Wedding trends come and go, year in and year out, and often change with the seasons.
Trends aren’t always about dresses, colour schemes, or cake designs. But even when they are, your choices throughout the wedding planning process can be greatly impacted by or greatly impact your entertainment.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a guide to some of the top autumn wedding trends 2023 has to offer – and how you can tailor your entertainment to match them!
Keep reading as our entertainment experts unpack 7 key trends for this season.
Outdoor celebrations
Despite the unpredictability of the Great British weather, outdoor weddings are in for autumn. This transitional season presents a perfect backdrop of incredible reds, oranges, yellows and gold hues (which according to Glamour are right on trend in 2023) that will look stunning in your wedding photography.
There’s something very romantic about being outdoors in nature as you say your vows, surrounded by your friends and family. Your choice of musical entertainment can play a big part in enhancing this atmosphere for you and your guests.
Acoustic musicians are perfect for outdoor weddings due to their ability to pitch up and perform anywhere.
Whether you’re looking for a classical instrumentalist like a harpist or a string quartet, or a more contemporary sound with an acoustic guitar player paired with a solo vocalist, adding acoustic music will allow you to elevate your outdoor ceremony.
If you’re going to follow this trend we do recommend having a backup option just in case.
Intimate ceremonies
According to Hitched.co.uk, prior to the pandemic, the average wedding guest list consisted of 102 invites. Now more couples are opting for more intimate ceremonies, with the average number of guests falling to 72.
As ceremonies and celebrations get smaller – should your entertainment?
Musique’s managing director Jamie Turner believes that entertainment can be adapted to suit the size of the wedding party. He said: “Intimate weddings are some of the most beautiful. Some couples feel overwhelmed with large guest numbers and it can be hard to make meaningful connections and conversation when there’s so much going on.
“When it comes to the evening reception, couples often want to place more emphasis on quality entertainment to kick-start a brilliant party and ensure the guestlist numbers don’t impact on their guests’ experience.
“My advice to couples is to create a shared experience by focusing your entertainment in one room rather than having breakout spaces and the bar elsewhere. Try and host your entertainment in a room that feels cosy for your party, regardless of whether you have 40 or 200 guests.”
Retro returns
Over the past year, interest in retro weddings – specifically 70s weddings – has grown by almost a third and will be playing a big part in Autumn’s trends.
From retro wedding hairstyles to vintage suits and 60s and 70s style wedding dresses, the past is firmly set in the future.
So what about the music?
Well, it’s no different. Over the past couple of years, the iconic sounds of 70s disco and rock music have really made a comeback into popular, mainstream music. They’ve even influenced the sounds of some top artists such as Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo.
The trend has made its way into the wedding party and Musique is embracing it with open mics.
Opting for a live band, such as The Party Fettlers and Threshold who blend contemporary and retro sounds is a fantastic way to bring this trend into your wedding and will add mass appeal to your entertainment, keeping guests of all ages happy and engaged.
Wedding Saxophonists
Over the past 12 months, search volume for wedding saxophonists has skyrocketed by 143%!
As more and more people turn to saxophonists for their wedding entertainment (with the number set to increase even more into 2024), what should you look out for when choosing a saxophonist?
Musique’s very own wedding saxophonist, Arthur Phillips said: “Saxophonists are a fantastic way of bridging the gap between live and pre-recorded music, as the sound of a saxophone is incredibly versatile and can fit with virtually any style of music.
“Due to the rise in popularity of dance and house music, and the impact of sax players performing in Ibiza or similar festivals, this style tends to be the most requested – there’s plenty of space within the music for a sax player to add to the music, subtly building the energy and kicking in during the drops… it all adds to the energy in the room and enhances the party!
“That being said, if you want Motown, soul, R&B, or even indie, a sax player can play within these styles to add to the music and increase the impact – a good sax player won’t even need a setlist, they can change style and key within seconds of hearing the next track.
“The music isn’t the only thing that makes a sax player a brilliant choice for your wedding – the key is the interaction! The saxophone is a very visual instrument anyway (shiny and a very distinctive shape), but by using a wireless microphone, the sax player can be in the middle of the dance floor, encouraging people to dance, and really getting the party going.
“The goal is for everyone to enjoy themselves, the sax player included!”
Personal touches everywhere
Autumn wedding trends 2023 are continuing the rise of personalisation throughout the day. Hiring a live musician for your wedding gives you plenty of opportunities to personalise your playlists throughout the day.
Your song choices at key moments throughout the day will communicate your story to your guests and set the tone and atmosphere for the day.
Significant moments where personalised playlists can really enhance your day include:
- Walking down the aisle
- The ceremony recessional
- Entrance to your drinks reception/wedding breakfast
- Your first dance
- Your last dance
At Musique, every couple we work with receives a completely bespoke experience and our artists are always open to special song requests, or even helping you find the perfect song that will communicate your love story to your guests.
Early ceremony, late reception
As the days are drawing shorter more people are playing around with the traditional timings of their wedding days to maximise daylight hours.
By getting the ceremony underway earlier in the day, there’s more opportunity to spend capturing beautiful images in the sunshine, surrounded by autumnal backdrops.
Holding your ceremony earlier in the day and your evening reception later in the evening also gives people more of a break between the festivities. For those who have hotels or homes nearby, this is an opportunity to nap, freshen up and change.
But don’t forget about those who don’t have somewhere else to be. You’re guaranteed to have guests who will stick around at the venue during this break. Consider putting on some light entertainment for these guests so that they don’t lose the spirit of the festivities while they’re waiting for the party to resume.
Consider extending your reception musicians’ performance times to cover this break, or hire an instrumental musician such as a pianist to simply add some background ambience to your venue.
Sober Celebrations
Weddings are renowned for being boozy celebrations. But did you know that almost a quarter (24%) of guests prefer not to drink at weddings?
This trend has been on the up for a little while and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. With Pinterest searches for ‘fancy non-alcoholic drinks’ up 220%, as far as autumn wedding trends 2023 go, catering to a ‘dry’ audience is a must!
But more sober people means more people who are aware of what’s actually going on in the room (and will remember it the next day).
If you want to impress your guests you need to make sure that your entertainment is a stand-out aspect of your wedding – because they’re guaranteed to remember.
A low-cost DJ or budget band simply aren’t going to cut it.
Luckily, Musique’s selection of talented artists includes the very best wedding entertainers from across the North West. When you make an enquiry, our team of dedicated booking coordinators will work with you to find an artist who will give you the luxury experience you desire at a cost that fits your budget.
Summary
Whichever autumn wedding trends you choose to follow this year (or even next), Musique is ready to help you find exceptional entertainment to match.