Field Notes

Fashion experts cite the influence of the British royals, along with high-profile events like the Kentucky Derby for the resurgence of this vintage wedding trend.

By Alix Strauss

Many couples are no longer waiting until after their weddings to take a trip.

By Allison Duncan

Many couples are opting for flowers from local farms as a more sustainable way to customize the look of their weddings.

By Amanda McCracken

Dress codes, color palettes and shopping guides: Wardrobe guidance for some weddings is getting increasingly specific.

By Praachi Raniwala

The farm-to-table concept has been around for a while, but some couples expect more than simply fresh cuisine at their wedding. They want to be fully immersed in the farm experience.

By Alix Strauss

To delight their guests, couples are booking musical headliners to give surprise performances at their weddings.

By Stephanie Cain

For some, undergoing a cosmetic procedure or two is an essential component of wedding prep.

By Sarah Lyon

With the cost of weddings on the rise, some couples are skipping big celebrations and prioritizing travel instead.

By Brianna Holt

Move over stilettos and slingbacks, there’s a new bridal shoe trend in town: the cowboy boot. Brides are pairing them with relaxed silhouetted dresses for an elegant western look.

By Ivy Manners

Some couples choose to turn away from traditional engagements and opt for joint proposals, no surprise needed.

By Emma Grillo

The bachelorette party is getting a spa makeover, with many brides-to-be now opting for more tranquil settings.

By Ivy Manners

The model Emily Ratajkowski���s “divorce rings” are part of a trend for jewelry that signals a new beginning after a marriage ends.

By Allison Duncan

Some couples are going above and beyond to personalize their weddings, with bespoke party favors and custom experiences for guests.

By Rachel Simon

First comes wedding cake. Then game-day margaritas.

By Tammy LaGorce

Along with the emotional turmoil, there are logistics to navigate. Here are tips on what to do next from people who have been through it.

By Perri Ormont Blumberg

Brides and grooms are hiring content creators to film, edit footage and produce Instagram and TikTok posts with music, transitions and behind-the-scenes moments.

By Ivy Manners

Why are receptions (and Instagram) increasingly filled with table-long confections?

By Sarah Wood

Some brides and grooms are addressing the age-old dilemma of “who’s going to watch the kids?” by hiring babysitters for guests’ little ones.

By Hilary Sheinbaum

Some newlyweds are seeking some rest and relaxation after the festivities — with 25 of their nearest and dearest.

By Alyson Rogg

Traveling? Completing manual labor? Mindful of safety? There are alternative rings for that.

By Hilary Sheinbaum

For brides who want to feel glamorous at every moment on their wedding day, ornate robes embellished with feathers, lace and sequins are a go-to option for pre-wedding looks.

By Chloe Anello

Brides — and grooms — are clamoring to incorporate pearls into their wedding looks in modern ways.

By Stephanie Cain

Picking a wedding venue can be a daunting process. But for some couples who met as college students, marrying at their alma maters is the clear choice.

By Emma Grillo

A wedding is incomplete for some couples without their canine companions — whether on the dance floor, down the aisle or in the dressing room.

By Sarah Lyon

For many couples, working with businesses that share their values and support people from diverse backgrounds is an important part of the planning process.

By Sadiba Hasan

Social media is giving a lift to the centuries-old practice of looking to the stars to decide on the exact time, date and location of a couple’s big day.

By Laura Pitcher

Beaded and bedazzled, fancy and frilly, lacy and Lycra-fitted — bridal bikinis are here. Brides are embracing swimwear for after parties, honeymoons and even ceremonies.

By Alix Strauss

Some brides are bucking tradition and trading tiaras, sashes and bar hopping in major cities with their friends in favor of a more subdued celebration, alone.

By Stephanie Cain

To celebrate the rite of passage, some women are opting for a mid-wedding haircut.

By Allison Duncan

Across the country, more couples are seeking out film photographers to shoot their weddings.

By Emma Grillo

Some couples are forgoing certain traditions — like groomsmen and bridesmaids — in favor of more inclusivity. As one person planning a wedding said: “That’s just being a good host.”

By Sadiba Hasan

Wedding planners and sustainability experts weighed in on how to consume mindfully while planning the wedding of your dreams.

By Sadiba Hasan

Couples looking to add a personal touch to their weddings are reimagining jewels passed down through generations and recasting them into new creations.

By Rhiannon Picton-James

The Celtic ritual has become a popular commitment ceremony for some polyamorous couples.

By Jenny Block

“Stag and does” are a largely rural Ontario tradition that help engaged couples raise money for their nuptials — and give neighbors a good reason to party.

By Shivani Gonzalez

Relationship coaches are now helping single people navigate texting.

By Sara Radin

The two-stone bauble has been the ring of choice for celebrities like Ariana Grande, Megan Fox and Kylie Jenner.

By Allison Duncan

Contests that offer to cover all or some wedding costs can seem to have few downsides. But experts and sweepstakes winners say there are things to look out for.

By Hilary Sheinbaum

As one jeweler put it, many of her L.G.B.T.Q. clients want “the opposite of what a diamond is supposed to stand for.” Sapphires, opals and other nontraditional stones have in turn grown more coveted.

By Abigail Covington

From “desert chic” to “beach formal,” many couples are selecting distinctive themes for their weddings and are asking their guests to look the part.

By Rachel Simon

For those who crave efficiency, some websites tackle wedding planning with an add-to-cart approach.

By Alix Strauss

Couples who want to savor as much of a wedding day as possible are organizing chauffeured excursions to see sights, bar hop and shop with their guests.

By Perri Ormont Blumberg

As pickleball rides a wave of popularity, couples are marrying on courts, hosting games at their receptions and finding other ways to incorporate the sport into their nuptials.

By Rachel Simon

“You can find a dress that makes you feel beautiful on a budget — you can save thousands of dollars,” said one bride. “You just have to be willing to do a little digging.”

By Rhiannon Picton-James

Though requesting monetary gifts has become more accepted at weddings, experts say there is a right — and a wrong — way to ask for cash.

By Danielle Braff

At a time when they have become a popular accessory for celebrities to carry, books are also gaining appeal as a takeaway for wedding guests.

By Rachel Kramer Bussel

Facing a shortage of prime times, more couples are marrying earlier in the day at weddings that some are finding easier to book and less expensive to host.

By Alix Strauss

As couples seek to plan nuptials that feel more personal, many are eschewing tradition. But this may be the most visible break yet.

By Danielle Braff

The proposal party offers newly engaged couples a chance to celebrate — immediately — with friends and family.

By Abby Ellin

Multiday wedding celebrations packed with events are becoming more popular as couples look to make up lost time with loved ones during the pandemic.

By Danielle Braff