From a 2027 Bride Who Works in Weddings

It’s 8pm. I’m in pyjamas. Hair scraped up in a very un-bridal bun. I’m “just having a wee scroll” for my own 2027 wedding.

Except… I’m a bridal hairstylist. So this is never just a scroll.

It’s a full internal debrief,  zooming in on details. Asking myself, Will that still look good in ten years?
And the big one: If one of my brides showed me this, what would I honestly say?

Being both the bride and the supplier is complicated. Helpful. Slightly exhausting. Definitely a blessing and a curse.

But it does mean I see trends differently.

And maybe that’s because I already know what our wedding will feel like.

We’re getting married at the rooftop bar in The Merchant Hotel. Late ceremony. City skyline. Music at the centre of it all. Ours won’t be overly traditional, it will be a celebration first.

We’re both mad music lovers. If the room feels electric and the dancefloor is full, that’s success to us.

So when I look at 2026 trends, I’m not just asking what’s popular. I’m asking what creates that kind of atmosphere.

Here’s what I’m noticing and what I’m quietly taking notes on for 2027.

Personality Is Winning

The biggest shift I’m seeing? Couples are backing themselves. Less copy-and-paste Pinterest boards and more “this feels like us.”

And I can feel it when I walk into a room. There’s a difference between a wedding styled to impress and one built with intention. The energy is softer. Calmer. More grounded.

The couples look like themselves and that changes everything.

For my own day? I don’t want a performance. I want to be real.

Colour Is Everything

Deep berries. Forest greens. Warm sunset tones. Proper depth and contrast. Not a sea of safe neutrals.

I’ve styled in beige rooms. I’ve styled in bold ones. And here’s the truth: colour has presence when it’s done confidently. It photographs beautifully. It feels intentional. It holds emotion.

So now I’m asking myself the same question I ask my brides:

Will I regret being brave or will I regret playing small?

I already know the answer.

It’s Not Just a Day Anymore

One thing I love about 2026 weddings? They’re slowing down.

Welcome dinners. Later ceremonies. Morning-after brunches. Space to enjoy every moment.

Because wedding days are fast. I see it every weekend. It’s a blur of emotion, music, hugs, hairspray and someone always looking for shoes.

That’s exactly why we’ve chosen a later ceremony at The Merchant Hotel.

We want the day to build, to feel like a proper celebration from the start.

We’re also doing a first look and all our photos before the ceremony.

Some people will say that’s not traditional. But I’ve seen too many couples barely get a minute together on their own wedding day. We don’t want that.

We don’t want to feel rushed from aisle to speeches to first dance without being present.

We’re choosing to see each other first because we don’t want to miss a moment.

The nerves, the private reaction the quiet before the music starts.

Then walking into the ceremony already grounded and ready to celebrate properly.

That feels more important than sticking to a traditional format.

Brides Are Choosing Movement

Outfit changes. Dramatic veils. Second shoes. Dresses you can sit in, eat in and actually dance in.

Working in weddings has ruined stiff gowns for me. If you can’t hug your gran properly or spin on the dancefloor without adjusting yourself every two minutes… it’s not the one.

The most confident brides I’ve worked with look elevated but they still look like themselves.

Not a costume. Not a character. Just a heightened version of who they already are.

That’s exactly what I want too.

Atmosphere Over Ego

Here’s something you only really understand after seeing hundreds of weddings.

The ones guests talk about later, they’re not always the biggest or the most expensive.

They’re the ones where:

The everyone was fed,  the room felt relaxed and the couple looked genuinely happy.

I’ve seen luxury weddings feel tense, I’ve seen smaller ones feel electric.

And being in the industry means I know exactly where money makes an impact and where it doesn’t.

For us? If the music is right and the rooftop feels alive, that’s what will matter.

And in the middle of all this trend-spotting and over-analysing…

I keep reminding myself of something simple.

A wedding is a big, beautiful party to celebrate your marriage.

That’s it.

It’s the confetti and the music and the outfit and the hair and the flowers,  yes. But underneath all of that? It’s two people choosing each other.

The relationship is the important bit, marriage is the point and the wedding is the celebration.

I’ve stood behind brides adjusting veils while they squeeze their partner’s hand before walking down the aisle. That’s the moment that matters.

Trends will change,  colours will date. Even the photos will soften with time.

But the way you look at each other, the way you feel that morning and the commitment you’re making.

That’s the real thing.

Everything else is just the party around it.

And maybe that’s why I’ve started sharing more of our planning journey on TikTok.

Not because I have it all figured out. But because I don’t.

I’m so used to being the calm one in the room. The one adjusting veils and pinning curls and protecting the timeline. Now I’m the one choosing a late ceremony at The Merchant rooftop, planning our first look so we don’t miss a second, building a day around music and atmosphere.

It feels slightly surreal being on this side of it.

If you want to follow along with our 2027 wedding planning, I’ve been sharing it over there:
👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@kimthecurlyplussizebride

It’s honest. It’s unfiltered. And yes, I absolutely over analyse everything.