22 Modern Wedding Ideas for a Super Chic Affair

Bride and groom in front of wood arch in the desert — Photo by SoCal Standard

Couples who love contemporary designs and trends will want to consider a modern wedding theme for their big day. While clean lines, lucite décor, and an overflow of fresh greenery are just a few tricks that can give any event a modern feel, plenty of other ideas can be incorporated into your ceremony and reception.

Curious how you can bring a modern feel to your wedding day? We gathered advice from various wedding planning experts on everything from invitation suites to chairs and tablescapes to modernize your nuptials. Ready to get started? Read on for 22 ways to make your wedding a modern and chic affair.

01 of 22

Set Up Ghost Chairs

Outdoor ceremony with ghost chairs and lush floral arrangements — Photo by Tec Petaja

The look of a floating ceremony built on top of a garden fountain helped bring a modern edge to this setup with the addition of acrylic ghost chairs. "Using unexpected variables such as vellum, concrete, or acrylic (to mimic Lucite) can bring a modern feel to your event," says Jacin Fitzgerald, owner of Jacin Fitzgerald Events. "Acrylic chairs allow all the elements around them to shine as they are quite literally transparent!"

02 of 22

Opt for a Mismatched Bridal Party

Marielle Scott with wedding party in pink — Photo by Jana Williams Photography

A trend that doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere anytime soon is outfitting your bridal party in various (and chic) dresses and suits. It's a feature that will add a whimsical element to your wedding day and resulting photos. “Whether you let your bridal party pick their own dresses, or you prompt them on a specific color, style, or design that you encourage them to wear, the end result will be something playfully elegant,” says Caitlin Campbell, senior event coordinator and designer at True Event.

03 of 22

Wear a Minimalist Wedding Dress

Bride's minimalist strapless ballgown dress — Photo by Mo Davis Photography

A simple wedding dress can add to your event's modern aesthetic. Clean lines and a minimalist design created the perfect focal point for bridal portraits.

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Set the Tone With Stationery

Modern and minimalist wedding invitation suite — Photo by Joseph Matthew Photography

What better way to send the message of a modern wedding design than with your invitations? "As the first indication of your wedding style, invitations are a key element in your wedding theme," explains Thomas Bui, founder of Thomas Bui Lifestyle. Bold text set against a minimal design will project a simple and fresh design for your stationery.

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Have a Reflective Aisle

Katlyn walking down the floating aisle with her dad — Photo by Pablo Laguia

Bring a sleek experience to your wedding ceremony with a reflective aisle. A mirrored surface or an acrylic runner will lend a cool modern touch to your grand entrance. At this Mallorca wedding, the runner provided a unique contrast to the ancient setting of the ceremony.

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Go With Greenery

Wedding bar with dried florals and greenery — Photo by Kyle John

For a literal take on a fresh reception, Jill Remy, owner and designer at Jill & Co. Events, suggests creating your centerpieces with an overflow of greenery. "One of the best ways to turn your reception into an example of contemporary style is to use arrangements filled with vines, leaves, and other lush, green foliage," she says. You can also decorate other elements with greenery and dried blooms, like this unique bar.

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Eliminate Décor

Grace and Travis kissing overlooking the mountains in Malibu — Photo by Clary Pfeiffer Photography

Why not eliminate the need for décor when it comes to finalizing your modern ceremony setup? “One approach to your ceremony would be to keep the focal point solely on your couple,” says Kat Braman, owner of Kat Braman. “The result of a scenic backdrop without the use of décor will result in striking final photos."

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Make a Lounge

Lounge area at wedding with pink seats — Photo by Scarlet O'Neill

Echo your favorite modern bar and create a cool lounge area for guests to sip on your signature cocktails and take a break from the dance floor. Sleek furniture will help bring this space together.

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Focus on Interesting Flavors

Small plate of appetizers and drinks — Photo by Nancy Ray Photography

“Enhance the food and beverage experience by channeling the excitement of a pop-up dinner for a modern, discerning foodie crowd,” says Chelsey Jean Morrison, owner and principal designer/planner at Gather Together Events. “Plan for perfectly paired passed bites and sips at cocktail hour, curated wine pairings, or seasonal/locally sourced foods." Enhance the look of your presentation by creating a fuss-free tray organized by quality treats and hors d'oeuvres.

10 of 22

Choose All White

Brianne and Kirk holding hands at the altar surrounded by white baby's breath — Photo by Jana Williams

“Sticking with an all-white design, whether in your florals, tablescape décor, or reception and ceremony backdrops, is a modern wedding technique that is always in style,” says Kathleen Deery, owner of Kathleen Deery Design. "Using an all-white palette can bring the spotlight to other details throughout your day (especially on your tablescape) including linens, glassware, centerpieces, and other uses of décor." And fresh greenery is a great option for adding a pop of color that works in any season.

