Spring and Summer Wedding Trends We’re Loving in 2025
As the snow melts from the North Shore trails and Lake Superior glimmers under longer days, wedding season in the Northland is beginning to bloom. And let’s be real—this isn’t your mother’s wedding season, the trends we’re seeing in 2025 are bold, deeply personal, and joyfully intentional!
Whether you’re newly engaged or finalizing the details for your 2025 celebration, here are the top trends we’re loving this spring and summer—plus trusted local vendors to bring them to life!
1. Intentional Color Palettes: Where Moody Meets Fresh
We’ve moved past the days of Pinterest-overload beige. Today’s couples are choosing color with feeling and purpose. It’s not just about what’s “in”—it’s about what moves you.
One of our May couples is using a mix of moss green, plum, and antique gold to mirror their love of hiking and their candlelit cathedral ceremony. Another summer wedding is leaning into sun-drenched hues: marigold, dusty blue, and terracotta—colors that feel like warm air and iced tea on the porch.
These palettes pair beautifully with the lush landscapes of Duluth and the North Shore. We especially love:
Emerald + Marigold + Cream (rich but fresh)
Forest + Lavender + Brass (soft and grounded)
Clay + Cornflower + Olive (a modern romantic twist)
Vendor Recs:
Florals: Superior Blooms (our sister company, of course!), For Floral’s Sake, Lulu Collective
Rentals: The Vault Event Decor (our sister company!) for velvet linens and colored glassware
Stationery: Rachel J. Design Studio for custom suites that reflect your palette story
2. Statement Florals & Overgrown Garden Vibes
Photo: Sophia Photo Co.
We’re not talking just centerpieces anymore. In 2025, flowers are sculptural, immersive, and a little bit wild.
Picture this: guests walk through a grounded floral meadow to get to your ceremony arch. Herbs and vines spill over the ends of tables. Flower installations grow up walls or drip from ceilings like a dream.
One of our favorite weddings last season featured a ceremony set in a cedar grove at Lester Park—no arch, just flowers growing out of the forest floor. It felt like stepping into a fairytale.
This year, couples are choosing local and seasonal blooms, with foraged greenery that reflects the natural landscape.
Vendor Recs:
Florals: Superior Blooms, For Floral’s Sake, Lulu Collective
Planning Tip: Let us help build your layout around your florals for maximum impact
3. Documentary-Style Photography & Vintage-Inspired Video
Photo: Asher James Co.
Couples in 2025 aren’t just hiring photographers—they’re hiring storytellers. Gone are the stiff poses and curated shot lists. Instead, we’re seeing more requests for:
Flash-on-camera reception moments (hello, editorial edge)
Intimate, grainy stills that feel like film
Super 8-style video or VHS textures
Quiet, unscripted candids that capture the soul of the day
This approach allows the day to unfold naturally—and the photos to reflect real emotion. You won’t remember how perfectly your bouquet was held; you’ll remember how you felt walking toward your person.
Vendor Recs:
Photography: Angela Jo Photography, Ash McMahon Photography, Cece Boyle Photography, Asher James Co.
Video: Jasper Meddock Productions, Asher James Co., LWV Productions
4. Intimate Guest Lists, Lavish Experiences
Molly Jo Photography
Rather than maxing out guest counts, couples are curating their circle—and going all in on the experience. We’re planning more wedding weekends than ever: Friday welcome dinners, Saturday ceremonies, and Sunday brunches that make saying goodbye that much sweeter.
With fewer guests, couples are investing in:
Private chefs or food stations
Live acoustic sets during dinner
Lounge areas that feel like your living room (but make it luxe)
At one of our recent weddings, guests received hand-written welcome letters and a locally sourced snack box at check-in. The couple didn’t just throw a party—they hosted a weekend their guests are still talking about.
Vendor Recs:
Catering: MidCoast Catering, Blackwoods Events Center, Catering by Belisio’s
Lounge Rentals: The Vault (our sister company!)
Welcome Gifting: White Spruce Market - a local gifting company!
5. Creative Entertainment Beyond the Dance Floor
You’ve got the DJ. But what else will guests remember? 2025 weddings are adding creative, interactive experiences to keep guests engaged and delighted all night long.
Some of our favorites this season:
A poetry-on-demand typewriter station with a local artist
Tarot card reader tucked into a candlelit lounge corner
Signature cocktail mixology stations
Fire pits and s’mores after dark (especially for North Shore venues)
This year’s motto? Why not! Your wedding should reflect what brings you joy—and surprise your guests with something unexpected.
Vendor Recs:
Live Entertainment: Gaelynn Lea, Billy Johnson, or local string quartets from Lake Effect Music
Typewriter Poetry / Tarot: Ask us—we have amazing artists on call for this!
Patio Sets & Lounge Rentals: The Vault Event Decor
6. Ditching the Traditional Timeline (Sort Of)
We’ll always love a well-paced event flow—but couples are now rewriting timelines to better suit their personalities and guest energy.
Some trends we’re loving:
Doing private vows in the woods before the ceremony
Skipping the grand entrance in favor of greeting guests individually
Toasts spread throughout the evening instead of all at once
First dances in unique places (like the cliffs of Palisade Head or a lakeside dock)
This flexible approach lets your wedding breathe. It feels more like a celebration and less like a checklist. And with the right planner (hi!) to keep it on track, nothing gets missed.
Vendor Recs:
Planning & Coordination: True North Weddings (this is where we shine!)
Officiants: Elope Duluth, Kelsey Lundquist, or a trusted friend with a custom script
7. Meaningful Rituals & Personal Touches
2025 is the year of heart-centered weddings. We’re seeing couples infuse their ceremonies with spiritual, cultural, or completely made-up rituals that feel deeply personal.
Some of our favorite touches?
Handfasting ceremonies with heirloom fabrics
Wearing family jewelry or incorporating handwritten vows into your bouquet
Inviting guests to share intentions or blessings during the ceremony
Custom embroidery on gowns, veils, or suit linings
These aren’t just aesthetic details. They’re moments that turn your wedding into a story worth telling for years to come.
Vendor Recs:
Custom Embroidery: Advantage Emblem, True North Threads or Kelsey Rae Designs
Ceremony Ritual Planning: Ask your planner to help incorporate cultural or spiritual elements that matter to you
Planning a 2025 Wedding in Duluth or the North Shore?
Let’s create something that feels like you.
At True North Weddings, we specialize in personalized planning that weaves your story into every detail. From mountaintop vows to ballroom receptions, we help couples design intentional, unforgettable experiences across Northern Minnesota and beyond.
Ready to bring your wedding daydream to life?
Reach out here to schedule your free consultation—we can’t wait to hear your vision.
