Hey there, pull up a chair. If you’re a planner, marketer, or brand who touches weddings, gifting, or registries, you might be feeling a bit of whiplash these days. Because the couples you’re working with are not your mom’s wedding crowd. They’re Gen Z (roughly born 1997-2012) and they’re rewriting the wedding playbook in real time.
Think: smaller guest lists, moodier color palettes, sustainable sensibilities, and thank-you videos replacing handwritten notes. In 2025, the budget is tight, the guest list is intentional, and the gifting moment is evolving faster than we anticipated.
Why should marketers care? Because of the registry, the thank-you, and the gifting add-on, they’re not ancillary anymore. They are central. Gen Z couples expect these touchpoints to be thoughtful, digital native, and co-creative. So you’re not just selling a “gift registry,” you’re enabling a meaningful moment. And that matters.
Let’s walk through what we’re seeing in the market, what quiet weddings really mean, how registries are shifting, why thank-you videos aren’t just nice-to-have (they’re fast becoming table stakes), and how marketers & vendors can ride the wave (not get left behind).
What Are ‘Quiet Weddings’? Why They’re Booming in 2025
“Quiet weddings” is this emerging marriage style with a more private and less showy approach: intimate guest lists, pared-down aesthetics, tech-savvy touches, fewer excesses, and more meaning.
Here’s the data & context:
- A study by CivicScience shows that just 4% of Americans in 2025 say they are planning to have a wedding this year, down from 7% last year. And among those who are, 44% plan not to have a reception.
- In a report by The Knot, Gen Z is leading the charge of younger couples marrying, and their approach is noticeably different.
- On the “why” side: according to one analysis, Gen Z is more pro-marriage than previous generations in some respects but economically cautious: they are marrying later, planning more carefully, and expecting the event to reflect their values.
- In fact, Gen Z expects the following cultural trends to shape 2025 weddings:
- Old money aesthetic (47%), where subtle luxury replaces flashy displays
- Quiet luxury (33%), embracing minimalistic elegance
- Cottagecore (29%), inspired by rustic, nature-filled charm
- Demure and mindful (27%), focusing on understated elegance and personal meaning
- And fairytale (25%), embracing whimsical, magical themes
Take Stella Banderas’ wedding in Spain, for example. The daughter of Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith embraced her Andalusian heritage, with a pre-wedding celebration featuring traditional Spanish cuisine, a star-studded guest list, and an intimate, personalized ceremony at the Abadía Retuerta estate in Valladolid. This event is a perfect example of how couples today are opting for meaningful, culturally infused weddings that prioritize experience over extravagance. Stella’s wedding story also ties into the broader trend of quiet luxury and personalized, intimate celebrations that are becoming increasingly popular.
What Does a ‘Quiet Wedding’ Look Like?
So what actually does a quiet wedding look like in practice?
Fewer Guests
Guest lists are often around 50, with fewer friends and more best friends. One trend report estimates that micro-weddings and intimate gatherings are growing by 20-24% in search volume.
Meaningful Spots
Venues and budgets reflect this shift: instead of huge ballrooms, couples pick meaningful spots, perhaps a favorite restaurant, backyard orchard, or minimalist loft.
Delayed Social Media Posts
Many couples are not posting on social media in real time. Or they delay their “highlight reel” to after the event. According to The Knot, Gen Z couples favor “delayed engagement posts.”
Interactive Guest Wedding Videos
A rising Gen Z trend, interactive guest videos let the wedding guests become the stars. Couples are embracing moments like confessional booths and roaming reporter interviews to capture real-time guest reactions, creating a cinematic, candid story arc throughout the weekend. Video platforms, like BrandLens, can help to create these reaction videos without any need for guests to register, download, or log in.
Wedding Content Creators
Gen Z couples are increasingly hiring wedding content creators to document authentic moments.
- Bridal #GRWM (Get Ready With Me) Reels
- Wedding party dances
- And unpolished behind-the-scenes footage
Unlike photographers and videographers, these creators deliver fast, vertical videos and same-day recaps, preserving the organic emotions of the day while offering quick access to content post-wedding.
Why this matters for marketers: The traditional “wedding as spectacle” is giving way to “wedding as story.” Every vendor, registry, and gift brand is now invited to help the couple tell their story, not just supply “wedding stuff.” The more you integrate into that intimate, intentional moment, the more value you bring.
