Wedding Trends for 2024! Our Favourite Top 6 Trends for 2024

Here at Happy Valley, we’re all about making your special day uniquely yours! 

We also love to see what’s happening within the industry, see what key trends are creating waves, proving popular and will provide that little something extra for your wedding. 

We are delighted to see that in 2024 the wedding landscape is looking less traditional, and is all about breaking away from the norm and creating weddings, which are exceptional and distinctive.  

We are seeing more couples making choices, which have a personal significance to create unique and memorable days – and we are definitely down for that! 

Photography by Aurora Grey

 So let us jump into the top 6 wedding trends of 2024 that have captured our hearts. 

1. Natural Venues 

 

For us, there is no better place to start than with what seems to be one of the most significant trends taking centre stage in 2024 – the rise of Outdoor Wedding Venues. 

The growing popularity of non-traditional weddings has been a noticeable trend in recent years, none more so than outdoor, natural wedding locations. Originally boosted by the pandemic, where couples were forced to look at alternative options and move their ceremony outside, thereby embracing nature and it’s spectacular backdrop. Outdoor weddings are now making a movement of their own.  

 At Happy Valley, this resonates deeply with us and we completely agree there is something magical about the changing seasons. The natural world offers us a breathtaking canvas allowing couples to paint their unique wedding day. 

 With the increase in popularity of outdoor wedding venues, the styling is also following suit, with couples embracing nature and the inherent beauty of your surroundings. Picture raw wood tables, seasonal flowers and greenery, and organic fabrics and drapes, everything is inspired by the gifts that nature bestows upon us. 

 

2. Celebrant – Led Weddings 

 

This past year has seen a remarkable 49% surge in search volumes for “Celebrant Weddings” (as reported by Hitched.co.uk) and this increase doesn’t surprise us at all here at Happy Valley – we love a celebrant led wedding. 

 Celebrant led weddings have captured our hearts and many of our couples too, for a multitude of compelling reasons. 

 First and foremost, the appeal lies in the incredible flexibility and freedom they offer.  With a Celebrant, the script is entirely customised to you, reflecting your unique loves, passions and joys. This means that your wedding can be a true reflection of your individual journey as a couple. 

 A rising trend we’ve observed is couples choosing to formalise their legal marriage at their local registry office ahead of the big day, or even onsite at Happy Valley the day before. This enables the day of the wedding service, led by a Celebrant, to become an exclusive reflection of your relationship, creating an experience that is authentic and meaningful to you both. 

 

3. Bold and Bright Colour Schemes 

 

2024 is going to be about embracing colour and pattern… if you love bold and bright then this is the year for you. 

Wedding prep at Happy Valley, cheerful colourful tables

Bold and Bright Decor

Vibrant shades of pink, orange, purple, or red infusing life into your tables, cake and drapes. Seasonal bouquets and flower arrangements becoming canvases for splashes of brilliant colour and personality. 

 

And, its not just the décor that is getting an injection of colour in 2024! New York Bridal Fashion Week bore witness to colour playing a significant sight on the runway, with pastel pinks, soft blues and floral patterns creating a magical and whimsical addition to many collections. (ref: Vogue) 

Pic Credit Above - Photographer @salsabilmorrisonphotogaphy Right - Photographer - @Lisaandneil Florals @Floralsistas.

This truly is the year to celebrate and embrace your personal style. It is time to showcase your individuality and personality, turning your wedding into a vibrant canvas of colours and patterns that reflect your inner spirit. 

 

4. Wedding Weekends and Extended Celebrations 

 

Why limit your celebrations to a single day when you can extend your wedding festivities over several glorious days? At Happy Valley we wholeheartedly embrace this trend, as standard! 

 

Most of our weddings are thoughtfully planned either mid-week Tuesday-Thursday, or as Weekend Weddings. This choice offers couples that invaluable gift of more time to bask in the warmth of their loved ones and extend that ‘best day ever’ feeling, for just a little bit longer. 

 

The day before arrival isn’t just practical; it’s a chance to take a deep breath and unwind, especially after a long journey. All the worries about making it on time, finding a spot to change or freshen up simply disappear. 

 

The evening before the big day is a golden opportunity for guests to meet and get to know each other. At Happy Valley the night prior often involves relaxed drinks and food around the courtyard fire pit. It is a time for your loved ones to bond, share stories and establish connections that will make the wedding even more memorable. 

 

As the sun rises on the day after the day before, it’s the perfect moment to gather together over morning brews, reliving the beautiful stories from the day before.  

 

Your journey with us at Happy Valley isn’t confined to just one day, it’s an enchanting voyage which extends your celebrations over several days, creating unforgettable memories. 

