Top 2026 wedding trends – Bold choices making new waves for meaningful celebrations

As we start planning another year of nuptial celebrations at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace, one thing is abundantly clear…the essence of 2026 weddings lies in authenticity, personality and reimagined luxury. This year we’ve seen a noticeable shift away from age-old traditions, with many couples prioritising how every moment and detail reflects who they truly are, inside and out, over perfection.

We’re still buzzing after our Wedding Showcase last month and the inspiring conversations we had with so many happy couples and wedding planners. We’ve also enjoyed hearing from our partner suppliers about next year’s top trends and the new wave of creative scope for celebrating love at our central London wedding venue.

Whether you're drawn to multi-day celebrations, deeply personalised dining experiences, or redefined luxury with artisanal touches, the trends emerging for 2026 reflect a fundamental shift. Couples are focusing on what truly resonates with them, creating celebrations that feel genuinely and unapologetically, theirs. As a unique central London wedding venue in the heart of Westminster, we're excited to share our insights and how we’re helping our clients bring their bold visions to life.

Celebrating our wedding showcase success

Our exclusive Wedding Showcase last month brought together industry professionals and engaged couples and for an afternoon of exploration and connection. The event showcased the wealth of potential at our stunning Grade I listed Georgian Townhouses, with leading florists transforming our spaces to demonstrate trending décor ideas in practice.

Guests indulged in an afternoon tea experience from our catering partner, Searcys London, enjoyed live performances bringing entertainment to life and explored everything from statement floral installations to innovative tablescapes. As Marion Baros, our Venue Business Development and Marketing Manager explained: "Our aim is to provide planners with both inspiration and practical connections. We want to support professionals in curating unforgettable events by bringing together trusted suppliers in one place.”

The buzz of conversations taking place throughout the afternoon perfectly captured what's defining 2026 – wedding professionals and couples are embracing bolder, more meaningful choices that break away from tradition.

Multi-day wedding celebrations – ‘The Wedding Weekend’

The single-day wedding is becoming a thing of the past. More couples are scheduling their celebrations across entire weekends, allowing time and space for genuine connection with every guest and alleviating the pressure of cramming every meaningful moment into hours.

This trend reflects a growing desire to slow down proceedings, meaning couples can really live the experience of their wedding, rather than feel it’s racing by in a whirlwind. Intimate welcome dinners the night before allow you to greet guests in a relaxed setting. Post-wedding brunches and guest leisure activities that feel deeply personal give even more breathing space around the main celebration and vary the experience for people of different ages.

The benefits are undeniable. The stress of the ‘big day’ is dramatically reduced, deeper connections are made with your loved ones and savouring moments rather than rushing through them will help them form vivid and lasting memories. When you're not racing against the clock, you can be fully present for your own celebration.

At {10-11} Carlton House Terrace, our nine versatile spaces are perfectly suited for multi-day celebrations. Our proximity to St James's Park, The Mall and Buckingham Palace means guests have wonderful sightseeing options between events. Our experienced wedding coordinators excel at curating unforgettable weekend experiences, ensuring each gathering feels distinct yet beautifully connected to your overall vision.

Destination dining - Food that tells your story

In 2026, wedding food will transcend traditional menus. Couples are moving away from formulaic choices toward dining experiences that tell their story through hyper-local ingredients, revitalised family recipes and cocktails or mocktails that celebrate heritage or meaningful destinations.

The trend centres on experiential, interactive dining. Think chefs preparing dishes to order at live stations, wine pairings that trace your relationship journey and signature cocktails replacing traditional champagne toasts. This gives the food narrative depth, turning your menu into a conversation piece.

Our in-house catering by Searcys, who are renowned for delivering refined dining at some of London’s most iconic locations, ensures customisation with a commitment to seasonal, locally sourced British ingredients. This makes the dining experience a defining and memorable feature of your celebration at our central London wedding venue.

