Happy New Year! We at Garage B are so excited for 2026 weddings in our venue and look forward to working with newly-engaged couples developing their vision of their dream wedding day. With that said, our team wanted to dive into the planning and design trends that shaped weddings throughout the past year and will continue to influence in the year to come:
- personalized design
- experiential moments
- nontraditional timelines
- flexible reception spaces
These current wedding trends prioritize self-expression and intention while providing curated, exciting experiences for guests, making for ceremonies and receptions that are perfectly suited to our fun and flexible event spaces.
Personalized Design
The primary trend in modern wedding planning is originality and personalization. Traditional wedding designs are taking a back seat to colorful palettes, mixed textures, customized elements, and statement pieces.
Instead of classic aesthetics that incorporate whites and blushes or seasonal jewel tones, couples are opting for brighter and bolder hues — like citrus-inspired shades — elevated by unexpected, playful complements. Layered color stories consisting of neutrals paired with terra cotta, berry, olive, or espresso accents bring multi-dimensional character to a wedding’s design and can work well in all seasons.
In addition to vivid color, couples are designing with various materials — like velvets and lacquered finishes — and unique silhouettes for dynamic ceremony and reception spaces that are distinctive from the typical banquet hall décor. Pattern-mixing remains a popular approach to enhancing a wedding design beyond color and floral selections.
Customization like signature cocktails, interactive escort walls, and monogrammed design elements continue to be beloved wedding trends that are applied in increasingly creative ways. Personalized details like these speak to the couple’s identity and their love story in ways that both contribute to a wedding’s design and an enjoyable guest experience.
In this era of colorful and imaginative weddings, Garage B’s original stone walls, polished concrete floors, and abundance of natural light set the stage for striking, memorable nuptials.
Experiential Moments
Event planners are finding that couples want to break the mold from the standard wedding day with more experiential formats. Instead of a proper multi-course dinner, weddings have begun to embrace the atmosphere of a dinner party: laid-back but still sophisticated and warm, emphasizing meaningful moments and guest interaction.
Garage B’s large, open floor plan enables innovative, stylish event layouts — like U shapes and serpentine lines — that inspire movement and connections among guests. Modular setups can “flip” the space between ceremony and reception, optimizing the versatility of the venue and transforming the way that it is experienced throughout the evening.
A blank-slate venue like Garage B also allows for a progressive dining experience that fully utilizes the space. Consider a cocktail hour on the patio, a lounge area that encourages relaxation and mingling, or an appearance by a food truck to serve fusion dishes, late-night snacks, or alternative desserts.
Many couples have been introducing unconventional entertainment and activities into their reception to build upon dinner and dancing. Saxophones and electric violins that accompany DJs, cultural performances that nod to family heritage, group games that energize the party, and light shows that deliver a visual wow factor are all creating unforgettable moments.
Nontraditional Timelines
Engaged couples are growing more financially careful, with two-thirds claiming that budget is a critical aspect of their wedding planning process (The Knot). Therefore, they are becoming more comfortable with seeking off-peak wedding dates in the winter or early spring as well as Thursday evenings or Sunday daytimes to save money on bookings.
Beyond wider availability of wedding vendors for atypical days or seasons, an upside to a wedding planned in this way is the opportunity to host a full weekend of events and gatherings. This is especially beneficial if the wedding location — like Boston! — is a travel destination for many guests. Couples love planning multiple micro-events over the course of a few days to maximize the celebration of their love and the time they are able to spend with family and friends.
The “big day” itself is starting to see more deconstructed plans with non-linear timelines. Adjustments include rolling guest arrivals and extended cocktail parties prior to the ceremony.
Garage B can be booked for private functions every day of the week throughout the entire calendar year.
Flexible Reception Spaces
Micro-weddings and elopements remain a popular choice for contemporary wedding couples who value sentiment, intimacy, and presence. Often, these couples then host a reception at a later date to celebrate with all their loved ones. We welcome reception-only wedding bookings at Garage B, too!
A lovely twist on the “first look” that many couples plan with their photographer is the reception reveal. This trend provides a thrilling moment for them to enjoy the design of their reception space before guests arrive. It can also involve a private first dance or the exchange of personal vows before the official wedding ceremony.
Our venue also offers an auxiliary small-scale event space, _ANNEX, that can be added to wedding bookings for use as another peaceful location for formal photography, a quiet moment between the couple before the reception begins, and more. The Annex is located in the upper courtyard of the historic and vibrant Charles River Speedway, a hub of food and beverage vendors that can also enhance a wedding reception experience at Garage B.
Garage B is now booking 2026 and 2027 weddings. Contact our team today to schedule a tour!
Photography: Photography by Angelina Rose, Daniel Gorostieta, Kadri Kärmo, Chelsea Mandes Photo, Riley West Photography, J-M Leach Photo + Video, Iaritza, Georgia Rae Cook, Liesl Clark Photography, Jenny Chou, Nina Weinstein Photography, Ashley Olafsson Photography, & Sam Brooks Photos