The New Wedding Registry Trends for Gen Z Couples in 2025
So if the celebration is quieter and more intentional, what happens with the registry? Glad you asked. Yes, registries still exist, but the rules are changing.
1. Group Gifting & Crowdfunding
Gen Z couples are less likely to ask for china patterns and more likely to suggest, “Help us fund our honeymoon / down payment / a charitable cause.” For instance, nearly half of married Gen Z individuals say they created a formal financial plan before saying “I do,” which is almost double the rate of previous generations.
What we’re seeing: registry platforms that allow multiple guests to contribute to one experience.
2. Personalized Gifts & Local/Small Brands
Gen Z has grown up with Etsy and Instagram shops and values authenticity over mass market. Many Gen Z envision marriage in their future, and many expect the gifting and registry moment to reflect their personal values. The personalized gifts may include experience-based gifts, aesthetic home goods, and customized items like engraved jewelry. What this means: rather than “the registry list” being a one-size-fits-all, couples want to curate items with meaning (custom art, local makers, experience boxes). For marketers: think about how your brand can partner with small makers, or how you can provide registry “tiers” that include meaningful, niche items.
3. Digital Gifting
Forget paper registries alone. Gen Z expects an experience, and guests can elevate the gifting experience by.
- Using QR codes in personal gifting
- Digital thank-you videos that are replacing or augmenting traditional cards
- Digital money
Why Thank-You Videos Are Replacing Handwritten Cards
Yes, you read that heading right. The thank-you card is not dead, but it’s evolving into something more dynamic and more shareable.
Why the shift?
- Video connects emotionally. Seeing the couple personally say “thank you” in their own voices feels more genuine in a world saturated with templated emails.
- Gen Z grew up as content creators; they expect motion, audio, and story. For example, the rise of wedding “content creators” (photographers/videographers dedicated to raw behind-the-scenes) is trending.
- Speed and shareability matter. A couple might film a quick selfie video the next morning and send it via QR code in a printed card or include it in a digital registry receipt. These thank-you video templates are possible with BrandLens.
- It becomes part of the gifting moment. If I’m a guest and I receive a video of you personally thanking me, I feel more part of the experience, and that builds brand loyalty for the gift provider/vendor.
Common formats you’ll see
- The “selfie video” from the couple within 24-48 hours of the wedding.
- UGC-style short-form thank-you videos.
- QR-code-linked private messages: a printed note says, “Scan the QR to see our video,” giving a bridge between physical & digital.
- Embedded video in the gift-confirmation email from the registry platform.
What marketers should note
- This is an upsell opportunity. Vendors can offer “personalized video gift add-ons” as part of their service.
- The video doesn’t need Hollywood polish; authenticity wins. Gen Z leans into “unpolished and emotional storytelling” over “over-produced slick.”
How to Collect Guest-Generated Content (Without Apps)
Now we’re talking not just about the couple, but also their guests. Because the real magic happens when everyone becomes a creator in the moment. But how to collect guest-generated content without apps?
You can put:
“Hey guest, film a 15-second congratulation or memory, upload it via this link, and we’ll compile it into a thank-you montage.”
Without requiring an app:
- Share a link (via invite or email) to a simple upload portal.
- Or include a QR code on the printed invite/place card: “Scan here to send us your video”.
Why this matters:
- Guests become part of the story, not just recipients of an event. That enhances the emotional quotient.
- For registry & vendor marketers: you can offer this as a value-add: “Add guest video-upload link for $X”.
- It enhances content for future use (social proof, testimonials, vendor marketing).
- It taps the user-generated content (UGC) wave: Gen Z trusts real people over polished brand messages. There’s a strong case that “unpolished and emotional storytelling with user content” wins.
Tips:
- Keep the upload time small (15-30 seconds) to encourage participation.
- Provide a light script or prompt (“What’s your favorite memory of this couple?” or “Two words you’d use to describe them”).
- Make the link/QR visible early in the planning process, so guests have time.
- For vendors: moderate and repurpose the best clips for social proof with the couple’s permission.
How Vendors Can Create Lasting Memories with Video Content
Here’s the fun part: if you’re a florist, gift shop, registry platform, or eCommerce brand, you can ride this wave instead of getting caught behind it.
- Florists: Create a custom “behind-the-scenes” video of the flower arrangement being created, and send it to the couple as a surprise gift, making the process feel personal and special. Check out more details on how to add video messages to gifts.