11 of 22

Think About Your Venue

Sage and Teddy walking with their wedding party at glass house — Photo by Sydney Noelle Photography

One of the best ways to convey your wedding style is through your choice of venue. Jen Schepps, sales manager at Abigail Kirsch Off Premises, suggests choosing a space that’s undeniably contemporary. "When you go with a space that’s already adopted a modern feel, you don’t have to adapt your space with any unnecessary décor," Schepps says. For this wedding, the clean lines, heightened ceiling, and refined feel of the space really lent themselves to the wedding’s modern aesthetic.

12 of 22

Try a Modern Cake Design

Two-tier wedding cake with modern design — Photo by Luna De Mare Photography

Make sure you carry a modern element throughout every detail of your day—even in the cake. "The patterns and textures created on this simple two-tier cake created a chic and stylish element to the reception," says Heather Balliet, owner of Amorology. "A perfect balance of playful and elegant, the design of your cake can create a contemporary focal point for your dessert table."

13 of 22

Give Your Planner a Modern Motto

Ceremony decor at modern venue with ghost chairs and florals — Photo by Scarlet O'Neill

One of the best ways to stay on theme with your modern style is to come up with a collection of design-oriented keywords so your wedding planner knows exactly what you want. "Our favorite modern wedding buzzwords are clean, geometric, and simplicity," says Christen Ryan, founder of Ryan Designs. "The beauty of sticking to these descriptive words is that they will never fail a modern reception space."

14 of 22

Choose Modern Typography

Place settings and menus with colorful typography — Photo by SoCal Standard

Nowadays, personalizing your big day can come down to the smallest details. Choosing a modern font for your paper goods like place cards and menus can make a major impact in your wedding's design.

15 of 22

Pay Attention to Flatware

Place setting at wedding with menu card, flatware, and centerpieces — Photo by Liz Banfield

Alicia Fritz, founder of A Day in May Event Planning & Design, wants couples to consider their tablescape details when finalizing a modern wedding style. “A simple and unexpected way to add a contemporary twist to your wedding reception is by trading out traditional flatware and glassware,” she says. “For example, by using black metal cutlery and stemless glasses, guests' attention will be drawn to these small details as they're so far removed from typical place setting offerings."

16 of 22

Get Creative With Cocktails

custom espresso martini cocktail with monogram — Photo by Jessa Schifilliti

Pair your elevated hors d'oeuvres with a cocktail menu worthy of the latest trends. “Whether it’s the latest in cocktail infusions, bold flavors, or custom creations, a cocktail menu that can stand on its own in a modern setting is unique and distinctive to any event,” says Jay Crabb, beverage director at Paula LeDuc Fine Catering & Events. “Play around with glassware and garnishes for an added touch of modern flair."

17 of 22

Build a Modern Arch

Modern ceremony venue space with greenery and peach floral arrangements — Photo by 515 Photo Co

"Create visual interest with clean lines, striking colors, and negative space," says Lauren Emerson, owner of Lauren Emerson Events & Design. This stunning arch structure in a neutral hue brings all those components together for a chic setup.

18 of 22

Don't Be Afraid of Color

Kristina and Alex's tables set with citrus fruits, silverware, pink napkins, and pink place cards — Photo by A Bitter Orange

Modern doesn't have to mean devoid of color. Bold designs in a variety of hues can also lend a modern feel to your celebration. This wedding used colorful candlestick holders to lend a cool touch to this tablescape.

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Decorate With Ceramics

Kenzie and Jake's centerpieces with beige taper candles, single-stem flowers in boho cases, and stones — Photo by Kaylee Chelsea Photography

Modern ceramics can also be a fun way to decorate your space. “You can adapt all the little details to fit your modern wedding theme,” says Callista Osborn, owner of Callista & Company.

20 of 22

Use Black Accents

place settings with bold black plates — Photo by Hannah Forsberg

Black is the perfect color for a modern wedding. "It reads elegant, chic, fashion-forward, and sophisticated all at the same time," says Laura Ritchie, principal event designer at Grit & Grace. "We use it often to add depth and character to our designs." Whether adding a touch of color to the outline of a menu card or using it to adorn an entire Lucite placemat, black is one hue that will always create drama.

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Be Bold With Candlelight

Low floral centerpieces and pillar candles — Photo by Cameron Clark Photography

“Clean lines and candlelight galore are the very definition of modern romance,” says Cassy Anderson, founder of Cassy Rose Events, who supports the use of candlelight for any modern affair. Glass votives in varying heights will give your candlelit tablescape plenty of dimension and diversity.

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Make it Metallic

gold metallic balls and long table in reception tent — Photo by Brian D. Smith Photography

Want to infuse your modern wedding with a touch of glam? Bring in the metallics with unique reflective designs. Plexiglass table toppers and mirrored golden spheres above at this unique wedding made a show-stopping statement.