What to wear as weddings trend toward the bold, bright & colorful in 2021

As wedding suits and ceremonies trend toward bold colors and patterns, what should wedding officiants wear to fit in? 

 

2021 is going to be a wild year for weddings. Our officiants and other industry experts are already predicting a rush of new trends, from Airbnb-based bachelorette parties to a rush in low-key and weekday weddings… many of which will call for adjustments in how officiants prepare and perform ceremonies. 

 

One trend that we especially love: bold, colorful wedding attire and decor! 

 

More and more couples are leaving out the traditional tans, taupes, creams, and whites of weddings past. Brides and grooms are instead choosing rich greens, blues, purples, pinks, yellows, and more… bright, joyful color schemes inspired by nature. 

 

We have a feeling this trend is going to be gorgeous, and we can’t wait to see the photos! (Or even better, join your livestream…)

 

 

 

More bold, bright, patterned, and colorful wedding attire is headed this way!

 

 

But what should wedding officiants wear to these colorful affairs? 

 

In general, we recommend marriage officiants stick to the classics, especially when performing a wedding for a couple you don’t know very well, or one that hasn’t given you many details about the decor. “The classics” means well-fitting pieces with clean lines, that lean toward timeless, neutral colors like black, gray, white, and muted earth tones. 

 

(For more on the classics, read What to Wear (and Not Wear) as a Wedding Officiant.)

 

The idea behind these fashion choices is to ensure that the couple remain the visual focus of the wedding and photos. An officiant’s outfit should never distract from the main event, so it’s important not to dramatically over or under-dress for a ceremony. Classic styles, like a well cut dark gray suit or black dress, are always a safe choice.

 

But should officiants stick to this advice when performing vibrant, color-saturated ceremonies? What if the couple are wearing all pastels? Or lush jewel tones? Or neon? Might a plain gray suit look… drab? 

 

 

 

 

It all depends, of course, on the couple’s wedding vision.

 

So our advice is this: as always, talk to the couple about clothing and expectations for attire before the wedding. Talking about what to wear as the officiant is an essential part of ceremony planning! 

 

Ask the couple about ceremony tone, theme, colors, and level of formality. Ask them about what they envision, and then plan to dress so that you ‘match’ their intended style and vibe. 

 

Next year’s colorful weddings might give you a chance to finally dust off that sunset-hued velvet suit. (Hooray!) Or, they might offer an occasion to look truly official, presiding over the event in your stand-apart classic black suit and embroidered stole while the happy pair smooch it out in technicolor onesies.

 

You can’t be sure until you ask! 

 

 

 

 

Here at AMM, we’re excited for many of the wedding trends we expect to see in 2021. We know that officiants and couples have been working hard to keep celebrations meaningful and safe as the Coronavirus changes the wedding landscape -- probably for good. 

 

 

For more suggestions on how to keep yourself, your family, and your ceremony safe, check out these other articles on officiating ceremonies in the time of COVID: 

 

• Does social distancing hurt communication? Here are 3 ways wedding officiants can connect with couples. 
• How to talk about COVID-19 wedding ceremony safety without making it weird, for wedding officiants and couples.
• When should officiants say No to a ceremony?
• From Seasonal Masks to Extra Mics, 5 Things Officiants Can Do Right Now to Prepare for Fall & Winter Wedding Ceremonies
• More Than Words: 5 Body Language Tips for New Officiants