What’s hot for the 2026 wedding season

As one of Australia’s most popular wedding destinations, we see a lot of trends come and go here in Port Douglas. And with many couples now planning their 2026 weddings, let’s take a look at what’s trending for next season.

Micro wedding, multi day

Wedding events are getting smaller and more intimate but that doesn’t mean low key, rather quite the opposite. Instead of just the main event, we’re now seeing the celebration stretched across multiple days. Think arrival drinks, pre-wedding dinners and recovery sunset sails, usually across different locations. Because if you’re having a destination wedding, why not make the most of it?!

Next level locations

While we can never go past a church wedding (hello, St Mary’s By The Sea) 2026 is the year of switching it up. Smaller wedding numbers open up doors to unique wedding locations. Don’t be surprised if you see people exchanging vows on a private sand cay on the Great Barrier Reef or deep in the rainforest surrounded by fairy lights thanks to Flames in the Forest. Sailaway Port Douglas have also seen a number of couples tie the knot aboard their luxury sailing catamaran which is about as next level as it gets.

The rise of the content creator

In an age of storytelling, no modern wedding is complete without a content creator. Forget the influencer stereotype - these are professional creatives, redefining how you’ll remember your day. Working alongside your traditional photographer and videographer, they capture the raw, candid moments, using just an iPhone, to deliver you social-media ready content to share almost immediately. This means you or your friends can be fully in the moment and can leave the phone where it belongs - in your bag. Looking for a local creator? Event Diaries specialises in elegant, and story-driven coverage.

Weekday weddings

Going with the rule-breaking theme, weddings are no longer weekend-exclusive. Opting for a midweek celebration not only saves you money but also boosts your chances of locking in your dream venue and vendors, especially in a wedding hotspot like Port Douglas. Plus, let’s be real: when your guests are already on holiday for the wedding, the day of the week hardly matters. Midweek weddings are the savvy couple’s secret to more flexibility, better availability, and a celebration that feels all the more exclusive.

Interactive experiences

You heard it here first: sit down dinners are out, immersive experiences are in. This goes for everything from the food to the entertainment. Think live food stations and cocktail bars, roving magicians and video guest books (cue your content creator!). Nowadays, weddings are designed to entertain. It’s no longer just about the couple, it’s about giving guests a night to remember

A Life Unexpected

“I’m inspired by solitude and the natural world,” Moo explains. “I like working with my hands and watching things grow.” Her artistic practice plays with opposites: fragments and wholeness, beauty and disruption, stillness and movement.
She still loves old Holdens, cattle dogs, warm compost and watching ants go about their day. “I like making beautiful things that might make people think about uncomfortable subjects.” Her life is a mosaic in itself: vibrant, handmade, and always evolving.

The Bigger Picture

To Moo, community art is more than decoration: it’s a tool for connection. “Strong, interesting communities don’t just happen. People build them,” she says. “And art helps us do that.”
She keeps the process open, accessible and delightfully imperfect. “It doesn’t have to be perfect,” she says. “It just has to be real.”
So next time you’re in Mossman or Port Douglas and you bump into one of these mosaics, look closer. You’ll see frogs, birds, insects, poetry, and laughter. You’ll see fragments pieced together by many hands. Somewhere in the shimmer of tile and grout, you might just find a little bit of Moo and sense the quiet magic that happens when a community builds something extraordinary together.

SUGGESTED BLURB

See Moo’s latest personal works in the group exhibition Escape Artists: Contemporaries in FNQ, presented by Port Douglas Artists Inc and supported by Douglas Shire Council. On show from 18 September to 4 October, 10 am–4 pm daily at Port Douglas Community Hall.