Top 2026 Wedding Trends | North Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee Wedding Photographer

New year, new wedding trends! Any bride or groom-to-be knows how stressful wedding planning can be, but I’m here to help. As a professional wedding photographer, I’ve got my finger on the pulse of what’s hot in the industry (and what’s not). These are the top 2026 wedding trends I expect to see a lot of this year, and some real-life inspiration on how to incorporate them into your own nuptials!

P.S. Don’t forget to book a wedding photographer ASAP—my books are open, and I’d love to work with you. Reach out now, and let’s chat!

Top 2026 Wedding Trends

1. Unconventional Food

Forget the days of boring, bland wedding food—couples are flexing their culinary creativity more than ever this year. Fusion cuisines, which Grant and Callan highlighted with their Japanese-Brazilian menu, are having a big moment in 2026.

Authentic offerings, like the fresh taco bar offered at Lucy and Will’s wedding, are also especially hot. Expect to see plenty of casual, crowd-pleasing bites (everyone likes pizza!), and morning nuptials with brunch and breakfast options, too.

Featured weddings:

Callan + Grant | Boho Wedding on Lookout Mountain

Lucy + Will | Outdoor Winter Wedding

Kathryn + Joel | Romantic Mountaintop Wedding

William + Katie | Jolimar Spring Wedding

JCP Content Day | Styled Wedding Shoot

2. Intimate Ceremonies

Grand weddings with lengthy guest lists aren’t gone for good, but smaller ceremonies have emerged as a top 2026 wedding trend. Intimate celebrations are quicker to plan, easier to execute, and friendlier on the wallet. Talk about a win, win, win!

Featured weddings:

Andrea + Jeff | Intimate Mountain Wedding

Beth + Kevin | Autumnal Wedding in the North Georgia Mountains

Aliah + Thomas | Cloudland Canyon Family Adventure Elopement

3. Fashion-Forward Grooms

While the bride usually takes center stage, grooms are stepping into the spotlight more with fashionable wedding fits. Unconventional patterns, textures, and colors are a simple way to elevate the typical groom look.

Thoughtful accessories, like a nice watch or a dressy hat, can also help a groom feel his best on the big day. When in doubt, you can never go wrong with a timeless, expertly tailored suit.

Featured weddings:

Noah + Madison | Hatcher Farms Fall Wedding

Hannah + Khemrak | Rustic Family Farm Wedding

Caitlin + Stephen | Romantic Eden Gardens Wedding

4. Bold Color Palettes

Monochromatic wedding palettes are always in style, but statement color choices are perfectly on-trend for 2026. Take advantage of the season by incorporating hues that tie into the time of year: cozy oranges and reds for fall, rich jewel tones for winter, soft pastels in the spring, and bright shades in summer.

Florals, bridesmaid dresses, and tablescapes are some of the best places to feature color. Just make sure your choices complement each other rather than clash, and you’re set for success.

Featured weddings:

Ashley + Jason | Blakeley State Park Wedding

Lacie + Paige | Historic Malbis Nursery Moody Wedding

Kari + Chris | Colorful Outdoor Wedding at Little Point Clear

Lizzi + Lakin | Outdoor Fall Wedding

Daissy + Dylan | Rainy October Fall Wedding

5. Vintage Vibes

Pay homage to the past with vintage-inspired elements from your favorite bygone era. Lacy fabrics and gold accents are essential for a romantic, antique feel, as seen in my styled Vintage Brunch Elopement shoot.

For an “old Hollywood glamour” wedding aesthetic, follow Kaitlyn and Kamron’s lead with a black-and-white dress code and red carpet-ready bridal beauty look. Beth and Kevin, meanwhile, achieved retro vibes by doing their first look at a 70s-style hotel.

Featured weddings:

Vintage Brunch Elopement

Kaitlyn + Kamron | Glamorous Tampa Wedding

Beth + Kevin | Retro Motel Wedding

6. Nontraditional Venues

Consider a nontraditional venue if you really want your 2026 wedding to stand out. Embrace nature and tap into your outdoorsy side at a scenic spot like Cloudland Canyon State Park, where Aliah and Thomas tied the knot.

Or, take your wedding to new heights at a destination like Gatlinburg SkyPark, which Jenn and Mike chose for their elopement. Don’t be afraid to really get creative—Kaitlyn and Kamron held their reception at a kombucha shop and took newlywed portraits outside a post office for the dramatic architecture!

Featured wedding:

Jenn + Mike | Gatlinburg SkyPark Elopement

7. Unique Entertainment

This year, many weddings will include unexpected activities and performances to keep guests excited and engaged. From karaoke and audio guestbooks to cigar-rolling, there are endless ways to amp up the uniqueness factor. Hosting your wedding in a travel-worthy destination, as Kirsten and Connor did in Jamaica, is also entertaining in and of itself since guests can explore the area and turn it into a mini vacation.

Getting family involved makes things extra sentimental, like when Makayla’s sisters sang a duet during her ceremony that moved nearly everyone to tears. And who says jump houses are only for kids? Angela and Ricky proved they’re all-ages fun by offering one on their wedding day!

Featured weddings:

Kirsten + Connor | Tropical Jamaica Wedding

Gabby + Josh | Summit Bechtel Mountain Wedding

Makayla + Nikoli | Gulf Shores Wedding Chapel + Beach Wedding

Angela + Ricky | Outdoor Backyard Wedding

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I hope you’re feeling inspired by these 2026 wedding trends! Don’t forget to give me a shout if you’re on the hunt for a wedding photographer. I’d love to work with you!

xo,

Jessi

Get more wedding inspiration:

Cali + Shannon | Fall Mountain Wedding at Cloudland Canyon

Carrie + Eric | Intimate Wedding at Gulf Shores Wedding Chapel

Alex + Mackayla | Traditional Church Wedding

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If you’re looking for a fun, laid-back documentary style photographer, then look no further! Jessi is an Alabama Couple, Family, and Wedding Photographer based in Fort Payne, AL. She also serves the Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Gulf Coast areas and specializes in engagement, wedding, maternity, newborn and family photography. Jessi also enjoys commercial and creative portraiture if you need the perfect headshot for your next job, or want to capture an important milestone in your life. Available for travel worldwide. Find out more at www.casaraphoto.com and inquire at https://casaraphoto.com/contact. 

(c) Jessi Casara Photography