How to Bring Next Year’s Hottest Styles to Your 2026 Wedding at Happy Valley

As couples plan their 2026 weddings, they’re increasingly embracing bold self-expression, immersive experiences and nostalgia.

For those saying “I do” at Happy Valley in Norfolk, these trends offer a perfect match: think woodland elegance, intentional details, celebrations that feel both grand and deeply personal, dramatic decor, statement table styling and more.

Here’s a look at the biggest 2026 wedding trends - (as per Hitched) - and how to translate them into a stunning, on-brand Happy Valley wedding.

A Touch of Regency Drama

One of the most striking trends for 2026: the “Bridgerton-style” wedding. Hitched notes a massive rise in searches for Regency-inspired elements - think corsetry, lace, soft pastels and old-money refinement.

At Happy Valley, you can lean into this elegance by blending romantic period details with the natural drama of our beautiful woodland surroundings.

Picture flowing empire-line gowns, delicate lace sleeves and soft corsetry paired with loose, undone hair and natural makeup. For décor, think antique-style candelabras, scalloped table linens, soft pastel florals and classical typography on your stationery. Gold-rimmed glassware and vintage china elevate tables without feeling overly formal, while taper candles add a sense of theatre as daylight fades through the trees. The Dutch Barn, with its large sliding barn doors and big windows, brings the beauty of the outside in - elevating your decor even further.

The key is balance: Regency romance, but relaxed enough to feel at home among the trees.

Sini and Kieran

Hannah & Edd

Immersive Celebrations

In 2026, weddings aren’t just about how they look - they’re about how they feel. Couples are designing days that engage all the senses, creating moments guests remember long after the last dance.

Happy Valley’s woodland setting is the perfect canvas for this trend. Think live acoustic music drifting through the trees during your ceremony, scented candles in jars or herbs woven into your tablescapes and seasonal menus that reflect the surrounding landscape. Evening fire pits, blankets and warm lighting help the celebration flow seamlessly from day to night, encouraging guests to slow down, connect and truly experience the setting.

Hannah & Edd

Statement Tablescapes

Tables are becoming a major design moment for 2026. Hitched highlights bold table styling as a key trend – dramatic florals, layered textures and intentional place settings that feel curated rather than traditional.

Long banquet tables work beautifully at Happy Valley, echoing the communal, relaxed feel of woodland dining. Consider moss runners, wildflower arrangements, fruits and foliage woven through the centre of the table or even mismatched ceramics for a collected-over-time look. Name cards handwritten on textured paper, stone or pressed leaves add a personal, tactile touch that feels perfectly in tune with nature.

Hannah and Matt

Hannah & Edd

Hannah & Edd

Nostalgia, Reimagined

Couples are increasingly drawn to nostalgic details – but with a modern twist. Rather than copying the past, 2026 weddings reinterpret it in fresh, meaningful ways.

At Happy Valley, this might look like vintage-style signage with contemporary fonts, mosaic guest books, classic cocktails form our on-site bar (The Cattle Yard) with locally inspired ingredients, or heirloom accessories paired with modern outfits. These thoughtful nods to the past feel especially powerful in a setting that already feels timeless.

Hannah and Matt

Bold, Personal Design Choices

Perhaps the biggest trend of all? Authenticity. In 2026, couples are choosing what truly resonates with them – even if it breaks tradition.

For woodland weddings, this could mean colourful florals instead of greenery-only palettes, unconventional ceremony layouts, or swapping formal sit-down meals for feasting-style dining. Happy Valley couples are embracing celebrations that feel expressive, warm and unapologetically them. Happy Valley’s south-facing Cattleyard Courtyard is the perfect setting for this kind of relaxed, festival or feasting-inspired catering. With the option to dine on picnic tables or set out on our trademark trestle tables, your wedding breakfast can feel unapologetically you.

Sini & Kieran

Hannah & Edd

Hannah & Edd

Bringing 2026 Trends to Life at Happy Valley

The beauty of a Happy Valley wedding lies in its flexibility. The woods don’t compete with your vision – they elevate it. Whether you’re drawn to Regency romance, immersive experiences or bold design moments, 2026’s biggest trends pair effortlessly with our natural setting. The result? A wedding that feels stylish, soulful and completely unforgettable. We can’t wait to see how our 2026 couples bring their visions to life.

To explore Happy Valley as a venue for your wedding, we would love to meet you on one of our exclusive tour dates. Our venue tours are taking place this month on the 16th and 19th January. Please email weddings@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk to book your place on a tour.

Weddings pictured:

Matt & Hannah.

