2025–2026 Wedding Trends for White & South Asian Weddings
Discover 2025–2026 wedding trends for white weddings, Desi, and South Asian celebrations; colors, decor, and unique ideas.
The weddings we’re seeing in 2025 and 2026 are creative, intentional, and filled with joy! Couples are choosing to break tradition just enough to make their day feel like them. The decor is bold, fusion ceremonies are the new hotness, and receptions are being recreated for the couple’s peacefulness.
Over my 12+ years as a wedding photographer and videographer based in Dallas, I have been blessed to capture love stories from across long-standing cultures, various styles, and traditional celebrations, from upscale white weddings, and everything more colorful and vibrant including Desi weddings, to intimate City Hall celebrations and everything in between. Here is what is trending right now, and how you can celebrate your day.
Color Is Making a Happy Return
Although neutral hues such as ivory, champagne, and soft blush are still appropriate in a classic white wedding, 2025-2026 is decidedly the time of color. Think bright, happy and vibrant colors like marigold, hot pink, fuchsia, tangerine, sage green and sky blue, and you can see the potential for color popping up in floral installations, wedding outfits, cake details, and invitation suites, among other things.
South Asian weddings have long had colorful color palettes, and we now see those beautiful bright tones making their way into Western weddings too, with couples opting for statement bridesmaid dresses, and rich, colorful table settings that feel lively and celebratory. The monochrome color palette (such as all pinks, or sunset tones) is also becoming popular during Mehendi and Sangeet nights.
Decor That Captivates
The decor landscape of 2025–2026 is evolving. It’s no longer what’s Pinterest-worthy; it’s what’s personal. We’re watching the white wedding trend move, too! The greenery garlands and soft candle weddings are evolving into pastel floral arches, garden-style centerpieces with motion (tree branches, etc.), and overhead floral installations that create dreamy or whimsical ceremony spaces.
Desi weddings are heavily leaning into an eclectic, artistic vibe — we’re talking mirrored stages, oversized flower walls, neon signage, festive umbrellas, hanging garlands of marigolds, and personally branded welcome signage that speaks to the couple’s culture.
We are seeing couples blend styles, like combining South Asian florals with Western minimalist tables capes or pairing bold Mehndi styling with gentle romantic lights. Bohemian decor incorporating lots of vintage rentals with multiple seating arrangements like floor cushions for mehendi vs lounge-style cocktail hours are also becoming common.
Unique Ceremony Formats Are Getting Attention
Ceremonies are transitioning to meaningful formats that represent a couple’s values and relationship. In white wedding world, this might look like having a non-traditional aisle such as circular seating, family-style ceremonies with children and pets as part of the day, or personal vows given during private first looks rather than at an altar.
As Desi couples continue to celebrate their weddings within the context of traditional values and ritual, couples are now opting for more intimate Nikkah, whether it be outside in the garden, on a rooftop or at their own home. In previous years, brides would wear heavier lehengas or sarees, but now they are choosing lighter pastel hues for their daytime ceremonies, whereas bolder colors will be worn for the reception.
Fusion weddings are now gaining popularity too, where South Asian wedding traditions or rituals merge with Western traditions, such as a white wedding dress and a dupatta or watching the baraat arrive, before the couple reads their vows.
Want to Wow the guests? Perhaps having a flower petal aisle would add a wow! factor to the ceremony. You could also make your ceremony interactive for guests through your blessing circle, or hire live musicians who play traditional instruments to perform during the ceremony.
Wedding Fashion Is Fun and Personal
Bridal fashion is evolving for 2025–2026. While white weddings still feature timeless silhouettes, we are seeing unique added elements such as textures like pleats, pearls, feathers, and oversized bows, the veils are longer, more dramatic and often there is custom embroidery or beadwork. As for Desi weddings, pastel lehengas with embroidery, ivory or powder blue bridal looks, and customized dupattas with family heirlooms stitched in are a hot trend.
The Rise of Intimate Weddings and Elopements
Even though larger celebrations are still loved, more couples are opting for smaller weddings that are filled with heart and intention. Whether you are planning a backyard Nikkah for 30 with loved ones or a mountaintop elopement followed by dinner party, the difference between smaller weddings and larger weddings is the experience felt by the couple.
The details that smaller weddings offer, like a handwritten vow book, luxe tables cape, and more time for portraits, are often reflective of you as a couple. Smaller weddings allow you more for detail in a sense of a finer audience and a slower-paced experience to truly savor the moments together, rather than reactively racing through your timeline.
Let’s Capture It Beautifully
No matter what kind of wedding you are envisioning – grand ballroom, rooftop Nikkah, whimsical ceremony in the garden or fun Mehndi night, I will photograph every detail in a way that feels authentic, emotional, and true to you.
