Wedding industry in the United States

Last updated

Elaborate wedding reception area and decorations in Maui (2014) Event Design and Styling.jpg
Elaborate wedding reception area and decorations in Maui (2014)

The wedding industry in the United States is the providers of services and goods for weddings in the U.S., taken as a whole. Every year in the United States, there are approximately 2.5 million weddings. [1] The United States wedding industry was estimated to be worth about $70.5 billion as of 2022. [1]

Contents

The wedding industry in the United States has cultural and social elements and has become an economic giant seen. Some elements of the wedding process generate major revenue for many major corporations each year. This includes clothes, flowers, music, and many other elements that are a part of the ceremony, reception, honeymoon, and bachelor and bachelorette parties.

History

Future American President John F. Kennedy and his bride Jackie in a kind of pose and setting still emulated today. Photo by Toni Frissell (1953) Toni Frissell, John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier on their wedding day, 1953.jpg
Future American President John F. Kennedy and his bride Jackie in a kind of pose and setting still emulated today. Photo by Toni Frissell (1953)

The wedding industry is a modern phenomenon. The wedding industry changed and evolved into a capitalist industry that we know today between the 1920s to 1950s, and many American practices that are now considered traditional were developed during this time by advertisements and promotions from major retailers, jewelers, caterers, and many other companies. [2]

In the 1960s and 1970s brides started to deviate from the original wedding plan, and moved the wedding outside of the church. This developed the idea of the "destination wedding", and is still very popular today. [3]

Overall costs

As of 2012, the median cost of a wedding, including both the ceremony and reception, but not the honeymoon, in the United States, was about US$18,000 per wedding, according to a large survey at an online wedding website. [4] Regional differences are significant, with residents of Manhattan paying more than three times the median, while residents of Alaska spent less than half as much. [4] Additionally, the survey probably overestimates the typical cost because of a biased sample population. [4]

In 2019, the average cost of a wedding in the United States, not including the honeymoon, was $25,000 [1] – an overall decrease compared to studies done in previous years. According to researchers, this dip in cost is likely due to a decrease in formal or black tie weddings, and an increase in "nontraditional locations". [5] Costs also declined during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, as restrictions on large gatherings promoted virtual events, microweddings, and lower-cost or free venues such as their own homes or backyards. [1]

The more widely reported mean cost in this survey was significantly higher, with a mean of over $28,000. [4] Most people in this survey spent at least $10,000 less than the median amount. The difference of $10,000 per wedding is due entirely to very high spending by a small number of very wealthy couples – the couples most likely to pay for more services from the wedding industry. [4] The mean cost is useful for professionals and salespeople in the wedding industry, as it helps them understand the budgets of people who are spending the most, rather than for the typical person. [4] It may also encourage overspending by their clients, since they can point to the higher mean as being the "average" cost, even though it is much higher than what most couples actually spend. [4]

According to studies done throughout the United Kingdom that are often related back to United States wedding trends, [6] wedding costs are often significantly higher because of the wedding industry itself. Their research found that DJ's, photographers, and florists routinely charge more money for services related to a wedding than those for a party of the same size. [7] [8]

Wedding insurance

A couple may purchase wedding insurance to cover unexpected financial losses related to their wedding, for instance loss or damage to the wedding dress or tuxedo. Other things potentially covered by wedding insurance include lost deposits as a result of vendor bankruptcy, cancellation due to illness, injury, military service or extreme weather and third-party or liquor liability claims. [9] [10] depending on the level of cover required. Problems a couple knew about before taking out the policy are not covered and almost all insurers will not cover cancellations that are due to "cold feet". Currently, only one company does and it can only be purchased by the person who finances the wedding, not the Bride or Groom, and only applies if the wedding is cancelled more than 180 days before. Wedding insurance is becoming increasingly popular in other countries, including Australia, [11] New Zealand [12] and the UK. The UK is very different with quite a few big name providers. [13]

Cost by area

Bachelor and bachelorette parties

Costs of bachelor and bachelorette parties depend upon what the party entails. If the party is held in someone's home, then it may cost no more than any other dinner party. A multi-day event held out of town, however, can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per person, like any other vacation trip. [14]

Wedding ceremony

This money may go towards things such as renting a venue, flowers and other decorations, the officiant, the wedding planner, and invitations to the event, as well as music played before and during the ceremony. [15]