Florist - The Wild Folk Florist @thewildfolkflorist 

Caterer - Funnells Kitchen @funnellskitchen 

Caterer - Broadside Pizza @broadside_pizza 

Tableware & cutlery - Banqueting Hire @banquetinghire_official

Band - No Limit Street Band @nolimitstreetband

Daytime Entertainment - Fairgreen Ceilidh Band @fairgreenceilidh

Photobooth - Vintage Pod @vintagepodcompany

Makeup Artist - Hayley Clarke @haylieclarkey_makeup

Sini and Kieran

Photographer - Kate Bunny Hampson @katebunnyhampson

Alev Miller - HMUA @alevmiller

Fox and Fern - Florist @foxandfernflorist

Cosmos - Caterer @cosmosmexicana

Maame T’s - Caterer @maame_ts_kitchen

Spotlight Sound - Speaker Hire @spotlight.sound

Sherika Sherard - Musician @sherikasherard

Das Brass - Band @dasbrassband

Hannah & Edd

Celebrant - Louise Gather, Kick Ass Gatherings@kickassgatherings

Photographer - Emily & Steve Photography@emily&stevephoto 

Daytime Caterer - Funnells Kitchen@funnellskitchen

Kitchen Equipment - Banqueting Hire @banquetinghire_official

Evening Caterer - Askers Wood Fired Pizza@askerspizza

Violinist - Bianca Blezard @biancablezardviolin

Daytime Music - JayRar@jayrarmusic 

Evening Music - Cara Gates@rave.thedate 

Florist - The Norfolk Floral Studio@thenorfolkfloralstudio 

MUA/Hair Stylist - Gabby Caswell @gabby_caswell_mua

External Refrigeration - Rob Just Chillin’

External Bell Tent Hire - The Little Beach Bell Company@thelittlebeachbellcompany 

Dog Chaperone - Oh Bella Wedding Day Dogs @ohbellaweddingdaysdogs




Wedding Trends for 2024! Our Favourite Top 6 Trends for 2024

Here at Happy Valley, we’re all about making your special day uniquely yours! 

We also love to see what’s happening within the industry, see what key trends are creating waves, proving popular and will provide that little something extra for your wedding. 

We are delighted to see that in 2024 the wedding landscape is looking less traditional, and is all about breaking away from the norm and creating weddings, which are exceptional and distinctive.  

We are seeing more couples making choices, which have a personal significance to create unique and memorable days – and we are definitely down for that! 

Photography by Aurora Grey

 So let us jump into the top 6 wedding trends of 2024 that have captured our hearts. 

1. Natural Venues 

 

For us, there is no better place to start than with what seems to be one of the most significant trends taking centre stage in 2024 – the rise of Outdoor Wedding Venues. 

The growing popularity of non-traditional weddings has been a noticeable trend in recent years, none more so than outdoor, natural wedding locations. Originally boosted by the pandemic, where couples were forced to look at alternative options and move their ceremony outside, thereby embracing nature and it’s spectacular backdrop. Outdoor weddings are now making a movement of their own.  

 At Happy Valley, this resonates deeply with us and we completely agree there is something magical about the changing seasons. The natural world offers us a breathtaking canvas allowing couples to paint their unique wedding day. 

 With the increase in popularity of outdoor wedding venues, the styling is also following suit, with couples embracing nature and the inherent beauty of your surroundings. Picture raw wood tables, seasonal flowers and greenery, and organic fabrics and drapes, everything is inspired by the gifts that nature bestows upon us. 

 

2. Celebrant – Led Weddings 

 

This past year has seen a remarkable 49% surge in search volumes for “Celebrant Weddings” (as reported by Hitched.co.uk) and this increase doesn’t surprise us at all here at Happy Valley – we love a celebrant led wedding. 

 Celebrant led weddings have captured our hearts and many of our couples too, for a multitude of compelling reasons. 

 First and foremost, the appeal lies in the incredible flexibility and freedom they offer.  With a Celebrant, the script is entirely customised to you, reflecting your unique loves, passions and joys. This means that your wedding can be a true reflection of your individual journey as a couple. 

 A rising trend we’ve observed is couples choosing to formalise their legal marriage at their local registry office ahead of the big day, or even onsite at Happy Valley the day before. This enables the day of the wedding service, led by a Celebrant, to become an exclusive reflection of your relationship, creating an experience that is authentic and meaningful to you both. 

 

3. Bold and Bright Colour Schemes 

 

2024 is going to be about embracing colour and pattern… if you love bold and bright then this is the year for you. 

Wedding prep at Happy Valley, cheerful colourful tables

Bold and Bright Decor

Vibrant shades of pink, orange, purple, or red infusing life into your tables, cake and drapes. Seasonal bouquets and flower arrangements becoming canvases for splashes of brilliant colour and personality. 

