After the upheavals of the last year we're looking forward to celebrating love in fresh new ways in 2021. Although many weddings have been postponed or significantly altered in size, location and timing couples marrying in 2021 will find meaningful and personal ways to reimagine their celebrations for a beautiful wedding day to remember. Here are some of our favorite trends for weddings in 2021. 

Headbands and Short Veils

With most weddings trending smaller in 2021, be it a Courthouse wedding, or Zoom, stoop or backyard ceremony,  the sparkly headpieces and long veils of the last few years will be replaced smaller and more manageable headpieces that still say 'bride' but with subtlety. Headbands, either small and sweet or statement-making hatbands, are a lovely choice, are easy to wear and can instantly turn a home hairstyle into a chic bridal look. For brides wanting a veil we love a small birdcage veil mounted on a headband for a wisp of romance. And for brides planning a City Hall ceremony we can't resist looking to vintage style icons like Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy and pairing a pillbox hat with a neat suit for a very chic bridal style. 

  
Yolande Pillbox Hat;  Alix Birdcage Veil Headband; Giovanna Hatband

Non-Wedding Dresses and Short Dresses

 With wedding ceremonies taking place in unconventional locations, 2021 brides are freed from the traditional choice of long, white wedding gowns. Now is the time to choose a special outfit you've always wanted an excuse to wear; perhaps a tailored or sparkly never-worn number you've been saving for a special occasion, or a beautiful designer piece you would never have treated yourself to previously. Lily Allen's recent Dior mini dress, and this beautiful black and white sequined gown by Valentino are two stunning examples. The added charm of these non-bridal dresses is that they can be worn and enjoyed again, as Kiera Knightly has done several times in her Chanel mini dress.

Black Accents and Polka Dots

2021 brides are having fun experimenting with adding color to their wedding outfits, but if a colored dress is not for you, try adding a splash of black to a white outfit, perhaps with a black sash, shoes, headband or - our favorite 2021 trend - polka dots! We love this City Hall bride's polka dot skirt and strong red lip, and we're longing for a reason to try one of these polka dot couture gowns form Carolina Herrera or Rodarte.    

Pantsuits

An extremely chic (and comfortable!) choice for a Courthouse wedding ceremony is a pantsuit. Amal Clooney was way ahead of the trend when she chose a white pantsuit with black belt and matching hat for her civil wedding ceremony in 2014. 2021 brides are opting for a more tailored silhouette, often styled with a silk blouse, or take a note out of our favorite It-girl Dylana Suarez's style book and pair an androgynous dark suit with a soft and feminine birdcage veil with petal crown for a very modern look.  

Increasing Sustainability and Repurposing Vintage

Engaged couples are prioritizing sustainability in their wedding celebrations, and, happily for the 2021 bride and groom, there are many ways dress sustainably on your wedding day. 

Incorporating vintage materials into wedding headpieces and accessories reduces the carbon footprint of a piece and offers you the occasion to create a truly unique look. At Genevieve Rose Atelier we love to include vintage beads, lace and flowers in our headpiece designs, and can incorporate vintage family fabrics and trims too. The below boutonniere is made with lace left over from the bride's mother's wedding dress. The addition of fresh leaves and flowers enhanced this very personal wedding accessory into a fresh and modern style. 

   
Lucrezia Pearl Headband; Serena Birdcage Veil; Dauphine Tiny Flower Tiara

A lovely trend we will see more of in 2021 is to take a family heirloom wedding dress and re-work it into a modern style. For her 2020 wedding Princess Beatrice wore one of her grandmother Queen Elizabeth's evening gowns. The Queen's 1950s Norman Hartnell dress was lightly altered to add puffed organza sleeves which created a thoroughly romantic and personal look for the Princess's socially distanced wedding. Closer to home, Betsey Wise Bridal specializes in creating beautiful, unique, modern dresses and accessories from vintage garments and fabrics.