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.  

Art and Story Studio

Trish Peters Photography

Art and Story Studio

Eloise and Mitch Photography

 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. 

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. 

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

What Is Forest Bathing & Why It Can Help Improve Your Life

Crystals can play a big part in meditation, it can deepen your meditation process and raise your consciousness & awareness.

'Forest Bathing' is an English translation of the Japanese phrase shinrin-yoku, however the name may fool you, you won't need a take a dip in your bathtub to have a go. Developed in Japan, 'Shinrin' means forest and 'Yoku' stands for bathing. This simple practice of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, immersing yourself in nature in a mindful way, using your senses to acquire a whole range of benefits for not just your physical but your mental and emotional health.

You can forest-bathe anywhere on the planet, wherever there are trees. You can sit, stand or walk - just disconnect from daily life and connect to nature. Clear your mind and observe your surroundings.

Toad Hall at Happy Valley Norfolk

Take long breaths deep into the abdomen. Extending the exhalation of air to twice the length of the inhalation sends a message to the body that it can relax. Look at the colour palette Mother Nature has created, listen to the sound of the breeze and the song of the wilderness, breath in the earthy scents. Use all your senses to fully immerse yourself in the experience. You can even take your shoes and socks off and walk barefoot as it helps with feeling grounded and present in the moment by connecting with the natural world.

We have had many guests in the past that have enjoyed our woodland retreat for forest bathing and meditation. To book your relaxing glamping experience, head over to the glamping section of our website.

The Wedding Wolves

There’s no better time to grab your attention than when we’re on an enforced, three week lock-down and in need of distraction so we felt it was high time to tell you a story:

A grandfather sat his grandson down and decided to impart some words of wisdom.

“A fight is going on inside of me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf represents darkness - he is regret, anger, sorrow, selfishness and self-pity and everything negative in the world.”

The grandfather looked at his captivated grandson, took a breath and continued, “The other wolf represents the light - he is peace, hope, understanding, compassion and faith and everything positive in the world. We all have the same two wolves fighting within us.”

The grandson, a fan of everything to do with war and battles turns to his grandfather and says, “which wolf will win?”.

The wise, old man simply replied, “The one you feed.”

What do wolves have to do with weddings?

During this time of uncertainty, there are understandably a lot of emotions running high and these are valid and necessary feelings for us all to be having.

Each of us is fighting an internal battle between wanting to help our neighbours, friends, family and local businesses and at the same time worrying about what it might mean for our own finances, health or future happiness. We all want to be kind and understanding but we also all have fear and frustration.

Is our advice to feed the positive wolf and let the negative wolf starve? No, it would be an impossibility. They’re both there and they both have to eat. What we can do, is acknowledge that whilst we are having to face great disappointments and insecurity, we can also show the capacity for compassion and forbearance. The beauty of humanity is often found in the grey areas where despite the doubt and fear, we surprise ourselves with our own strength and resilience.

So, if each wolf is being fed at a time where food is being rationed and supermarkets are in short supply, who gets what?

That part is down to us but how we respond and which wolf we feed the most will define how we are viewed when this chaos is over. Our time in the grey area is now and our actions will show which wolf ate all the metaphorical pies.

Even though you’re justifiably worried about your future wedding plans, there are still ways we can lift each other up. Here at Happy Valley, we invite you to look at the following acts of kindness to show your wedding suppliers some support:

• If you’re pleased with the service you’ve received during this difficult time, consider leaving a positive review on their website. If you’re not, perhaps take into account unprecedented stress?

• Like, comment and share posts. Why not shine a light on some suppliers in need of encouragement?

• Make future reservations. For most suppliers, it’s not just the next few months that are of concern but their whole calendar year - show them some light at the end of the tunnel.

At Happy Valley, we hope you feel our negative wolves have been put on a strict diet of kale and lentils (not least because stress represses the immune system and we need to stay healthy right now!) and our positive wolves have been given the full, fine-dining experience.

We would like to thank our 2020 couples for their thoughtfulness and appreciation and are excited to give you the happy ending you all so deserve.