 

And, its not just the décor that is getting an injection of colour in 2024! New York Bridal Fashion Week bore witness to colour playing a significant sight on the runway, with pastel pinks, soft blues and floral patterns creating a magical and whimsical addition to many collections. (ref: Vogue) 

Pic Credit Above - Photographer @salsabilmorrisonphotogaphy Right - Photographer - @Lisaandneil Florals @Floralsistas.

This truly is the year to celebrate and embrace your personal style. It is time to showcase your individuality and personality, turning your wedding into a vibrant canvas of colours and patterns that reflect your inner spirit. 

 

4. Wedding Weekends and Extended Celebrations 

 

Why limit your celebrations to a single day when you can extend your wedding festivities over several glorious days? At Happy Valley we wholeheartedly embrace this trend, as standard! 

 

Most of our weddings are thoughtfully planned either mid-week Tuesday-Thursday, or as Weekend Weddings. This choice offers couples that invaluable gift of more time to bask in the warmth of their loved ones and extend that ‘best day ever’ feeling, for just a little bit longer. 

 

The day before arrival isn’t just practical; it’s a chance to take a deep breath and unwind, especially after a long journey. All the worries about making it on time, finding a spot to change or freshen up simply disappear. 

 

The evening before the big day is a golden opportunity for guests to meet and get to know each other. At Happy Valley the night prior often involves relaxed drinks and food around the courtyard fire pit. It is a time for your loved ones to bond, share stories and establish connections that will make the wedding even more memorable. 

 

As the sun rises on the day after the day before, it’s the perfect moment to gather together over morning brews, reliving the beautiful stories from the day before.  

 

Your journey with us at Happy Valley isn’t confined to just one day, it’s an enchanting voyage which extends your celebrations over several days, creating unforgettable memories. 

 

 

5. Relaxed Wedding Photography 

 

The era of the entire wedding party standing in perfect formation for extensive periods, waiting for the photographer to capture countless iterations of the ‘group shot’, is now a thing of the past. 

 

Relaxed Photography

2024 is all about embracing the relaxed, candid, and social approach. 

A wonderful opportunity for your photographer to artfully capture all those spontaneous, heartfelt moments that naturally unfold throughout the day. These photographs will not only look beautiful but will also capture genuine emotions, making your wedding unique. 

Additionally, there is an increase in the popularity of Wedding Content Creators. These skilled individuals are dedicated to producing real-time content to be shared to your socials. They capture unscripted moments that unfold, allowing your friends and family to join the excitement, even if they cannot be there in person. 

 Your wedding photos should be a reflection of your love story, your personality and your style as a couple. In 2024 it is all about celebrating the real moments, the laughter, the tears and the connections that make your wedding day truly special. 

 

6. Bespoke Cocktail Toasts 

Keeping up with the theme for 2024 of creating personalised weddings, the same is being reflected across food and drink.   

This year has witnessed a notable surge in the creation of signature cocktails for weddings, and this trend is set to continue into 2024. Couples are taking inspiration from the drinks they hold dear and crafting cocktails that truly resonate with their tastes and preferences. This is particularly the case for the post-ceremony tipple of choice.  

Amongst the top cocktail choices gaining popularity for 2024, Espresso Martini and the Paloma are set to be favorites.

These signature drinks add a touch of individuality to your celebration, allowing you to share your love for specific flavours with your guests and create a memorable and personalised experience. 

Tray of cocktails at wedding

Jeremy James Photography

Cheers to a wedding day that’s truly unique and reflects your one-of-a-kind love story! 

The overall takeaway trend for 2024 is definitely looking like it’s going to be the year for weddings to be unique, unconventional and personal. We can’t wait! 

Spring has Sprung at Happy Valley

Wedding Season is about to kick off here at Happy Valley and we’re reminded of some of the beautiful Spring Weddings from last year.

There’s endless back drops to choose from for your outdoor ceremony whether you’re looking for an “I Do” on the island surrounded by water or immersed in the forest for a Woodland Wedding. There’s nothing quite like nature to calm those Wedding nerves.

No need to panic if Spring has sprung a leak. We’ve got 2 barns and a gorgeous undercover area to hold your ceremony when the great British Weather ins’t playing ball.

The amazing suppliers we had the pleasure of working with for Jennie and Jamies special Spring Wedding -
Photographer - Aurora Grey Photography Flowers - @wildfolkflowers Catering @funnellskitchen Film - @shutterboxfilms Music @boujeemusiclive

Gorgeous reminder of Kate & Ollie’s beautiful May Wedding at Happy Valley last year.

