Double weddings and multi-day celebrations rewrite the wedding playbook
Celebrities and everyday couples are increasingly extending nuptials across separate ceremonies and destinations, a trend linked to social-media culture and rising costs for guests.
A growing number of couples are staging more than one wedding or spanning multiple days for the big celebration, a trend that has moved from celebrity wardrobes and tabloids into the planning habits of ordinary couples. Recent research shows that one in seven official wedding ceremonies—meaning the paperwork and ritual—are held on a different day from the main celebration, while more than a third of Gen Z and Millennial couples say their nuptials will unfold across more than one day.
High-profile examples have amplified the trend. Singer Charli XCX and 1975 drummer George Daniel hosted a sun-drenched ceremony in Sicily months after their first wedding at Hackney Town Hall in London. Spice Girl Mel B tied the knot in a three-day Moroccan ceremony after exchanging vows at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. These events, highlighted in coverage of modern weddings, are increasingly cited by couples as models for “Instagram-worthy” celebrations, even as some observers argue the trend is driven by the pressure to perform for online audiences.
Industry data corroborates a broader pattern beyond celebrity circles. A survey by Bridebook, a wedding-planning app, finds that a significant share of couples now plan multi-day celebrations, with official ceremonies scheduled separately from the main event and a growing appetite for multi-location celebrations. The same research indicates that more than a third of Gen Z and Millennials are actively planning weddings that stretch over more than one day—reflecting a shift in how couples allocate time, venues, and guest lists.
The expansion of wedding events isn’t limited to the ceremony itself. The wedding-industrial complex has normalized large, weekend-long events such as extended “hen dos” abroad, pre-celebrations, and even a series of post-wedding gatherings. Some couples add mini-moon trips to European destinations, followed by longer honeymoons in far-flung locales. While supporters say multi-day logistics allow for more meaningful moments with friends and family, critics argue the trend compounds cost, time, and social-pressure burdens on guests.
The financial aspect is often cited as a key driver and consequence of the trend. Research from the Money and Pensions Service found that wedding guests collectively spend more than £2,000 a year on related expenses, with travel and accommodation comprising the largest category, followed by outfits and gifts. Critics caution that the push toward Instagram-ready, multi-event weddings can create a disproportionate burden on attendees, especially single friends and distant relatives who must balance work, travel, and budgets.
Not every couple agrees with the heavier calendar. Some newlyweds insist that weddings should reflect personal means and values, rather than a social-media narrative. Yet the social-media echo chamber is hard to ignore for many engaged couples who see friends and colleagues posting about elaborate, multi-day celebrations and feel pressure to match or exceed those experiences.
In a personal reflection tied to her own engagement and wedding planning, Laura Connor describes how the online environment shaped expectations in her social circle. She notes the flood of targeted wedding ads on Instagram and TikTok, the rise of multiple ceremonies among peers, and the sense that the industry rewards spectacle at the expense of intimate moments. Connor acknowledges her own experience—planning a wedding across different regions to accommodate family ties—and admits feeling conflicted about whether the emphasis on “Day One” brilliance is worth the cost and effort. The piece, while opinionated, captures a broader unease about the intersection of love, commerce, and online culture.
Observers say the trend reflects a broader evolution in how weddings are marketed and experienced, rather than a simple change in tradition. For some couples, the ability to host celebrations at multiple venues or cities offers practical advantages—accommodating extended families, leveraging favorite locales, or simply fulfilling a long-held dream. For others, the expansion signals a shift in what constitutes a ‘memorable’ wedding amid rising prices and expectations.
As the conversation continues, industry voices emphasize the need for couples to balance aspirations with attendees’ realities. Whether the trend will stabilize into a long-term norm or remain a niche for those with particular resources remains to be seen. What is clear is that weddings today increasingly sit at the intersection of personal significance, social media influence, and financial considerations, reshaping how love, ceremony, and community are celebrated in culture and entertainment spheres.