For wedding invitations, couples spent in 2009, on average, about US$848, which includes costs of stationery accessories ($188) and printed, pre-made invitations or reply cards ($659). [15]

A wedding band or singer may cost at least $1,000 depending on who performs, and this cost can be for either the ceremony or the reception. [15] A professional wedding planner may charge about $25 per hour or $3,000 total. [16]

Clothing and accessories

Clothing

In 2013, the average wedding dress cost US$1,211 Fort Collins wedding embrace (Unsplash).jpg
In 2013, the average wedding dress cost US$1,211

In the United States in 2013, the average wedding dress cost $1,211. [17]

Television series like TLC's "Say Yes to The Dress" which features bridal boutique, Kleinfeld's, show the workings of the bridal gown industry. The bridal gown industry relies mainly on bridal magazines for advertising. [18]

As for the groom, the cost of his clothes and accessories is considerably less than the bride, with the average cost coming to about $313. [19]

Wedding jewelry and rings

Since the early 1930s, when the DeBeers diamond company began some of the earliest marketing campaigns for diamond rings, wedding rings have been closely associated with long, successful marriages. [20] In 2006, many couples spent just over $2,000 for his and hers wedding bands. [21] In 2008, despite the start of a recession, the price spent on the average engagement ring increased to $5,861. [22] In 2012, Americans spent about $7 billion on diamond rings. [23] The bride may additionally spend a few hundred dollars on a necklace or other jewelry to wear with her wedding dress. [22] Even in times of economic hardship, couples rarely skimp on the jewelry. This boosts sales for the jewelry industry as wedding jewelry is part of a larger industry. [24]

Wedding accessories

Some brides follow the "old-fashioned" custom(s) of "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue". Other accessories include tiaras, veils, flower bouquets, jewelry, cosmetics, and dress shoes.

Wedding reception

The size and grandeur of a wedding reception can be an indicator of a couple's social status or the one they would like to portray. The number of guests, quality of the food and drinks, location, and who plays the music can all symbolize the wealth and presumed status of the newly weds. The reception can be an opportunity to flaunt wealth and impress guests (friends and family). This can lead to couples or parents spending an excessive amount of money and even putting themselves into debt to pay for the wedding. [25] Celebrities like Donald Trump and his wife Melania Knauss spent an approximated amount of US$1 million on their wedding. The reception consisted of 400 guests, was serenaded by a full orchestra, and was catered by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. [26] But this is nothing compared to Liza Minnelli and David Gest's wedding that was estimated at 3.5 million dollars, and then the couple divorced the next year. [27]

Approximately 28 percent of the wedding budget is spent on the reception, which makes it the most expensive part of the wedding. [28]

Honeymoon

The honeymoon industry is a $12 billion industry annually. [29] On average, about 10 percent of newlyweds book cruises as their honeymoon trip; 37 percent travel to domestic locations, while 63 percent go abroad; lastly, 40 percent stay at a resort, while 27 percent stay at a large hotel, while 10 percent look into a small hotel. [30] On average, 75% of newlyweds travel on their honeymoon within the first week of marriage. 62% of couples pay for their own honeymoon, while the remainder receives a trip as a wedding gift. The average couple books their honeymoon 8 weeks after getting engaged and spend over 5 weeks planning their trip. [31]

Leisure activities

Other than romance, couples often choose to engage in outdoor activities to enhance their honeymoon experience. The top five activities are listed below:
Visiting a new place for sightseeing, restaurants, entertainment and nightlife- 75%
Beaches and lakes – 45%
Casinos – 20%
Cruises – 15%
Golf/sports vacations – 10 [29]

Wedding journalism

Wedding magazines, wedding blogs, and their associated social media accounts (such as Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Snapchat) play an important role in the wedding industry. They showcase and drive current trends, and serve as a useful way for couples to discover vendors and ideas. [32]

Wedding Magazines

Related Research Articles

A honeymoon is a holiday taken by newlyweds after their wedding to celebrate their marriage. Today, honeymoons are often celebrated in destinations considered exotic or romantic. In a similar context, it may also refer to the phase in a couple's relationship—whether they are in matrimony or not—that exists before getting used to everyday life together.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wedding</span> Ceremony where people are united in marriage

A wedding is a ceremony where two people are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, races, religions, denominations, countries, social classes, and sexual orientations. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marriage vows by a couple, presentation of a gift, and a public proclamation of marriage by an authority figure or celebrant. Special wedding garments are often worn, and the ceremony is sometimes followed by a wedding reception. Music, poetry, prayers, or readings from religious texts or literature are also commonly incorporated into the ceremony, as well as superstitious customs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wedding reception</span> Party after a wedding

