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New data reveals that young couples are modernizing wedding traditions without hesitation, and rewriting the rules for the celebration.
According to the data, conducted by wedding planning company The Knot, Gen Z wedding trends in 2026 are ushering in a new era of crazes, like small guest lists, delayed engagement posts and unconventional vendors.
Gen Z wedding trends feature new traditions
What they're saying:
"Gen Z weddings are redefining what it means to celebrate love," Ashley Powell, a lead consultant at Frost & Co and a pioneer in the wedding and social media industry, said of The Knot’s findings. "In a world that's often divided, their weddings will be moments of unification, cultural expression and personal storytelling. They'll remind us that love isn't only personal but also communal and cultural."
Tariffs impact wedding industry
By the numbers:
As tariffs impact the wedding industry, the increase in prices will result in a higher average wedding cost, according to The Knot.
Last year, the overall average wedding cost was $33,000 and the average cost per guest was $284.
FILE: Man holds bride's hand with a golden wedding ring. (Credit: Getty Image)
Guest count also significantly affected how much weddings cost. The study found that those who spent under $15,000 invited an average of 89 guests, couples who spent $15,000–$40,000 invited 118 guests, and couples who spent over $40,000 invited 142 guests on average.
And as tariffs continue to impact these costs, this will also alter what couples choose to do or not do at their weddings.
Bridal party trend disappearing
Dig deeper:
One way Gen Z couples and their loved ones are saving money is by having minimal or no wedding party members, according to the data.
Why's that?
By making the wedding party small or nonexistent, the to-be-weds can take the financial burden off of their loved ones by helping pay for wedding party expenses, or they can eliminate monetary responsibility for themselves altogether.
RELATED: Here's how much couples are spending on weddings in 2025
"I've seen a significant reduction in wedding parties this year and expect that trend to continue into 2026," Kendra Coons, the owner and creative director of party planning company Confetti and Co. said. "Many of my couples have opted to have no wedding party, and in some cases, they have their grandparents sign as their witnesses."
She added: "Also, scraping the wedding party is such a good move. Less stress, fewer expenses and fewer people to corral throughout the day. You can still have your besties join you for getting ready without the commitment (or drama) of a formal wedding party."
Amy Lynn, an NYC wedding planner, said there are also other factors that contribute to couples switching things up.
"I've been seeing this a lot with my couples for a few reasons," Lynn said. "One, it draws your focus to the couple more and really makes it about them. Two, your friends probably don't love standing for 30 minutes and being on display for everyone. Three, your wedding party actually gets to watch your ceremony."
Bottom line: If you're considering keeping your wedding party small or avoiding the tradition all together, The Knot says not to feel like an outcast. Do what makes you happy.
The Source: The information for this story was provided by The Knot. This story was reported from Los Angeles.