We get it. Prediction pieces usually come at the end of the year. But, one thing the last few years have taught us is that nothing is the norm any longer! And in many ways that is a great thing as reinvention means progress.

For the year ahead in weddings, we are predicting some trends and guaranteeing some facts. So if your dream is to have your dream wedding in 2022, consider the following:

2022 is likely to see a record-high number of weddings given how many couples postponed weddings throughout the pandemic. As a result, wedding venues and vendors have extremely few, if any, dates available for weddings this year, especially if you’re hoping for a traditional wedding. (Photo: Shutterstock)

People will get creative with where and when they’ll hold their wedding in 2022. We are seeing more people opt for adventure weddings and elopements as did two of our featured couples: David & Coté who wed high up in the Cascade Mountains, and Will & John who married atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Places that are easy to permit and require no infrastructure to host a small group, are ideal this year. Also, midweek weddings open up more possibilities on the 2022 calendar. (Photo: Across The Forest)

Omicron and whatever Greek letter might follow it is not making for flexible cancellation policies. Once booked, few venues and vendors are accepting changes or cancellations due to new COVID waves. Your focus should be on negotiating the latest drop-dead date for confirming your guest list allowing your guests as much time to decide if they feel comfortable attending your wedding and as much time to your vendors to adjust to a final headcount. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Grooms are helping their guests manage their COVID comfort level by providing bracelets or other cues that signal to other guests how intimate they are willing to be at your wedding. Wearing a red bracelet signals try to keep your social distance. Yellow allows for an elbow bump or wave hello. Green invites an embrace and close conversation. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Extreme Personalization: Because places are booking up and grooms are getting creative this year, wedding sizes are trending much smaller. As a result, grooms are going the extra mile with personalized touches. From personal notes written for each guests, to portraits as place cards, to one-on-one groom moments with each guest, to customized wardrobes, weddings in 2022 will make not only time between the grooms, but among their guests, a lot more intimate. (Photo: Across The Forest)

Over the years, Men’s Vows and the many grooms we have featured, have maintained that your wedding is your day and you should not be beholden to any expectation other than your own. The last two years have cemented this wisdom and given men who marry the permission to truly make of their wedding what they want it to be. This year, as every other, your wedding should only be the way you want it to be, from whom you invite, to where and when you marry, to how you choose to celebrate the day.