photo credit: Maureen Cassidy Photography
And whether or not you keep an eye on the trends, there are some clever, interesting, and budget-friendly ideas to make your wedding personal, warm, and fun for guests that are different from wedding trends in 2025. In 2026, the latest wedding trends focus on better guest experiences, creative layouts, and décor that feels natural but still polished.
This guide shares the top 2026 wedding trends and gives simple ways to use them at Monona Terrace. But keep in mind, trends are not rules. Think about what fits your style (and budget!), and if something catches your eye, envision how it can become part of your wedding dream. We recommend selecting one or more of these current wedding trends and building a plan around your vision. Start with your guests’ entire experience – what they will see, do, eat, and ultimately, what they will remember.
Trend 1: Food That Feels Like an Experience
Most wedding guests prioritize a few elements above others. It’s not surprising that high-quality food and drinks rank highly. Here are some food related wedding planning trends:
Food as a focus and not just a meal
From hors d’oeuvres to main courses to desserts, you can take it to another level with some of these current wedding trends, such as:
- Grazing tables instead of predinner tray passes, OR
- Add a charcuterie plate to each table as an edible centerpiece
- Chef stations serving different types of food, rather than a traditional buffet
- Small plate courses and/or street food
- Serve locally sourced and sustainable food
- Savory desserts (yes, it’s a thing and it’s popular!)
- Colorful dessert bars for your guests to customize and gluttonize
- Serve food throughout the event from hors d’oeuvres to late evening snacks
You might notice that these ideas tend to be “interactive” which is another trend for 2026.
Choose cuisine that’s meaningful to you and your partner
Your menu should tell a story about your journey together as a couple. Maybe it’s dishes inspired by your first date or regional / global cuisine from your hometowns or home countries. Or it could be a combination of your favorite foods you discovered together as a couple. Whatever direction you go, make it unique to you and your partner and your story as a couple. Your guests will enjoy making the journey with you!
Tip: Avoid “guest clumping”. Organize the room so guests can move easily and lines stay short. If Monona Terrace is your wedding venue, let’s talk about your ideas and select the ideal space to accommodate your dining plans and the number of guests in your party.
Explore our catering options here at Monona Terrace. And we’re happy to work with you to customize your wedding dining experience. .
Trend 2: Private Moments Built into the Day
If you think planning a wedding is strenuous and time consuming, just wait until your wedding weekend. You will be pushed to the limit. So, it’s important to remember the most important people at the wedding – you and your partner.
You want to stay fully engaged, friendly, and happy throughout your wedding day, right? So plan deliberate moments away from the crowd to recharge and recompose.
Consider a private vow reading
Share the most private and important moment of the wedding, just the two of you. Of course, you’ll do it again for your guests, but this private version might be slightly different and more personally bonding.
Plan a short post-wedding-pre-reception moment
Your guests have seen your first kiss as a couple after your vows. Take a moment to have a private second kiss and prepare yourselves for the reception.
Eat together, just the two of you
For dinner enjoy a table to yourselves rather than sitting with a larger group. It will feel like your first date again, and no one will mind.
Don’t forget the “last look”
After most of the guests have departed, and it’s just you and your partner, have a last dance together or sit back and enjoy a final cocktail for a reflective, romantic, can-you-believe-we-did-it moment. You’ll remember this forever.
Tip: Add short breaks in your schedule so the day feels less rushed. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and you’ll feel ready for the next stage of the day/evening.
Trend 3: Natural, Garden-Inspired Décor
We’re getting back to nature in 2026 with wedding décor trends, so think about lush green backgrounds, floral centerpieces and organic, textured linens. Anything you can do to be sustainable and reusable with your décor is a win. Consider meadow style florals and layered greenery over more traditional flower arrangements. And if the room can accommodate, hanging arrangements will provide “height” to the room, further immersing your guests into a sylvan environment.
Also, consider taking your eco-conscious organic décor to another level by renting tablescapes and providing edible centerpiece elements so less goes to waste.
From a color perspective, new wedding trends are leaning toward softer and more natural tones in the palette, but singular bold colors in contrasting hues are rising in popularity. Monochromatic linens and florals create a focal point for each table. Also, metals are making a comeback with silver dominating over gold. This can be particularly interesting here at Monona Terrace, as Frank Lloyd Wright was a master of organically placing a structure into a natural setting.
Tip: Spend more on one or two big focal points instead of trying to decorate the entire space.
Trend 4: Creative Seating Layouts
Couples are changing the usual ceremony setup with this year’s wedding venue trends. Think outside the aisle! It doesn’t have to be straight, and your seating doesn’t have to be in measured, exact rows. A curved aisle is more natural, whimsical and memorable. Just be sure and check sightlines so everyone can see the ceremony.
Circle seating is more inclusive and theatrical, with no bride-side or groom-side. Most everyone is a similar distance from the ceremony, and it firmly immerses your guests into the moment, so everyone feels like they’re part of the celebration rather than just witnessing it. This is ideal for smaller weddings.
A runway-style aisle creates a completely “new” experience with minimal effort. It’s suitable for a longer space and places the ceremony in the center of the room. Guests are seated across from each other rather in row-after-row.
If you just want something different with minimal effort, just use angled rows. Just make sure you keep the aisle width comfortable.
Check out our various floorplans to help you envision a less traditional seating layout.
Tip: Guests need to be informed of unique seating layouts, so make sure you have staff or assigned roles to help guests get seated.