A wedding reception is a party usually held after the completion of a marriage ceremony as hospitality for those who have attended the wedding, hence the name reception: the couple receive society, in the form of family and friends, for the first time as a married couple. Hosts provide their choice of food and drink, although a wedding cake is popular.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Engagement ring</span> Ring indicating that the person wearing it is engaged to be married

An engagement ring, also known as a betrothal ring, is a ring indicating that the person wearing it is engaged to be married, especially in Western cultures. A ring is presented as an engagement gift by a partner to their prospective spouse when they propose marriage to represent a formal agreement to future marriage. In most Western countries, engagement rings are usually worn only by women, and they are typically adorned with diamonds. In some countries, partners wear matching rings, and engagement rings may also be used as wedding rings. In the Anglosphere, the ring is customarily worn on the left hand ring finger, but customs vary across the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bride</span> Woman who is about to be married

A bride is a woman who is about to be married or who is a newlywed.

Bridesmaids are members of the bride's party at some Western traditional wedding ceremonies. A bridesmaid is typically a young woman and often the bride's close friend or relative. She attends to the bride on the day of a wedding or marriage ceremony. Traditionally, bridesmaids were chosen from unwed young women of marriageable age.

Taiwanese photography is deeply rooted in the country's unique and rapidly changing history. Its early photography is often divided into two periods: Pre-Japanese from approximately 1858 to 1895, and an Era of Japanese Influence, from 1895 to 1945, the year the Japanese rule of Taiwan ended. Many photographs from the period during which Taiwan was under Japanese rule have been preserved as postcards. Much of the pre-Japanese era photography was conducted by foreign missionaries and merchants.

<i>Brides</i> (magazine)

Brides is an American website published by Dotdash Meredith, who purchased the title in 2019. Originally a magazine, Brides is now an online-only publication, with quarterly digital issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traditional Vietnamese wedding</span>

The traditional Vietnamese wedding is one of the most important ceremonies in Vietnamese culture, which is influenced by Confucian and Buddhist ideologies.

Etiquette rules in the United States and Canada generally apply to all individuals, unlike cultures with more formal class structures, such as those with nobility and royalty.

Personal wedding websites are websites that engaged couples use to aid in planning and communication for their wedding. The websites are used to communicate with guests about their wedding and inform them of the location, date, time, and gift registry. Each wedding website is different, and a couple has to pick what is best for them. The websites can be free but may sometimes cost a fee. However, most couples find that the website fee is less costly than hiring a wedding planner, as wedding planners can cost as much as 15% of the total wedding cost. Criticism of wedding websites include that invitations from websites are too informal for the occasion.

<i>Say Yes to the Dress</i> American reality television series

Say Yes to the Dress is an American reality television series on TLC which follows events at Kleinfeld Bridal in Manhattan. The series shows the progress of individual sales associates, managers, and fitters at the store, along with profiling brides as they search for the perfect wedding dress. Common themes include overwhelming advice of friends and family, the ability of the "perfect dress" to help a bride overcome personal difficulty, struggle with weight and body image concerns, and the challenge of staying in budget, especially in the case of dresses by Kleinfeld's exclusive designer, Pnina Tornai. Dresses sold on the show range from $1,300 to $40,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons</span>

The Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons is a program offering wedding and honeymoon services to couples at the Disneyland Resort in California, the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, the Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan, the Disneyland Paris Resort in France, the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort in Hong Kong, the Shanghai Disney Resort in China, and on the Disney Cruise Line. It operates within the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products segment of The Walt Disney Company.

In the United States and Canada, weddings follow traditions often based on religion, culture, and social norms. Most wedding traditions in the United States and Canada were assimilated from other, generally European, countries. Marriages in the U.S. and Canada are typically arranged by the participants and ceremonies may either be religious or civil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer</span> 1981 British royal wedding

The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer took place on Wednesday, 29 July 1981, at St Paul's Cathedral in London, United Kingdom. The groom was the heir apparent to the British throne, and the bride was a member of the Spencer family.

<i>Bride to Be</i> (magazine)

Bride to Be is an Australian bridal magazine published by Pacific Magazines, owned by Seven West Media. Bride to Be includes articles about wedding ideas and practical for planning a wedding.

The wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank took place on 12 October 2018 at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. The bride is a member of the British royal family. The groom is a British wine merchant, brand ambassador of Casamigos Tequila, and socialite. The dean of Windsor, David Conner, officiated at the wedding using the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony published in Common Worship, the liturgical text of the Church of England. Princess Eugenie was the first British princess of royal blood to marry in the Church of England since the wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips 45 years before.

The wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant was a 6-day event that took place from 12 July 2024 until the 30 August 2024 in the city of Mumbai, India at the Antilia building and Jio Convention Center. The groom was the son of Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in Asia, and Nita Ambani. Mukesh Ambani is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, while the bride is the daughter of Viren Merchant, the CEO of a healthcare company.

The Wedding traditions in Iraq is a range of cultural norms prescribing the ritual of performing wedding ceremonies in Iraqi society. This aspect of Iraqi life also reflects in the relationships between people and the ways in which they form lasting social bonds.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bhattarai, Abha (11 February 2021). "Smaller cakes, shorter dresses, bigger diamonds: The pandemic is shaking up the $73 billion wedding industry". Washington Post .
  2. ↑ "Brides, Inc. – Vicki Howard".
  3. ↑ "Here Comes the Bride: A History of the American Wedding".
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Oremus, Will (19 March 2015). "The Wedding Industry's Pricey Little Secret". Slate. ISSN   1091-2339 . Retrieved 2015-05-03.
  5. ↑ "This Was the Average Cost of a Wedding in 2020".
  6. ↑ "The Surprising Reason Your Wedding May be So Expensive". HuffPost . 17 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Businesses hike prices for wedding bookings". 15 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Do Vendors Charge More for Weddings than Other Events?". Archived from the original on 2016-03-22.
  9. ↑ Wedding Insurance: Protection When "I Do" Becomes "We Can't"
  10. ↑ "Wedding Insurance in the USA".
  11. ↑ "Wedding Insurance Australia".
  12. ↑ "Wedding Insurance New Zealand".
  13. ↑ "Wedding Insurance".
  14. ↑ "Wedding Trend Alert: Guests Blow $1,000+ Per Bachelor Party". ABC News. 2015-04-24. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  15. 1 2 3 "The Wedding Report". 2009.
  16. ↑ Heidemann, Kai,University of Pittsburgh Sociology of Marriage Lecture, 2009
  17. ↑ Michelle Hall and Lizzie Jury, CNN Library (9 August 2013). "I do ... cost a lot: Weddings by the numbers". CNN.{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  18. ↑ "A Guide to the Wedding Industry (Business Reference Services, Library of Congress)". www.loc.gov. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  19. ↑ The Wedding Report: 2006
  20. ↑ Francis-Tan, Andrew and Mialon, Hugo M., "A Diamond is Forever" and Other Fairy Tales: The Relationship between Wedding Expenses and Marriage Duration (September 15, 2014). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2501480 or https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2501480
  21. ↑ "The Wedding Report : Wedding Coordinator : Honeymoon : Bridal Association Of America". www.bridalassociationofamerica.com. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  22. 1 2 "Wedding Day Gems To Wear Year-Long". Forbes. 2009-06-15. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  23. ↑ Sullivan, J. Courtney (3 May 2013). "How Diamonds Became Forever". The New York Times.
  24. ↑ Panos Mourdoukoutas. "Information for the World's Business Leaders". Forbes.com.
  25. ↑ "On Wedding Debt: A Cautionary Tale {WedSmack}". Archived from the original on 2010-02-03. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
  26. ↑ Lea Goldman and Tatiana Serafin (12 July 2007). "In Pictures: The 20 Most Expensive Celebrity Weddings". Forbes.
  27. ↑ Lea Goldman and Tatiana Serafin (12 July 2007). "In Pictures: The 20 Most Expensive Celebrity Weddings". Forbes.
  28. ↑ "Bridal and Wedding Market Report--Direct Marketing, Mail Order, E-commerce News".
  29. 1 2 "Honeymoon Planning, New Jersey Bride, Wedding Statistics".
  30. ↑ Susan Breslow Sardone. "Wedding & Honeymoon Facts & Figures". About.
  31. ↑ "Honeymoon Statistics & Facts". Honeymoon Goals.
  32. ↑ Copage, Eric V. (10 September 2010). "Blogging Brides". The New York Times.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.