2025, You Were A Lot: My Real Year in Review as a Wedding Expert
The weddings were wild, and the bachelorette parties were even wilder.
There’s no sugarcoating it—2025 came in hot, stayed chaotic, and wrapped up with glitter still in my hair. As someone who spends all year living in the center of the celebration tornado, this was a year I won’t forget.
Whether you’re newly engaged, planning your bestie’s bach weekend, or just here for the stories, I’m pulling back the veil on what really happened behind the scenes this year. Spoiler: it wasn’t all champagne and “I dos.”
The Wedding Scene in 2025: Bigger, Bolder, and Way More Personalized
Let’s kick it off with weddings. If 2024 was about “timeless elegance,” 2025 said, “hold my bouquet” and brought personality overload.
Here’s what defined the year:
Main Character Energy
Every bride walked into her wedding era like it was a movie premiere. Custom details, statement dresses, bold entrances—couples didn’t just get married, they performed their love stories. And honestly? We were here for it.
Hello, Intention
Forget traditions for tradition’s sake. Couples were selective, thoughtful, and emotionally present. Everything—from the ceremony script to the guest list—had a reason and a why. Meaning over obligation? We love to see it.
Social Media Everything
TikTok ran the show. Weddings had full-on content teams, viral moments were planned, and even the grandmas had a hashtag. If it wasn’t filmed, did it even happen?
Micro-Mega Weddings
The split was real. Couples either went intimate & intentional with 25 guests at a cozy Airbnb or blew the roof off with 250+ and a headliner DJ. There was no middle. Just full send in either direction.
Dairyland Bach Co & the Bach Weekend Boom
This year, Dairyland Bach Co took things to a whole new level. We went from cozy Midwest lakehouse weekends to full-blown, multi-day itineraries with themes, décor, custom playlists, and (no joke) goat yoga.
But the real shift? Domestic bach weekends became the new luxury.
With more brides skipping the overseas stress, U.S.-based bach trips took over—and honestly, they were just as extra, just as fun, and way more accessible.
Top Realistic (But Still Epic) Bach Weekend Destinations in 2025
You don’t need a passport for pink champagne and main character moments. These U.S. destinations delivered this year:
Scottsdale, AZ – Boho desert vibes, pool floats, and tequila at golden hour.
Austin, TX – Lake days, live music, cowboy boots, and chaos. It’s giving bride + boots + brunch.
Charleston, SC – Pastel everything, cute Airbnbs, rooftop cocktails, and a little coastal class.
Miami, FL – Neon bikinis, boat days, bougie clubs, and endless heat. Perfect for the glam squad.
Nashville, TN – Still kickin’. Broadway bachelorettes and rhinestone cowgirl energy? Iconic.
Bach Weekend Themes That Took Over in 2025
This was the year bach themes went from cute to full-on theatrical. Pinterest boards were mood boards, and no one was playing it safe.
Disco Cowgirl
Sequins, fringe, boots, and bubbly. The pink cowboy hat remains undefeated.
Wellness But Wild™
Start the morning with yoga, end it with espresso martinis. The girls are multitasking.
Reality TV Rejects
Dress like you’re on season three of Love Is Blind and act like it. Fake confessionals, drama for no reason, and maybe a rose ceremony. Bonus points for fake producers.
Back to the Bach
Each night is a different decade—Friday is ‘70s disco, Saturday is Y2K. Costume changes highly encouraged. The bride is basically time traveling to the altar.
Cabin Glam
Lakeside cozy meets Pinterest-core. Matching robes, rosé, and board games you won’t finish.
Bach to the Vineyard
Wineries, picnic-style charcuterie, sundresses, and matching straw hats. Low-key luxe never looked so good.
The Wedding Moments That Broke Me (In the Best Way)
Even after years in this business, 2025 gave me some core memory material:
A couple reading private vows to each other before the ceremony, just the two of them.
