and cascading bouquets.
Ed Sheeran and Whitney Houston's tracks are the biggest wedding hits
1. Perfect - Ed Sheeran | 58 wedding playlist appearances
"Perfect" by Ed Sheeran has quickly become a quintessential wedding song, appearing on 58 wedding playlists on Spotify. The heartfelt lyrics and romantic melody make it an ideal choice for first dances. The song's narrative of finding a soulmate and cherishing every moment together aligns perfectly with the sentiments of a wedding day, making "Perfect" a go-to choice for many couples.
1. I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston | 58 wedding playlist appearances
Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" joins Ed Sheeran on the top spot and features on 58 wedding playlists on Spotify. This classic 80s hit is a lively and energetic addition to any wedding playlist, famous for getting guests on the dance floor with its infectious beat and Houston's powerful vocals.
3. All of Me - John Legend | 44 wedding playlist appearances
"All of Me" by John Legend is a deeply romantic ballad that has appeared on 44 wedding playlists on Spotify. The song's sincere lyrics about unconditional love and devotion make it a poignant wedding choice. Legend's piano-driven melody creates an intimate and heartfelt atmosphere, perfect for couples who want to celebrate their love story.
Pop songs are the favourites for wedding playlists
Spotify wedding playlists are predominantly filled with pop songs, appearing 61 times. Songs like “ Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars and “Dancing Queen” by ABBA are favourites for getting the party started during wedding receptions.
Rock — like “Don't Stop Believin'” by Journey and “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers — follows with 36 appearances, adding energy and a classic vibe to the festivities.
Other popular genres for wedding playlists include R&B, which has 24 appearances, Folk/Acoustic, which has 18 appearances, and Hip Hop, which has 13 appearances.
Wedding songs set the beat at 118 BPM
Wedding playlists often go between romantic, powerful ballads and party bangers designed to get people on the dancefloor. But how does this translate into beats per minute (BPM)?
BPM in music is exactly as it sounds: the number of beats per minute in a song. Songs with a higher number of beats tend to be more fast-paced, while ones with lower are more melodic and slow.
The average BPM of the most popular wedding songs is 118 — a fast beat described as an “allegro” tempo, a brisk and lively speed.
Methodology
To reveal the most popular wedding colours, we compiled a list of wedding colours and colour schemes using Wedding Forward, The Knot, and Wikipedia. We sourced the number of Google searches for each colour as a wedding colour scheme using the search terms "Wedding colour scheme," "Wedding colour palette," and "Wedding theme."
To reveal the most popular wedding themes, we compiled a list using Elegant Wedding and Zola. We sourced the number of Google searches for each wedding theme using the search terms "Wedding theme" and " Themed wedding."
To reveal the most popular wedding flowers we compiled a list of popular wedding flowers using The Knot and Wedding Spot. We sourced the number of Google searches for each wedding flower using the search term "Wedding" alongside each flower type.
To reveal the most popular wedding destinations and venues, we compiled a list using CN Traveller, Harpers Bazaar, One Fab Day, Venue Report, ELLE, money, and Brides. We sourced the number of Google searches for each wedding destination and venue using the search terms "Wedding," "Wedding venues," and "Wedding planner."
All Google searches are global, made between June 1st, 2023, and May 31st, 2024, and were sourced using Google Ads Keyword Planner.
We sourced the most popular wedding tracks using Playlist Miner to identify the songs with the most appearances in playlists containing the keywords "Wedding songs." We used Sort Your Music to source each song's average BPM and release year and Choosic to source each song's parent genre.
We then calculated the number of songs of each parent genre and the average BPM of the top 100 wedding tracks.
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