Kates vision came to life with this stunning outdoor ceremony on Willow island followed by woodland pics & a barn wedding reception. Photographer - @artandstorystudio Florist - @thenorfolkfloralstudio Videographer - Moon Cast Cake - @bunsoffunemma Evening Caterers @SquillaandSquidge Daytime Caterers - Tom Oldridge

Elly & Billy rocked an April Wedding at Happy Valley using the wizard tree as the alter with the water in the backdrop. Supported by some amazing suppliers below -

Hayley Clark Make up, Dick Ropa Entertainment. The Nashville Heat. Alice Cunliffe Photography Wild Folk Florist

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter Holidays and can’t wait to see you for celebrations this year.

LOVE the little Happy Valley Crew.

x

How to Make a Mid-Week Wedding Work for You!

Planning a wedding can come with many big decisions and the pressure is on especially now that availability is fading fast! Picking the perfect date can seem like it’s always an arms length away…we’re here to tell you, it’s not!

Picking up speed as a 2022 trend is the ‘Mid-Week Wedding’.

Now, I know what you’re thinking - ‘will people be able to make a Wednesday?’, ‘I’d always imagined a weekend’.

Well, mid-week IS the new weekend!

Why Mid-Week is the best option,

  1. Give friends and family an excuse to have a couple days off work! A day off for your besties wedding sure beats a day off to catch up on laundry! (The trick is - send out the ‘Save the Dates’ as soon as possible so they have a chance to get it booked).

  2. Mid-week weddings are typically lower in price, the same great venue for a smaller price tag…which leaves more budget left to spend on entertainment, food, drinks and wedding day festivities.

  3. Your ideal suppliers are more likely to be available…the post lockdown wedding boom has seen weekends snapped up. Week days give you much more flexibility to ensure your day is exactly as you want!

  4. Fancy a micro wedding? Small, intimate, just you and your nearest and dearest. Micro-weddings are more likely to be available for mid-week dates! A simple way to get out of inviting Great-Aunt Mildred…


Get in touch with Megan, our Wedding Coordinator, to discuss your options!

Winter Weddings the Hygge Way

Hygge (pronounced hue-gah) means different things things to different folks.  To us at Happy Valley, it is taking pleasure in comfort, joy in cosiness and celebrating the winter warmers that nurture our spirit.

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Winter at Happy Valley Norfolk is an enchanting time of year to celebrate your wedding under the cover of pine trees. With blankets of white frost, crisp leaves underfoot and log burners keeping you cosy in the woodland cabins... it’s of no surprise to us that intimate Winter Weddings are fast becoming a popular time to say “we do”. The nights will be darker but the sparkles are always brighter, the atmosphere merrier with the whole day leaving you starry-eyed.

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Our rural Hay Barn is cosy and inviting with the perfect hygge vibe to take your vows too.  You’ll be able to create that warming feeling both inside and out with blankets on hand for your guests while you tie the knot. Use chunky knits and faux furs to decorate hang out areas and make them truly enticing.

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Wooden decorations and a natural theme are the ideal way to bring the outside in and embrace your Norfolk wildlife trust surroundings. Wooden candle holders and centrepieces bring hygge charm with rich, deep florals to compliment the organic tones.  We are able to offer a stylish selection of furniture and props to help co-create an authentically hygge backdrop to your wedding.

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There's something nostalgic about vintage, so it makes perfect sense to include a vintage theme in your hygge winter wedding. Katy Coe, Founder of Happy Valley Norfolk has a creative eye for all things vintage having run her own successful vintage boutique on the North Norfolk Coast.

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Comfort food will be heartily appreciated by all at the wedding banquet.  Think of soul warming pie dishes in different flavours or nourishing casseroles with traditional desserts to follow.  If your wedding takes place during December you’ll be able to treat your wedding guests to a full festive feast! Is there any better way to toast your marriage than a mulled wine or two?  A hot chocolate station with marshmallows would bring even more hygge feels to the party.

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Our Woodland Cabins are the epitome of hyggekrog (that's a nook or snug to you and me) in their very design.  Lovingly hand-built hideaways with each home comfort looked after.  Perhaps the most important aspect of a hygge wedding is making time to enjoy the simple pleasures, like a cup of tea from your own handcrafted kitchen and breakfast cooked on your open fire. 

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Did we almost forget to mention we have a wood fired hot tub? We can’t think of a better way to chill out with Team Wedding the following day!

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To start planning your Wintry Woodland Wedding the hygge way, call to arrange a viewing today.  We have some bespoke offers available from November 2019 – February 2020 with the opportunity to make the most of out of season packages.  

E: hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

T: 01485 600719

Instagram: @happyvalleynorfolk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NorfolkWeddingVenue/

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