The Wedding Report

With over 450 responses provided by various vendors in the wedding industry, what you are seeing as current trends in the wedding industry as a whole in Q3Q4 – 2011 is very similar to what was seen in Q1Q2 – 2011. There are again an overwhelming number professional wedding photographers seeing couples opting for less experienced, less well known, and often times new to the scene photographers, instead of higher priced, more experienced, professional photographers. More and more new photographers are popping up on the scene offering much lower prices than the more experienced photographers and in a climate where couples are on tight budgets, these lower prices are more appealing to them. “Couples are choosing aggressive pricing over quality and experience”, one vendor says. For similar reasons, more couples… Continue reading

In our current trend topic discussion we asked couples (N=66) if they would consider buying something for their wedding secondhand or used. 59 people or 89.4% said that yes they would, while 7, or 10.6% said that they would not consider buying something for their wedding secondhand or used. We then asked what reservations they had about buying wedding items secondhand or used with responses including the items’ condition and wear. Responses also included the desire for new items and that while buying something used or secondhand may save money, it would not even be an option. We then asked couples (N=59) what items they would consider buying secondhand or used, checking all that applied. Responses can be seen the chart below.

Items couples are willing to buy secondhand

In our current trend topic discussion we are asking couples (N=51) how many hotel(s) or resort(s) they did or will work with for their wedding guests. 23 (45.10%) said they would just work with one hotel/resort; 17 (33.3%) said they would work with 2 hotels/resorts; and 11 or (21.6%) said they would be working with 3 or more hotels/resorts.

We also asked couples (N=51) which of the following are/were important when choosing a hotel(s) or resort(s) for their wedding guests? (Couples were asked to check all that applied)

Finally, we asked couples what else they do consider, or did consider important when choosing a hotel or resort for their wedding guests, not listed in the previous question. Responses included wishing the hotel allowed… Continue reading

Topline results from the Ceremony & Reception Study 2011

• More couples choosing same location to have their ceremony and reception, up almost 10% over 2010
• Couples choosing more unique locations, “Other” same location venues take the lead from Event Facilities
• More couples having their wedding ceremony at a courthouse, private residence, or wedding chapel
• More couples holding their wedding reception at a private residence or restaurant
• With more unique locations on the rise, more officiates are performing the ceremony, a 30% increase over 2010
• Food stations are more in demand than ever before
• While other dessert options are popping up, wedding cake is still most popular at 83% demand
• Cash bar on the rise along with outside alcohol and BYOB

In a recent survey, we asked couples (N=1407) if they met online or not; if they did meet online, where did they meet; and if they did not meet online, how did they meet. In our first question, “Did you meet your spouse-to-be online?” 16% (1 in 6) said yes they did, while 84% said no, they did not meet their spouse-to-be online.

Of those who did meet online, 1 in 10, the highest percentage (65%), met on an online dating site (searching a person’s profile). The next highest percentage, 1 in 50 or 14%, met on a social networking site (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc.).5%, or 1 in 125, of those who indicated they met online met in an online chat room. 3%, or… Continue reading

In our current trend topic discussion we are asking couples their views on using reviews before choosing a wedding vendor. In this third round of questioning, we again asked couples (N=67) if they have, or plan to, look at vendor reviews before hiring a wedding professional. 88.1% (N=59) said yes, with just 11.9% (N=8) saying no they have not and do not plan to look at vendor reviews. We then asked couples (N=59) how many negative reviews are tolerable. Results can be found in the chart below:

We also asked couples (N=59) if the way a review is written has any influence over how much they take them into consideration (i.e. grammar, typos, spelling)? 89.8% (N=53) of couples said that yes, the way a… Continue reading

In our current trend topic discussion we are asking couples their views on using reviews before choosing a wedding vendor. In this third round of questioning, we again asked couples (N=83) if they have, or plan to, look at vendor reviews before hiring a wedding professional. 95.2% (N=79) said yes, with just 4.8% (N=4) saying no they have not and do not plan to look at vendor reviews.

We then asked couples (N=74), when they are reading reviews, can they tell the difference between a legitimate unhappy bride/couple and an unreasonable one?

93.2% (N=69) said that they indeed could tell the difference, with only 6.8% (N=5) indicating they are unable to tell the difference between a legitimate unhappy bride/couple and an unreasonable one… Continue reading

In a new trend topic discussion we asked couples about the highly publicized Kim Kardashain wedding that just occurred on August 20, 2011. We first asked couples (N=80) if they were familiar with the wedding with 81.3% (N=65) indicated that yes they were; Just 18.8% (N=15) were not familiar with the wedding. For those who were familiar with the wedding we asked a series of questions related to the wedding.

We first asked couples if they, like Kim, would consider three dress changes for their wedding. Of the 63 responses, 90.5% (N=57) indicated that they would not consider this many dress changes on their wedding day, with 9.5% (N=6) indicating they would consider this. For the 6 individuals who indicated they would buy three dresses for their wedding, we… Continue reading

In our current trend topic discussion we are asking couples (N=67) their views on using reviews before choosing a wedding vendor. In our second round of questioning, we again asked couples if they have, or plan to, look at vendor reviews before hiring a wedding professional. An overwhelming 91% (N=61) said yes, with just 9% (N=6) saying no. We then asked couples how many vendor review sites they have used so far. Results can be seen in the chart below.

We also wanted to know from couples what type of information on a wedding review website they found most helpful. Couples indicated that they are looking for other couples’ actual experiences and recommendations about vendors they used, as well as specific names of those… Continue reading

In a current trend talk discussion we asked couples (N=38) their views on using reviews before choosing a wedding vendor. In our first round of questioning, we asked couples if they have, or plan to, look at vendor reviews before hiring a wedding professional. An overwhelming 94.7% (N=36) said yes, with just 5.3% (N=2) saying no. We then asked couples where then are they looking for vendor reviews (i.e. Wedding Wire, Wedding Channel, etc.). Results from this question can be seen in the chart below.

* Project Wedding = WeddingWire reviews

We also asked couples (N=36) if they trusted one site for vendor reviews over another, with the majority, 72.2% (N=26), saying no. When asked why… Continue reading