With love,

Katy, Kirsty and the team at Happy Valley xx

hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

01485 600 719

Instagram - @HappyValleyNorfolk

Facebook - Happy Valley Norfolk

Memories of happier times. A woodland wedding photoshoot at Happy Valley.

Finding the Silver Lining in this Covid Cloud and changing our “What ifs?” to “Even ifs”…

At Happy Valley, we’ve always been firm believers in the health benefits of the great outdoors and have promoted the healing powers of nature when offering couples our woodland wedding packages. Unfortunately, the consequences of Government enforcements can’t be cured by fresh air alone and some of you may be facing tough decisions with regards to potentially postponing your big day.

It’s certainly unchartered territory for families and businesses alike and while we face this storm together, through understanding, patience and kindness, there will be moments we can all learn to dance in the rain. 

Before we cover the more practical points, we want to send you some positive thoughts to hold on to. Despite everything, there is the hope and optimism of a brighter future. Come rain or shine, Summer or Winter, we’re with you and if you’ll let us, we’ll stay with you all the way until “I do”. 

The Gorgeous Tom & Fiona at Happy Valley - Ben Chapman Photography

An outdoor ceremony on the willow Island

Changing my “What ifs? to “Even ifs” 

Instead of asking “What if I have to postpone my dream, summer wedding?” hold onto the thought that even if you decide to change your date, you still have each other and you will be able to celebrate, surrounded by your loved ones at some point in the future. No matter what happens, we will make your day beautiful. Here at Happy Valley, we promise you that regardless of any decisions made or plans altered, we will do everything in our power to create a magical, once-in-a-lifetime memory that you can treasure forever. We are currently offering all of our early 2020 couples the opportunity to keep their actual date in case Covid-19 has been defeated by then but we are also pencilling in a “back-up date” so we can manoeuvre from plan A to plan B without any problems. Please look out for our upcoming blog on Autumn and Winter alternatives. One way or another, love conquers all and trust us when we say we want nothing more than for you to marry the love of your life. 

We’ve heard your concerns and to alleviate the stress and worry of “what if my suppliers can’t make it to our new date?”, we’re working on a plan that even if one supplier can’t attend, we will be able to work some magic. Happy Valley has the good fortune to be surrounded by incredibly innovative, flexible and passionate suppliers who are doing their utmost behind the scenes to work around your schedules and accommodate last-minute changes. For our couples, we are in the process of contacting all of their suppliers and are collating a list of their availability. We are trying to coordinate a mutually convenient date for both you, your suppliers and the venue so you can sit back and relax (preferably with a glass of wine or G&T). If, for any reason, a supplier can no longer provide you with a service, we have a team of legendary people who are all bending over backwards to fulfil your dreams and we will help you find suitable alternatives. 

Even if you postpone – please don’t cancel. Pause but don’t give up. Reflect but don’t retreat. Delay but don’t be defeated – you get where we’re going with this! We’re here for you and if you’re here for us too, we’ll all meet on the other side and celebrate the love and awesomeness of humanity, hopefully with a glass of bubbly and a beaming smile. Sending you all of the virtual love in the world from our anti-bacterial sprayed screens. 

With love, Katy, Kirsty and The Happy Valley Team xx

hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

01485 600719

Instagram - @HappyValleyNorfolk

Facebook - Happy Valley Norfolk

Autumn at Happy Valley

The beauty transforms through colour and this time of year is rather special at Happy Valley. The mix of trees in the forest make for the most splendid colour display and you can experience Nature therapy at it’s best.

The evidence is forever mounting that being immersed in Nature has huge health benefits and it’s not hard to see why. Experiencing the forest, embracing the seasons and getting outside with your loved ones is why the guests at Happy Valley keep on returning.

Norfolk Sunsets are hard rivalled and you get the very best views at Toad Hall.

What our Guests Say -

Very grateful to have received this award for the 9th time in a row. Lucky to be blessed with some amazing guests who all love Happy Valley as much as we do. #HonestHosting