Wedding Trends 2023

At Searcys, we take great pride in acknowledging every minor detail when it comes to ensuring your wedding is the most memorable of days. As experts in events for over 175 years, Searcys remains ahead of the game when it comes to spotting the latest trends.

Searcys venue teams are ready to host your special day with tailored event spaces, bespoke menus focused on the best seasonal and British produce and expertly paired wines and champagnes to celebrate. With experience dating back to Victorian times, hand over the reins to Searcys and trust our planners and chefs to curate a truly special day. From timeless classics to modern interpretations, we spoke to the people in charge of our handpicked venues about a few things to look out for throughout the upcoming summer wedding season:

THE PERSONAL TOUCH

We excel in offering a personal touch alongside bespoke wedding plans. Tim Cramp, MD of our partner, a famous City events caterer Party Ingredients, shares his experience of transforming a magnificent livery hall into a ‘Harry Potter’ banquet complete with ‘long, elaborate tables and a tall candelabra’… customised cocktail menus are in high demand too. Whatever your theme, our events team are creative and attentive, welcoming your ideas at every step of the way – let your personality shine!

SHARING IS CARING

Tim further shares ‘round table are far less popular than they were’ and suggests exploring the use of long tables where ‘guests are encouraged to enjoy a more casual and sociable affair’. Eleni Mesala of 116 Pall Mall have embraced novel ways of catering for guests and are frequently stepping away from the more traditional three course menu; ‘grazing menus designed for sharing are becoming increasingly popular’. An impressive array of treats and delectable nibbles for guests to feast on as they please – all freshly prepared and curated by our talented team of chefs. Why not explore a theme for your cuisine such as ‘quintessentially British’ or a mezze spread taking you back to a favourite holiday.

LOW AND NO BAR MENU

Many venues, including The View at The Royal College of Surgeons of England, have observed that less people are drinking. As a result, Holly is seeing frequent requests for ‘high-quality mocktails which are not your usual mixes of juices…’. Non-alcoholic drink options are much more in demand with people looking for exciting soft drinks which are both imaginative and sophisticated. We suggest trying our favourite ‘Dry Dragon Real Kombucha’. This refreshing all day is drink made using pan-fired Dragonwell green tea, fermented to produce a non-alcoholic sparkling wine which is full of flavour and complexity. Try it served chilled in a champagne flute for the perfect non-alcoholic celebratory toast. Our Searcys mocktails are not to be missed either!

INTIMATE CEREMONIES

‘Intimate ceremonies are here to stay’, shares Holly Davies from The View. Post-pandemic life has meant that couples are thinking hard about a more selective guest list, including only the closest of family and friends. Average numbers for weddings are now around 70 rather than 110 before Covid. Searcys can cater for weddings of any size, and Holly recommends exploring the stunning Library at The View for smaller wedding parties, an impressive and intimate venue in Holborn, central London.

CREATIVE MINIMALISM

A rustic-themed wedding may seem cliché but when done properly this timeless design including delicate table decorations, pastel colours and soft floral displays, creates a more natural atmosphere for guests to relax in. Every detail down to earthy colour scheme, and neutral table-wear can be tailored to your preference. Holly, The View, has worked closely with clients to select ‘the very best suppliers for wedding table plans and unique wedding favours’.

LATE NIGHT TREATS

Whilst a large cake often takes centre stage, Eleni, 116 Pall Mall, is seeing more requests for post-dinner cheese boards and champagne bars for late-night drinks. And for those with a sweet tooth, a dessert station can be on hand to delight your guests too.

AL FRESCO RECEPTIONS

This remains a popular request since 2021, and we believe it’s a trend which is here to stay. Our venues can cleverly combine outdoor and indoor spaces, for example, with beautiful gazebos in the exclusive Blenheim Palace gardens. Don’t miss an opportunity to host a drinks reception at Searcys green spaces in prime locations: in the grounds of 116 Pall Mal, surrounded by the beauty of our Grade I listed building and all of its elegance, or the 5-acre lawns in the heart of The City at The HAC, or a small and intimate gardens of The Stationers Hall by St Paul’s Cathedral.