Instead of a first look, the couple met at their elementary school playground where they first met—same swings, just grown-up hearts.
A best friend officiating—and delivering the most heartfelt, hilarious speech I’ve ever heard.
Let’s just say I packed tissues in my emergency kit more than once.
The Hard Stuff (Because This Year Wasn’t All Sunshine)
Real talk: 2025 wasn’t all champagne towers and flower crowns.
Vendors Hit Max Capacity – 2025 was one of the busiest years we’ve seen in the industry, with high demand across the board. Dates filled fast, and vendors were working harder than ever to deliver incredible experiences. It was a year that reminded us how important communication, boundaries, and teamwork really are.
Weather Drama – Tornado warnings in May, heat waves in October. Outdoor weddings = high risk, high reward.
Pinterest Pressure – The standard for “aesthetic” became unreasonably high. It stressed couples and vendors out.
Pro tip: Focus on feeling over perfection. No one remembers if your napkins were linen.
What 2025 Couples Taught Me About Love
This year’s couples were emotionally intelligent. They prioritized connection, leaned into vulnerability, and weren’t afraid to ditch tradition for what felt real.
They reminded me:
That it’s okay to write your own vows—even if you cry through them.
That small moments > perfect ones.
That love isn’t something to prove—it’s something to protect.
My Favorite Trends I Hope Stick Around
Audio Guestbooks – Vintage phones recording sweet (and tipsy) messages? Always a yes.
Dessert Variety – Food trucks were a huge hit this year (hello, late-night tacos and gelato!). And while mini dessert bars had their moment, I’ll always be team wedding cake. Classic for a reason.
Cozy Lounge Spaces – Sofas and lounge seating near the dance floor gave guests a comfy place to vibe without leaving the party. Obsessed.
Statement Vows – Couples got poetic, funny, and deeply personal. More of this energy, please.
What I Hope We Leave Behind
Let’s talk about a few things I hope don’t follow us into 2026:
Copy-Paste Pinterest Weddings – Not everything needs to be beige, boho, and perfectly curated. If it doesn’t feel like you, it’s okay to skip the trend. Your wedding should reflect your story—not someone else’s mood board.
Unrealistic DIY Expectations – Can we stop hot glue gunning 87 favors the night before the wedding? Some things are better outsourced, simplified, or skipped entirely. Your peace > perfection.
Confusing Dress Codes – “Whimsical Western Chic with a Twist of Garden Formal” — what does that even mean? Let’s make things easier, not harder.
What I Think We’ll See in 2026
Here’s my gut feeling:
Intentional Guest Lists – Fewer plus-ones, more people that matter. Couples are thinking quality over quantity — and it shows.
Micro-Weddings, Mega-Weekends – Small, meaningful ceremonies paired with full-out celebration weekends (hello, extended bachelorette vibes).
AI Planning Tools – Timelines, itineraries, and even vow inspiration — couples are embracing tech to simplify the chaos.
Romantic, Not Rigid – More color, more feeling. Couples are ditching sterile minimalism for spaces that feel like them—whether that’s moody, cozy, colorful, or nostalgic.
2026 is looking like the year of purpose, personality, and presence — and honestly? I’m so ready.
A Toast to You (Yes, YOU!)
To every couple, every maid-of-honor, every parent, planner, and photographer—thank you. You made magic this year, even on the messy days.
To the Dairyland Bach Co fam: I’m proud of what we built, what we survived, and what we celebrated.
And if you’re just here reading along? Grab a glass. You’re part of this, too.
P.S. Want more behind-the-scenes stories, tips, and trends?
Pop your email into the group chat (aka our newsletter) and I’ll send the good stuff straight to your inbox (no spam, just party planning gold).
Planning a 2026 wedding, bachelorette weekend, bridal shower or honeymoon?
Check out the services to see how we can work together. Whether you're dreaming of a chill lake weekend or a full-sent bach bash — I’ve got you.