“At Searcys, destination dining means transforming your personal journey into an unforgettable culinary experience. We collaborate closely with couples to bring their story to life through seasonal British ingredients, meaningful family recipes and dishes inspired by the places that matter most to them," says the Searcys team at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace. "Whether it’s an interactive chef station, a bespoke wine pairing or a signature cocktail rooted in heritage, these touches turn your menu into a story your guests can taste, share and remember.”

Redefining luxury – Intimate and artisanal

What constitutes luxury is being reimagined for 2026. According to this Tatler article, theatrical, large scale and overly choreographed productions are making way for smaller, more impactful moments conveying personality and characterised by warmth and exquisite artisan craftsmanship. This new opulence prioritises quality over quantity and intimacy over scale.

How is this brought to life? We envisage bold colours, like rich burgundies, cobalt blues and sun-kissed yellows, being used to express emotion. Hand-painted linens, dyed silk ribbons and bespoke tableware to add visual layers to the aesthetic. Individually selected guest gifts that carry genuine meaning and thoughtful touches subtly woven into the celebrations that make everyone feel valued and seen. Sculptural floral installations that feel more like gallery pieces than traditional arrangements. “There’s a growing demand for luxury, flower heavy types of arrangement that feel more artful. People are moving away from anything that feels too traditional or predictable; they want to connect with beauty in a more emotional, tactile way. I love seeing floral installations becoming almost sculptural pieces that make you pause and really feel something, rather than just serving as decoration,” explains Catherine Foxwell at Floral Evolution, one of our trusted approved suppliers.

“Working within a heritage space like {10-11} adds another layer of inspiration. The building already tells such a rich story, so it’s about creating harmony between the old and the new. I focus on designs that respect the architecture, playing with form, texture and negative space so the arrangements feel like they belong there, rather than trying to compete with the setting. It’s a lovely balance: honouring the venue’s history while bringing in something contemporary and unexpected. That’s where I think true modern luxury lies in that quiet dialogue between tradition and artistry.”

Our central London wedding venue naturally embodies this refined approach. The inherent elegance and ornate architectural details of our historic spaces provide a sophisticated backdrop that requires minimal enhancement, the buildings themselves make the statement. Our intimate scale, accommodating celebrations from small gatherings to 200 guests, creates a sense of exclusivity that larger venues can’t replicate.

Bold colours and artisan details become even more striking against our treasured Georgian architecture, allowing your personal style to shine. And with our carefully curated selection of approved suppliers, you'll have access to craftspeople who understand that true luxury lies in the details.

Personality over perfection - Unapologetically you

Perhaps the most significant shift for 2026 is couples embracing boldness and authenticity over flawless execution. This means making choices that resonate deeply, even if they break conventional wedding traditions. It's about creating emotional truth rather than staged moments.

We're seeing sculptural gowns and personality-driven tailoring that genuinely reflects individual style. Multiple outfit changes throughout the day are becoming standard, not extravagant. Couples are incorporating favourite artworks, travel memories and shared passions into their design narrative, turning their celebration into an immersive reflection of who they truly are.

Couples are also reconsidering venue choices entirely, moving away from standard hotel ballrooms toward art galleries, botanical gardens and unique private spaces that feel authentically theirs.

As a distinctive central London wedding venue, {10-11} Carlton House Terrace provides a stunning backdrop canvas for authentic self-expression. Nine distinct rooms offer flexibility and discovery, each with its own character and architectural charm. Located in the heart of Westminster yet feeling exclusive, we support your vision without imposing formulaic approaches, allowing your authentic story to unfold.

Plan your 2026 wedding at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace

Whether you're envisioning a multi-day weekend celebration, crafting bespoke dining experiences, or planning bold personal style moments, {10-11} Carlton House Terrace provides the ideal setting for your 2026 wedding.

Choose from our versatile selection of spaces to exchange your vows, host your drinks reception, dine and dance the night away. Our team of wedding coordinators will support you at every stage of planning, helping to bring your dream wedding to life.

Get in touch with our friendly team to discuss your bespoke requirements and book a viewing at our stunning central London wedding venue.

By phone: 0207 969 5224

By email: info@10-11cht.co.uk