 

 

5. Relaxed Wedding Photography 

 

The era of the entire wedding party standing in perfect formation for extensive periods, waiting for the photographer to capture countless iterations of the ‘group shot’, is now a thing of the past. 

 

Relaxed Photography

2024 is all about embracing the relaxed, candid, and social approach. 

A wonderful opportunity for your photographer to artfully capture all those spontaneous, heartfelt moments that naturally unfold throughout the day. These photographs will not only look beautiful but will also capture genuine emotions, making your wedding unique. 

Additionally, there is an increase in the popularity of Wedding Content Creators. These skilled individuals are dedicated to producing real-time content to be shared to your socials. They capture unscripted moments that unfold, allowing your friends and family to join the excitement, even if they cannot be there in person. 

 Your wedding photos should be a reflection of your love story, your personality and your style as a couple. In 2024 it is all about celebrating the real moments, the laughter, the tears and the connections that make your wedding day truly special. 

 

6. Bespoke Cocktail Toasts 

Keeping up with the theme for 2024 of creating personalised weddings, the same is being reflected across food and drink.   

This year has witnessed a notable surge in the creation of signature cocktails for weddings, and this trend is set to continue into 2024. Couples are taking inspiration from the drinks they hold dear and crafting cocktails that truly resonate with their tastes and preferences. This is particularly the case for the post-ceremony tipple of choice.  

Amongst the top cocktail choices gaining popularity for 2024, Espresso Martini and the Paloma are set to be favorites.

These signature drinks add a touch of individuality to your celebration, allowing you to share your love for specific flavours with your guests and create a memorable and personalised experience. 

Tray of cocktails at wedding

Jeremy James Photography

Cheers to a wedding day that’s truly unique and reflects your one-of-a-kind love story! 

The overall takeaway trend for 2024 is definitely looking like it’s going to be the year for weddings to be unique, unconventional and personal. We can’t wait! 

The Winter Wonderland of West Norfolk

Well if there was a day to make you feel alive then the 16:12:22 was it.

The wonder of Happy Valley never ends. Stepping inside a crisp winter wonderland of magic. The light, so playful. The frozen surfaces a reminder of the power of nature.

Winter never looked so good - If you fancy a stay in a private log cabin and star gaze in a hot tub then check availability here

Autumn Weddings with a touch of Halloween

An Autumn palette for the most spectacular Autumn Wedding at Happy Valley.

Autumn Wedding in the UK

J & G were absolute legends when they had to move their initial Wedding date & we watched in awe as J turned what was a frustrating start into one of the most spectacular Weddings we've seen here at Happy Valley.

J loves Halloween so got to live out the most stylish Autumn Day Wedding and you will see how this was followed by an equally swarve & spooky Halloween after party in our next blog.

wedding day ready in October
late October wedding in norfolk
Autumn Wedding Bride and Groom outdoor ceremony in the woods
Autumn Wedding Bridesmaid Dresses
Autumn Wedding flowers
woodland wedding in October

Highlighting some of the fab Suppliers -

Photographer - Aurora Grey

Catering - Carway-Roe Events

Flowers - The Wild Folk Florist

Planning - Foil Events

Games - Dick Ropa Entertainment

MUA - Hayley Clarke Make up

Hair - GH Hair Designs

Archery - Grey Goose

A Colourful Hilltop Wedding Ceremony in the Norfolk Woods

J + I put on a showstopping colourful celebration of their marriage back in early August 22. Happy Valley was totally filled with games, drinks, music and laughter as the new Mr & Mr enjoyed every second as newlyweds surrounded by all their loved ones.

Our stunning Norfolk woodland wedding venue, with the brand new bar and courtyard spaces, was the perfect backdrop to this epic wedding with nearly 200 guests! #WeddingInspo

Read more

Festival Wedding of the Year

Welcome to Ogstock 2022

Well, what can I say… Two incredible humans, Amy & Ollie had a vision. That vision came to life in magnificent style with the help of an abundance of love & dedication from their family, friends & some incredible suppliers to create an unforgettable Festival Wedding.

04:06:2022

Hair - @flamingoAmyHair

Photographer - @liamhind.92

cake - @the_Fat_Fairy_

Dress - @purebrides @essenseofAustralia

Flowers - @pickalilyflowershop

Bunting - @boomtingbunting

Food - @squilland.and.squidge

Pizza - @vinesfresh

Band - @Skabucksofficial

Venue - @happyvalleynorfolk

Festival WEdding in North Norfolk
festival wedding flowers norfolk
Festival Wedding - Nightclub in the barn

Magical May Wedding in the Woods

We’re Incredibly grateful to be able to share this very special Woodland Wedding in May.

