From the first spark to ‘I do,’ our 2025 edition of the Global Wedding Report evaluates how trends, traditions and preferences are evolving among more than 33,000 newlyweds across eight countries. 

Before the Altar: How Couples Meet

Love stories begin in many ways. In the U.S. and U.K., meeting through a dating app is the most common way couples connect (27% and 33%, respectively), while mutual friends are the top matchmakers in much of Europe and Latin America. In Mexico, work connections top the list (23%), and in India, traditional arranged marriages still lead (24%).

The Engagement & Planning Process

Timing is everything in relationships and in life. When it comes to proposals, December continues to be the most popular engagement month across many countries, especially in the U.S., U.K., Brazil, and Mexico. It’s clear why couples choose the holiday season to get engaged, when family members are around and you can cozy up in front of the fireplace together. 

In contrast, couples in India are more likely to get engaged in February—likely due to Valentine’s Day, also known as ‘Feast of Saint Valentine.’

Wedding dates vary by season and culture. While couples in Italy and France favor summer weddings in June, those in Mexico prefer October, and Indian couples often tie the knot in February.

When it comes to planning, most couples spend around a year preparing for their big day, with the U.S. averaging the longest lead time at 15 months.

*This question was not included in the survey for India respondents. 

The State of Weddings at a Glance

Couples worldwide are investing in meaningful celebrations—but they can look different in each country. While weddings tend to be more intimate in the U.K. and France, India stands out for extra-large weddings (averaging 330 guests), and Mexico and Brazil also trend toward high guest counts.

Investment

Guest experience is a top priority for couples around the world, so it’s no surprise that many invest in creating unforgettable moments for their loved ones during the big day.

*Costs do not include jewelry, engagement ring or honeymoon. While the average in India is $35,000 expressed in U.S. dollars, a significant percentage spend more.

Wedding Hotspots Around the World

Couples continue to search for dreamy venues, with product search data across The Knot Worldwide’s global brands revealing regional destination favorites—from coastal escapes in Italy to heritage properties in India.

*Based on frequency of user searches within The Knot Worldwide’s Vendor Marketplaces from January 1, 2025 to July 29, 2025.

The Era of Personalization

It’s clear personalization and experience-driven planning are top of mind for couples. We took a quick poll on The Knot’s Instagram (check them out here!) to understand how some of our followers view the importance of personalization. Overall, we received more than 1,000 responses and here’s what we found:

• Cookie-cutter weddings are out—and guests crave greater authenticity. Nearly 6 in 10 users said the last three weddings they attended felt similar to each other and haven’t stood out as particularly unique—but among the recent weddings they attended, personalized touches were described as the most memorable (36%), followed by food and drinks (23%) and entertainment (21%).
• Couples want their wedding to reflect who they are. Approximately 8 in 10 users said it’s extremely important their own wedding feels personal to their partnership.
• Living up to guest expectations is the #1 concern for couples. Sixty-eight percent said they want guests to feel like they’ve never been to another wedding like theirs before—and nearly 50% describe their top worry as fearing their guests won’t have fun.

Trendspotting by Country

Looking across the globe, here are the top trends that stood out to us per country…

• U.S.
  • In the U.S., one in three couples using The Knot are members of Gen Z—and they go big compared to older generations. Gen Z couples host larger weddings on average (131 guests) than Millennials (113) and Gen X (88).
• India
  • The number of Millennial weddings (30%) are declining, down 54 percentage points year over year—while Gen Z weddings are surging (62%), representing a 49 percentage point increase.
• Brazil
  • Similar to India, Brazil is seeing an increase in younger couples. Forty-nine percent of couples were Gen Z in 2024, up from 15% in 2023.
• Spain
  • Gen Z weddings are on the rise in Spain as well, totaling 18% of weddings in 2024 versus only 1% in 2023.
• U.K.
  • A quarter of couples feature sustainable or eco-friendly decor (and we love to hear it).
• Italy
  • Couples in Italy like to keep the party going. More than half of weddings last two days or longer, while 20% last three or more.
• France
  • Nearly 6 in 10 couples have children before marriage, and likewise, 70% invite children to weddings—higher than many other countries.
• Mexico
  • Guest favors (77%) and cake cutting (72%) are increasing in popularity compared to the year prior, up 6 percentage points and 7 percentage points year-over-year, respectively.

That’s a wrap

From how couples meet to how they marry, weddings around the world are evolving—fueled by generational shifts, cultural nuances and a desire for more intentional, personalized celebrations.

This year’s Global Wedding Report makes one thing clear: couples are rewriting the rules. Whether it’s Gen Z leading the charge with larger guest lists, sustainability shaping choices in the U.K., or personalization becoming the defining element of a memorable event, today’s nearlyweds are making bold, authentic decisions that reflect who they are—and what matters most to them.

Methodology

The 2025 Global Wedding Report captured responses from 33,174 married couples between January 1 and December 31, 2024, including 16,956 in the U.S. and 16,218 internationally (Spain, Italy, France, U.K., Brazil, Mexico, India). Respondents were recruited via social media and/or email invitation from The Knot and/or WeddingWire membership platforms. The sample reflects a wide range of ethnicities, income levels, sexual orientations, gender identities and geographies. This report also includes insights from ad hoc studies and search trends across The Knot Worldwide’s global vendor marketplaces.