Trend 5: Draping and Lighting That Changes the Whole Room
The latest wedding trends for draping and lighting suggest a more artistic direction. Soft fabric and lighting can make a space feel more romantic and intimate. Draping should be soft and flowing, reminiscent of a summer breeze gently moving through the trees. It’s luxurious, yet simple, easy to do and generally inexpensive. Go with a sheer or chiffon type fabric rather than something heavy. While the entire space can benefit from draping, focus on fabric on the dance floor ceiling and billowing down around to set this festive area apart.
Lighting trends are also softer and more natural for 2026. Multiple light sources with a mix of candle lighting, hanging light clusters, and pin-spotting for centerpieces. Keep the light color amber and warm to create a cozy, friendly atmosphere. Also, don’t forget your installations can provide ambient lighting, like a photo booth background or spotlights fixtures.
Finally, try to incorporate natural elements with lighting, such as vines, bushes, and trees. “Floating” chandeliers and candles, light canopies, spotlighted areas, and grouped clusters give your space an outdoor, moonlight feel. Inexpensive LED lighting makes this aesthetic much more attainable to achieve.
Tip: Ask early about what is allowed for setup, early access to the space, and what support is included. Check out our AV and event support options.
Trend 6: Candid Photos with a Polished Look
Say goodbye to stiff, posed wedding photos. Couples are going after photos that feel authentic, unscripted and in-the-moment. Most importantly, wedding photos should tell a story. Sometimes these moments are difficult to capture, so this is where you can crowdsource wedding photos. With easy-to-use technology like GuestCam and WedUploader, you can crowdsource wedding photos via your guests’ phones. You’ll be happily amazed at the results.
But this doesn’t replace your professional photography. Make sure your wedding photographer understands your goal for a blend of candid, documentary images with posed photos. Go artistic with motion blur and action shots, retro lighting, and “journalistic” style photography. Also, the ever-popular, old-school disposable cameras and instant Polaroids are always fun!
While you will still want the posed shots of your family, the wedding party, and you gazing lovingly into the eyes of your partner, it will be the “messy” action shots of the wedding that will bring you back to the magical day, no matter how much time has passed.
Tip: Build in time for portraits and plan for good light. This is especially key if you want outdoor photography.
Trend 7: Guest Experiences That Feel Interactive
Immerse your guests in your wedding so they feel like they’re part of your story. Think “micro” experiences throughout the event. Consider multiple small performances, almost like pop-ups, like an opera singer, ballerina, or a roaming minstrel or a live wedding painter (NOT cheesy amusement park caricatures!).
You can infuse interactivity with most of the traditional elements of a wedding as well. Interactive drink stations are becoming more popular and more sophisticated. And consider ditching the party favors and go with a gifting station where guests can create their own favors and personalize them.
Additionally, photo “booths” have evolved into technology driven experiences with digital backdrops, instant shareability and GIF-making, and professional, portrait quality results. Interactive guest books are trending up, such as doodles, friends & family trees, puzzle pieces, playing cards… the list goes on.
Finally, take your wedding theme to another level with themed lounge areas, where guests can sit, chat, and congregate away from cluttered, post-dining dinner tables.
Tip: Avoid bottlenecks, so be mindful of the flow of foot traffic when setting up interactive spaces.
Trend 8: Modern Drink Moments and Zero-Proof Options
Speaking of interactive drink stations, bars are getting more creative in 2026. Here are some ideas that are guaranteed to engage your guests.
Signature cocktails
Avoid an expensive open bar and go with a few cocktails that are near and dear to you and your partner. We recommend this on top of standard wine and beer selections.
Shared cocktail moment
A “first drink” after the wedding and before speeches to kick off the festivities.
Mocktails
This is a must these days as zero-proof options are becoming more popular by the wedding. Here’s where you can personalize drinks that you name and get crazy with the ingredients.
Mixology stations
Have a professional mixologist create cocktails and mocktails with personalized drinks. Simply toss out an ingredient or two and you’ll be amazed at the results from a “crafty” mixologist.
Coffee bar
Often overlooked are gourmet coffee options at weddings. A barista might be just as popular as a mixologist!
Other fun ideas include drink walls with champagne, garnish walls, milk shake station, and a roving bar cart with boozy popsicles and other tasty treats. Don’t forget late night snacks, like a grilled-cheese station or midway fair food, like corndogs, funnel cakes, and cheese curds.
Tip: Make sure you have enough staff and the right timeline for your experiences.
Explore bar and beverage options at Monona Terrace (page 23).
Bring 2026 Wedding Trends to Life at Monona Terrace
It’s easy to become overwhelmed with so many wonderful ideas, but remember, trends are just trends. The “best” weddings feel personal to you and your guests. Select ideas that fit your story, so start by focusing on three things – Food/Beverage, décor, and interactive guest moments. Next, fill these buckets with ideas, using your wedding theme as a filter. This narrows the scope and helps you identify options you love, can afford, and can execute.
We understand that planning a wedding can be one of the most challenging experiences you will have, and we want to make it as stress-free as possible. We are wedding experts and take pride in our ability to provide the highest quality experiences, with our variety of spaces, culinary and beverage offerings, technology / AV support, and dedication to servicing our clients.
Tip: Bring a rough guest count and a few inspirational photos when you tour any wedding venue.
We are here every step of the way to help! Contact our wedding team today and start planning your 2026 wedding!