After nearly three years of sheer determination, patience, kindness, compromise & compassion from all involved, J & J finally got their moment.

The love at this wedding was overwhelming, magnified by the journey we had all been on from 2019 to the 7/5/22.

We will miss you.x

The amazing suppliers we had the pleasure of working with -

Photographer - Aurora Grey Photography
Flowers - @wildfolkflowers
Catering @funnellskitchen
Film - @shutterboxfilms
Music @boujeemusiclive

From our little Team at HV x
Venue - @happyvalleynorfolk

We’ve been incredibly blessed this Spring with some amazing weather and the beauty of Happy Valley is that there are so many options to create the Wedding you want.

Outdoor Ceremony spaces include the Fir Forest, Willow Island, the Wizard tree, Troys Hill or open glades, the options are endless. If the wind is blowing from the East you can find a Ceremony space in the woods, from the west you can keep calm on Willow Island. If the heavens open there’s 3 options for a dry ceremony with Wilderness views so you can still embrace the surroundings.

Whether it’s a woodland wedding, festival wedding, barn wedding, a unique Wedding venue like no other. Happy Valley will embrace your vision and bring your ideas to life.

To find out more please email us weddings@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk or give us a call 01485 600719 and we’d love to help you create your perfect day.

How to Make a Mid-Week Wedding Work for You!

Planning a wedding can come with many big decisions and the pressure is on especially now that availability is fading fast! Picking the perfect date can seem like it’s always an arms length away…we’re here to tell you, it’s not!

Picking up speed as a 2022 trend is the ‘Mid-Week Wedding’.

Now, I know what you’re thinking - ‘will people be able to make a Wednesday?’, ‘I’d always imagined a weekend’.

Well, mid-week IS the new weekend!

Why Mid-Week is the best option,

  1. Give friends and family an excuse to have a couple days off work! A day off for your besties wedding sure beats a day off to catch up on laundry! (The trick is - send out the ‘Save the Dates’ as soon as possible so they have a chance to get it booked).

  2. Mid-week weddings are typically lower in price, the same great venue for a smaller price tag…which leaves more budget left to spend on entertainment, food, drinks and wedding day festivities.

  3. Your ideal suppliers are more likely to be available…the post lockdown wedding boom has seen weekends snapped up. Week days give you much more flexibility to ensure your day is exactly as you want!

  4. Fancy a micro wedding? Small, intimate, just you and your nearest and dearest. Micro-weddings are more likely to be available for mid-week dates! A simple way to get out of inviting Great-Aunt Mildred…


Get in touch with Megan, our Wedding Coordinator, to discuss your options!

A Great British Summer of Weddings

The leaves are on the turn and the smell of Autumn in the air, so we decided it's the perfect time to reminisce about the beautiful summer weddings we’ve had...

Our hearts have been full this summer watching the venue come alive once again! After so much uncertainty in the wedding industry, I know not only for us but for all of the wonderful suppliers we work with - it has been a pleasure and relief to get back to doing what we do best! 

It’s been a particularly special season as not only have we had some magical weddings - we have been the destination that these families reunite. It has been so lovely to witness the joy on each couples face as their dream wedding comes together and to see the love on the faces of families who have spent 18 months apart. 

And with the Great British Summer comes the array of Great British weather. One word of advice when planning your wedding day is to have every weather eventuality covered. Here at Happy Valley there’s a beautiful space come rain or shine for every aspect of your day. This year we’ve seen it all but in true HV style the sun has shone down for all the outdoor “I dos”.

We want to share with you our favourite moments so far…

The Courtyard

Alfresco dining in the most colourful setting you can imagine, the barns as the backdrop and the sun shining down. This really is the spot for outdoor lovers - there is no better way to appreciate the outdoors than to sit, eat and revel in its’ greatness.

The Dutch Barn

It was so refreshing to see the Dutch Barn full to the brim with love and laughter on this special day!

The Dutch Barn is the ideal place to gather and watch the sun go down…the golden haze captured here encapsulates the warmth we hope every couple experiences on their big day.

With space to seat 175 people, it’s a great spot to escape the weather and admire the panoramic views of Happy Valley.

The Hay Barn

The snug ambience of the Hay Barn is the perfect place for intimate weddings! We were and still are completely in awe of the Hay Barn set up for this micro-wedding. The walls have such character that only minimal decor is needed to make it a really special place.

Throw open the doors and dance until your heart in content no matter the weather! The cosy atmosphere of the Hay Barn is perfect for when the nights draw in and the air becomes frosty.

Photo Credits - Aurora Grey Photography, Tori Hancock Photography, Sam Gee Photography, Killer Filler Workshop

Suppliers - Wildfolk Flowers, Hannah Hunnam, Charlotte Rowland,