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Introduction: why everyone is talking about their 2026 wedding
Some celebrity weddings come and go without much fuss. This one stuck.
When Finneas O'Connell married Claudia Sulewski in Montecito, California in late August, the internet lit up, and not just because of the famous faces in the crowd. Yes, Billie Eilish officiated her own brother's ceremony, and yes, the guest list included Hailey and Justin Bieber, Emma Chamberlain, and Kristen Bell. But that's not really why couples can't stop talking about it. What caught everyone's attention was how personal it all felt. Eight years together after meeting on a dating app back in 2018, a proposal the year before, and then a day that looked less like a staged production and more like two people who genuinely wanted to celebrate their life together. As People and other outlets covered the coastal ceremony, one thing stood out. This wedding was full of ideas real couples can actually borrow. Here are eight of them.
8 wedding trends couples can take from Finneas & Claudia Sulewski
You don't need a celebrity budget to pull these off. Each one is about intention, not price tag.
1. Outdoor weddings with a romantic garden feel
Their ceremony leaned into nature, and it worked beautifully. An outdoor setting with that soft, garden-romance feel is having a real moment, and it's easy to see why. Greenery, natural light, open air, blooms that look like they belong there rather than shipped in by the truckload.
The Montecito coast gave them lush surroundings that did half the decorating on their own. You can get the same effect anywhere with the right space. A botanical garden, a vineyard, a leafy backyard. Seasonal, local flowers keep it feeling organic, and wedding planning voices at Brides have noted for a while now that garden-style outdoor weddings read as both timeless and relaxed. It's romance without the stiffness.
2. Make your wedding personal with meaningful ceremony details
Here's what really sets their day apart. Billie Eilish officiated. Not a hired stranger reading a script, but family, someone who actually knows the couple.
That's the trend worth stealing. A ceremony led by a close friend or relative instantly feels warmer and more you. Personal vows, a reading that means something, a ritual that reflects your story, small touches like these turn a formal event into a genuine moment. Couples are increasingly writing their own words and building ceremonies around their relationship rather than tradition for tradition's sake. It costs nothing and it's the part guests remember most.
3. Multiple bridal looks are becoming a major wedding trend
Claudia wore four separate looks across the weekend, all custom Oscar de la Renta, including a strapless drop-waist ball gown with a neck scarf for the walk down the aisle. Four. And honestly, it looked amazing.
The lesson isn't the designer label. It's the idea that you're allowed more than one outfit. A structured gown for the ceremony, something lighter and easier to dance in for the reception, maybe a third look for a welcome party. More couples are treating their wedding wardrobe as part of the storytelling. You can do a scaled-down version with a dress change plus a clever styling swap, a jacket, different shoes, a new accessory. Same idea, real-world budget.
4. Intimate weddings can still feel luxurious
Even with big names in attendance, the vibe was intimate. Personal. Not a giant impersonal ballroom with 500 strangers.
That's a shift a lot of couples are embracing. Smaller guest lists, but more spent per guest on the things that actually matter. Better food, a beautiful setting, thoughtful details people can feel. Intimate doesn't mean cheap or plain. It often means more luxurious, because you're pouring your attention and budget into fewer, richer moments. Quality over quantity, basically. A tight guest list can free you up to make the day feel genuinely special.
5. Wedding fashion is becoming part of the guest experience
The style at this wedding wasn't just the couple's concern. Guests showed up dressed with real intention, and that's become part of the fun.
Setting a clear fashion tone, whether through a dress code, a color story, or a mood, turns getting ready into part of the celebration. Guests feel included in the aesthetic instead of guessing. It also makes the photos look cohesive and elevated. You're not forcing anyone into discomfort. You're inviting them to be part of the visual story of your day, and people genuinely enjoy that when the direction is clear and thoughtful.
6. Turn the wedding into a weekend experience
Notice how Claudia's four looks spanned the weekend, not just one afternoon. That's the tell. This wasn't a single event. It was a whole experience.
Multi-day celebrations are booming. A welcome gathering the night before, the main event, a relaxed farewell brunch the morning after. It gives everyone more time together, especially guests who traveled to be there. You don't need three days of black-tie. Even a casual welcome drink and a next-morning breakfast can stretch the joy and take the pressure off cramming everything into a few hours. More time, less rush.
7. Photography should capture the emotion, not just the décor
The images people connected with weren't the styled table shots. They were the real ones. The laughter, the tears, the look on someone's face mid-vow.
That's where wedding photography is heading. Away from stiff, posed perfection and toward candid, emotional storytelling. You want a photographer who chases feelings, not just florals. Real reactions age far better than a perfectly arranged centerpiece ever will. When you're hiring, look at how a photographer captures people, not props. The décor fades from memory. The emotion doesn't.
8. Let your wedding reflect your relationship
If there's one thread running through everything above, it's this. Their wedding looked like theirs. Eight years of a real relationship, family front and center, choices that felt authentic rather than borrowed from a checklist.
That's the biggest trend of all, and it's not really a trend so much as a mindset. Stop asking what a wedding is supposed to look like. Start asking what fits the two of you. Your story, your values, your sense of humor, your favorite people. When the day reflects who you actually are, everything else falls into place. Guests feel it. You feel it. And the photos, of course, prove it.
Find the right wedding vendors for your 2026 celebration
Getting inspired is the easy part. Pulling it off is where couples need real help, and that's exactly what WedWinks is built for.
With WedWinks, you can shortlist vendors that match your style and budget, then connect with them directly instead of chasing quotes across a dozen sites. Found a photographer whose work captures emotion the way you want? Reach out right there. Loved a garden-style venue? Save it, compare it, message them.
Beyond discovery, Wedwinks gives you planning and budget tools to keep everything organized in one place. No scattered spreadsheets, no lost email threads, no forgetting who you already contacted. You can track your shortlist, manage your budget, and stay on top of the details as your day comes together. Whether you want an intimate coastal ceremony or a full weekend celebration, WedWinks helps you find the professionals who can make it real.
Conclusion
Finneas and Claudia's wedding struck a chord because it wasn't about showing off. It was about celebrating a real relationship in a way that felt honest, warm, and unmistakably theirs. That's the takeaway for every couple planning ahead.
Take the ideas that speak to you. An outdoor setting, a personal ceremony, an intimate guest list, a weekend to remember. Then make them your own. Start early, focus on what matters most to you, and let WedWinks connect you with the right vendors to bring your vision to life. The most memorable weddings aren't the most expensive ones. They're the most personal. And yours can be exactly that.
