Irish wedding planner on the trends to expect in 2025

With over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, Aisling McVeigh knows a thing or two about throwing a great party.

From micro-weddings and intimate soirees, to e-launches and brand activations, the key, she says, it to find the story of what is being celebrated and reflect it in every possible detail.

Following four years in Dubai, where she worked on luxury events for high-profile brands, she returned home in 2020 to create her own consultancy service: Danu Collective.

"My passion point is luxury," she says. "When I was coming back to Ireland, I felt there was an opportunity to really offer a service that focused on luxury planning."

Named after a goddess from Irish mythology, Danu's ethos is deeply inspired by nature, sustainability, female-empowerment, and celebrating all that Ireland has to offer.

"We do events all over the world, but from a wedding perspective, we have such unique product in Ireland," she insists. "We've got these fantastic Irish castles, beautiful country houses, and our food and drink scene is amazing."

Explaining how she and her team elevate weddings for clients to give them a luxury status, McVeigh says it comes down to the individual needs of each client.

"It's about personalisation. We spend a lot of time getting to know the couple; how they met, where they like to travel, where they like to dine, the type of spaces they like to be in. We try to reflect that in the event."

"We'll pull a team together who are the right team to bring that to life," she continues. "Different florists have different styles, venues offer different things, with food and beverages there are different tastes and preferences. We make sure we're curating a team or a collective to suit the clients' tastes."

So, when it comes to throwing a wedding in Ireland in 2025, what can the newly engaged expect to see when it comes to trends?

Sustainability is a concern for businesses and individuals alike. Aisling says that Danu will take steps to re-purpose event florals to a local hospice the day after where possible; encourage zero-waste when it comes to food; promote local business and and visitor experiences for overseas wedding guests to enjoy pre and post wedding.

Additionally, she says pre-loved bridal wear is growing in popularity - Cirq bridal boutique being a great example.

Shorter lead times for planning has become an expectation for many, especially for couples who may already have a home together or are planning to start a family soon.

"In an ideal world, on average, you do want at least 12 months to be able to plan with the venue or the ideal date that you have in mind," she explains.

However, if you really want to move things along, McVeigh insists that mid-week weddings allow for a much shorter lead time. Miracles can happen as long as your flexible - the wedding planner actually married after just three months of planning.

"I've done it myself so I know it's possible," she laughs.

When it comes to the dress, you could buy pre-loved to hurry things along, or some bridal stores offer 'a rush cut' to hurry a dress through for a higher price point.

Technology has bled into almost every aspect of our lives and weddings are no exception.

"Wedding websites are a fantastic way to manage your communication with guests on an on-going basis," she explains. "You can upload a guest list, send virtual 'save the dates', track RSVPs, track dietary needs. They're a fantastic way to send an update to guests"

Additionally, sites like The Knot and Paperless Post can help speed up organisation, while Canva can allow creative brides and grooms to make their own custom stationary.

Content creators have become popular with couples who want immediate access to their captured moments. Photographers and videographers are still incredibly popular, but they have longer lead times in terms of editing their work - particularly if couples want everything to be captured on film.

"People want to have something to share the next morning, the next day," says Aisling. "Content creators will be on site to get those bite-size, in the moment, kind of content."

Mocha Mousse - Pantone's Colour of the Year for 2025 - will be a popular colour when it comes to decor, bridesmaid dresses, groomsman suits, or even the bride's nails.

"It's a fantastic base for flowers, expecially for an autumnal wedding," she notes. "For anybody getting married in the autumn, it's a beautiful palette to bring to life."

Layered linen has also become popular in wedding decor, with lots of dramatic draping and fun fabric accents: "It's almost like an 80s look that we're seeing coming back in with these layered linens."

Unusual table formations are also to be expected, says the wedding planner.

"You'll see round tables being literally put together in swirls up and down a room, or you'll have custom-made tables - obviously they will err on a larger budget, and obviously you need to be mindful of the size of your room."

Intimate celebrations are becoming increasingly popular, with many couples wanting to host the occassion with a select group of friends in a beautiful restaurant setting.

"People are choosing to have a ceremony and a meal with intimate family and then they'll have the bigger party the next day with everybody - there's lots of ways to flex it rather than the hardcore tradition of hotel, drink receptions, dancing, and that's it."

Dessert bars encourage guests to stand up and mingle following their dinners, and are an "interactive and immersive way to have the course".

Bespoke cocktails and mocktails are often featured at wedding receptions or later on in the night. To focus on "wellness and inclusivity", many couples are offering good-quality, non-alcoholic options.

To find out more about Danu Collective and learn about their consultation and planning services, visit DanuCollective.com.