Beyond the Pinterest Board: Where Weddings Are Headed in 2027 & Beyond

For a long time, weddings have been shaped by a collective visual language. You could open Pinterest or Instagram and, within a few scrolls, recognise the same palettes, the same poses, the same ideas of what a “beautiful” wedding should look like. It made planning easier, but it also made things feel strangely familiar. As if, in trying to create something personal, we were all quietly referencing the same set of images.

Lately here at Wildfolk, we’ve noticed a shift in what our couples are asking for. We’re noticing less inspo pics, less mood boards and more questions about the experience of the day and how they want it to feel. We seem to end up talking less descriptively about venue features and outfits and more actively about emotion, personality and the ‘vibes’ they want to capture.

In a world increasingly shaped by filters, AI-generated imagery, and the pressure to constantly document and refine every experience, authenticity has quietly become the thing people are searching for again, and we are so here for it. We love nothing more than capturing a genuine emotion and a candid moment.

The Return of Film

Film photography has been part of our work for a long time now, but what’s interesting is how it’s been received more recently. People are gravitating towards the nostalgia of film tones that stand out in a digital landscape. To us, there is really no way to replicate the texture and timeless colours of film in a digital edit.

There’s a slowness to film that feels almost unfamiliar in a digital world. It asks you to trust the moment as it is, without the safety net of certainty. It makes us think more carefully about light and composition. We stop looking for perfection and tiny adjustments and truly let a moment exist inside a frame. This is always reflected when we get the scans back, we see genuine moments captured in a timeless medium.

We use a combination of 35mm and medium format (120mm) film for our couples as well as providing the option to add on Super 8 video. We have also just added polaroid to our repertoire, so you can get these professionally shot and developed in real time.

Super 8 and the Feeling of Memory

Super 8 sits in a similar space, though it carries an entirely different emotional weight. We almost always tear up after the final edit of a couple’s Super 8 film. The way it captures movement and emotion in such a raw and authentic way is something that isn't present in highly processed digital products, which tend to be optimised for reels and social media.

It doesn’t behave like modern video. It flickers, it breathes, it drifts in and out of focus in ways that feel less like a HD documentation and more like memory itself. There’s something about it that resists control, and in doing so, it creates space for emotion to sit more naturally in the frame.

We’ve noticed couples being drawn to it because it feels honest, like their whole day was captured in a home movie. Couples get to relive the moments as they actually happened not like an overly edited version of events. Often couples get to see bits of the day they missed; a quiet pause before walking into a ceremony, the hugs at the reception, the looseness of a dance floor once everyone has stopped thinking about how they look.

Less Styling, More Storytelling

Alongside this shift in medium, there’s been a noticeable change in how weddings themselves are being approached. Rather than building a day around visual outcomes, couples are increasingly building it around experience. Around the feeling of having people together in one place, rather than the pressure of orchestrating a series of picture-perfect moments. Gen Z has a very much ‘cool girl’ energy which leans towards non-posed, effortlessly beautiful and editorial type shots without the stiff and awkward smiles and poses.

This documentary-style photography places less emphasis on how things will look online and more on how they will be remembered by the people actually there. This creates those honest moments for us to capture, the belly laughs, the teary speeches, the shared glances and chaotic dancing. We want to showcase your moments and your personality.

Editorial Aesthetic with Personality

At the same time, we’re also seeing weddings that still hold a strong sense of visual intention. Thoughtful design, beautiful tailoring, considered colours and beautiful spaces. But what’s changed is that these elements are no longer standing alone as the entire story. Our couples want their vouge moment but they also just want to have fun.

It’s this contrast that feels most current. Editorial around the edges but centred on your unique expression. We will explore your style with you in our meetings and ensure we are all on the same page in what images you want in your gallery.

The Anti-Algorithm Wedding

There’s no denying that social media has changed the way weddings are seen and shared. It has opened up access to ideas, to inspiration, to global styles that would have once been difficult to discover. All of a sudden, we are seeing Tuscan Styles pop up in the North Island of New Zealand, and mountains in the backdrop, once reserved for expensive European weddings, have become more accessible to our Southern Hemisphere couples here in New Zealand. While the accessibility is great it does create repetition and a kind of algorithmic sameness.

Alongside these great venues and backdrops, we are starting to see and capture more intimate style ceremonies, smaller bridal parties, custom employment style shoots, non-conventional settings. One of our most favourite has been Chris and Claire's backyard wedding, captured entirely on film. The entire day was a blur of genuine emotion, the love and support of friends and an epic American prom-style after-party. These unconventional ideas create uniqueness that’s true to our couples' style and personality and reject the copy-and-paste style that usually comes with cookie-cutter packages.Follow Your Intuition and Your Story

If you want a company that genuinely captures your story, your connections and your style, you know where to find us. We love unconventional couples who laugh together, have genuine care for those around them and love a story told through an artistic lens. Film is coming back in a big way, and we are beyond excited. If you relate to the trends we are seeing in this blog, reach out and enquire about how we can help make your day feel true to you.