- Gift Shops: After the gift is purchased, offer a service where the couple can record a “reveal” video to show off the present and share their reaction, adding a fun, interactive twist.
- Event Planners: For weddings, offer a video service where guests can share wishes in real-time during the event, which can be compiled into a highlight reel or shared directly with the couple post-celebration.
Why this works:
- It extends the gifting moment beyond the physical transaction: gift → experience → story.
- It gives the vendor/brand a second touchpoint with the guest (via the thank-you), which builds brand memory.
- In the Gen Z context, it feels authentic, immediate, and interactive. It’s not just “you gave a gift”; it’s “we were filmed saying thank you and here’s the proof.”
How to Price & Produce Wedding Thank-You Videos (Even on a Budget)
You might be thinking, “Cool, but isn’t video expensive?” Good news: it doesn’t have to be.
Budget-Friendly Production Tips
- Use smartphone filming: many modern phones shoot excellent 4K. Light it naturally (window light) and stabilize it (tripod or even a simple handheld with a stabilizer).
- Simple script prompts: “Hi ___, thanks so much for being part of our day. We loved you being there because ___.”
- Subtle branding: Add a small overlay with the couple’s names and wedding date (or the vendor/brand’s logo if included).
- Editing: Keep it short (under 60 seconds). Use a simple editing app (CapCut, iMovie) to trim, add intro/outro, and export in “social-friendly” 1080p/720p.
- Delivery: Upload to a private link (Vimeo, unlisted YouTube, or a landing page) and use the QR/URL on a printed card, or embed in an email.
Pricing Model Ideas
- Free tier: A simple “thank-you selfie” filmed by the couple, sent via email or link.
- $ tier (mid-budget): The couple films their thank-you video, the vendor adds their logo, a simple edit is made, and a QR-code card is included for easy access.
- $$ tier (premium): A vendor partners with a content creator or photographer to capture a 2-minute montage (featuring both the couple and guests), which is then edited into social media-friendly snippets as well as a full version for the couple.
What to include in your offer as a vendor/marketer
- Turnaround time: “Delivered within 48 hours.”
- Formats: “Link or QR-code card.”
- Analytics: Provide “views/open rate” statistics back to the couple or guest-giver (optional).
- Reuse rights: Option for the couple to share the video on their socials (increase exposure for the vendor).
Check out how to create budget-friendly branded video content.
If I were to sum this up in one friendly piece of advice: Gen Z couples are rewriting the rules of wedding etiquette, and the brands that support that rewrite will win.
They want intentional meaning over spectacle. They expect gifting to feel personal, not transactional. They want video, mobile-first experiences, and participation, not passivity. The wedding may be quiet, but the memory will be loud, and the thank-you video will echo longer than any printed card ever could. If you want to create one, check out how BrandLens works.
References:
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TKIieHXnFkEg6XYnla3ACIPVXEsF-zGzwPUxgjzicg8/edit?tab=t.0
- https://civicscience.com/wedding-trends-in-2025-fewer-celebrations-more-spending/
- https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-data-insights/real-weddings-study
- https://www.newsweek.com/gen-z-more-pro-marriage-their-parents-2038898
- https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20251017862309/stella-banderas-wedding-weekend-guest-list/
- https://www.thecelebrantdirectory.com/wedding-trends-for-2025/
- https://brandlens.io/
- https://www.theknot.com/content/gen-z-wedding-trends
- https://brandlens.io/solutions/gifting-cards-flowers/
- https://brandlens.io/blog/holiday-2025-personalization-playbook-how-qr-powered-video-gift-notes-turn-every-purchase-into-a-mom/
- https://brandlens.io/blog/short-form-ugc-video-dos-and-donts-a-2025-guide-for-brands-and-creators/
- https://brandlens.io/blog/how-to-create-personal-touch-with-ugc-video-content-for-gift-boxes/
- https://brandlens.io/blog/real-is-the-new-viral-why-brands-are-embracing-unpolished-ugc/
- https://brandlens.io/blog/how-to-collect-ugc-videos-without-apps/
- https://brandlens.io/blog/understanding-the-power-of-ugc-in-video-marketing/
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/13CCO-Bv4WdSDezeVOz3wTFq8vhxusg87456T2iQ31UE/edit?tab=t.0
- https://brandlens.io/blog/how-to-create-budget-friendly-branded-video-content-with-brandlens/
- https://brandlens.io/how-it-works/
