The new year means looking forward to holiday and New Year’s parties, as well as new wedding trends to be excited about! With the royal wedding on everyone’s calendar, it’ll be exciting to see the trends that future HRH Meghan Markle will set and what British traditions she’ll keep. For couples choosing to have a destination wedding, maybe we’ll see more lovebirds wanting to have their own royal experience in London?

Here are some other trends for registries, wedding ceremonies and honeymoons to look forward to in 2018!  

Wedding Registry Trends

Wedding registries are not what they used to be now that couples are living together before marriage and waiting longer to get married. Because of this, many couples have a lot of home basics already and sometimes don’t feel the need to get new housewares for their wedding. Today, many couples are interested in twists on traditions and registering for experiences. Because of this transition, registry companies are responding and creating universal registries that allow couples to ask for items from a variety of stores and companies. One popular universal registry company Zola allows users to register for experiences with their partner companies and has a honeymoon registry, where family and friends can gift money to go toward the couple’s post-nuptial adventures. The honeymoon fund can be a great option for destination wedding couples who would rather spend time traveling and experiencing new places.

Wedding Ceremony Trends

As the world patiently (ok, not-so-patiently) awaits the royal wedding in May, couples around the world will be lapping up their wedding details as Prince Harry and his future wife’s royal love story continues to unfold. Weddings that happen later in 2018 will definitely be borrowing details from the trends that the royal couple will set. A British tradition that could become a trend is children-only bridal parties. Instead of their adult friends and family members, British couples stand up with a group of flower girls and ring bearers. Imagine how cute those photos will be!

For destination weddings, borrowing traditions from other countries should be incorporated into your plans. Destination weddings that are truly memorable are those that immerse their guests in their chosen destination, not a generic wedding experience in another state or country. Work with your destination wedding planner to create a menu, mood and authentic regional experience for you and your guests. You already chose a special location, now show your guests why this place is so special.

Honeymoon Trends

This is where your honeymoon fund will come in handy! A honeymoon is arguably the best part about getting married. After all of the details, planning, partying and dancing, it’s time to relax with your partner. Many honeymooners still choose to go the all-inclusive beach resort route, but a lot of couples are beginning to look for more beach locations that will allow them to be immersed in the culture instead of just staying on a resort’s grounds. Check out Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 lists for some inspiration when you need to pick a location.

For destination weddings, couples are already ahead of the game by being in a new location to explore. Another honeymoon trend for newlywed couples are multiple trips and multiple destinations. According to Zola couples, 25% take a mini-moon and a honeymoon trip. This trend is a perfect excuse for destination wedding couples to choose another location to jet off to after their nuptials!