After more than 50 years in the catering business, Bill Hansen has overseen his share of spectacular weddings. But this time, the longtime Miami caterer had a very different role: groom.
2026 weddings are leaning into “more”: more color, more sparkle, more personalization and more fun. To see what couples are gravitating toward, CFE News asked wedding experts across the U.S. to share what they’re seeing from clients right now. We’ve rounded up their insights into eight trends that can help caterers and event pros plan for the year ahead.
In May 2025, the team at Houston-based A Fare Extraordinaire took their talents on the road to cater this 471-guest wedding for Paige Drummond and David Andersen. The celebration took place against the sweeping backdrop of the bride’s family ranch—recognizable to fans of the Food Network’s The Pioneer Woman, hosted by Paige’s mom, Ree.
Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts have unveiled Nature’s Vow, a new eco-chic wedding inspiration poised to define 2026 celebrations. Rooted in the spirit of the Caribbean, the design blends sustainable elements with elevated style, offering couples a trend-forward way to honor love, nature and purpose, surrounded by friends and family.
Today, wedding celebrations are no longer just one day. Newlyweds are reimagining tradition—swapping single-day timelines for full wedding weekends that invite guests to connect, explore, and celebrate in a way that feels both elevated and deeply personal.
As a luxury resort with a rich history and endless opportunities for personalization, Arizona Biltmore has become a natural canvas for these experiences—where every gathering, toast and detail is thoughtfully designed to reflect both the couple and the destination.
Creating weddings that capture a couple’s personalities is what it’s all about for event planner Brian Worley.
Based in Atlanta, Worley has produced and designed about 250 weddings in his career—including his own mother’s. CFE recently caught up with Worley to get his take on wedding design trends and to learn what inspires him when planning a couple’s big day.
Wedding receptions are a time to indulge.
To help you plan your big events accordingly, we’ve rounded up some of the latest trends in scrumptious desserts and celebratory cocktails. Let’s get this party started!
When it comes to their weddings, couples these days don’t follow the herd. Eschewing cookie-cutter affairs, brides and grooms are letting their personalities shine through in every aspect of their big celebrations, from the cuisine to the décor to the entertainment.
CFE has rounded up 15 wedding trends that event professionals are seeing gain traction from coast to coast.
What did Bill Hansen do when his bridal client found herself without a wedding dress three hours before her walk down the aisle?
Find out in an excerpt from Hansen’s new book, “Plating Up Profits: Miami’s Catering Icon Dishes Up Lessons for Business Success.”
Not that long ago with outdoor events, tents tended to be an event planner’s lackluster plan B—something to fall back on if black clouds and a solid drenching threatened your garden party.
Today, though—with new engineering, advanced tech including HVAC systems and electricity, not to mention stylish new formats—tenting systems are serving as full-fledged temporary event venues. Whether you opt for a sleek black conservatory style or a flower-strewn white pole tent, at their best tent installations add both a “wow” factor and functionality.
