Samantha Goldberg to Assist with Caribbean Promotion

Posted on April 17, 2013 Written by Leave a Comment

 

By Paul Pannone

Samantha Goldberg is making her way up the charts by becoming involved with high-profile projects that can mutually benefit from her followers, fans and fun style. Last month Goldberg announced a television project designed to challenge wedding industry crooks and scams. Goldberg called out Marni Gold for reasons she felt were sinister, telling eWedNewz it was only the start of what’s to come.

Tobago in the West Indies is the spot where Samantha Goldberg and Jacqueline Johnson reportedly collaborated to replace boring speakers with a more dynamic approach to promoting the Caribbean.

 

This month from her Linked In profile Goldberg announced a collaboration with the CTO foundation to help promote Caribbean tourism and destination weddings. Goldberg was welcomed in late 2012 by Jacqueline Johnson of Marry Caribbean, who oversees publicity for the Caribbean countries, to travel to Tobago, replacing speakers who reportedly gave disappointing results the year before at the Third annual Symposium.

According to the release:

The highly sought after celebrity event designer and television personality, Samantha Goldberg, is to put some of her expertise towards assisting Caribbean nationals pursuing further studies in tourism related subjects in the Caribbean. To include “Destination Weddings, Special Events and More… Samantha has agreed to serve on the board of directors of the CTO Foundation, The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with headquarters in Barbados and offices in New York and London, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising membership of over 30 countries and territories including Dutch, English, French and Spanish, as well as a myriad of private sector allied members. The CTO’s vision is to position the Caribbean as the most desirable, year round, warm weather destination by 2017, and its purpose is Leading Sustainable Tourism – One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean.

Among the benefits to its members the organization provides specialized support and technical assistance in sustainable tourism development, marketing, communications, advocacy, human resource development, research and information technology.

In addition the CTO, in partnership with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, jointly and equally owns the Caribbean Tourism Development Company, a marketing and business development entity dedicated to promoting the Caribbean brand worldwide.

eWedNewz continues to follow Goldberg’s movement and expected assault on questionable wedding industry activities.

 

 

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2013

Filed Under: Celebrity, Destination Weddings, General News, Travel, Uncategorized, wedding industry, Wedding planners Tagged: , , , , ,

Experts on Call Show, Sunday at 10am on AM800 CKLW | Don’t Miss the Call

Posted on September 15, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

 

By Paul Pannone

The Wedding Guide continues to direct brides in their area towards a beautiful wedding day planned with elegance and etiquette. The driving force behind the magazine is a dynamic woman, Sheryl Davies, who has become a friend to her followers and friends– apart from a valuable source of trend information.

 

20 years of excellence and migration from strictly print to a full-service wedding resource.

For the third time Sheryl asked us to be on call for her show tomorrow morning, September 16th, to weigh in on trend topics and the state of the wedding business.

“Thanks for saying yes again to the Experts on Call Show, Sunday at 10am on AM800 CKLW. I will be discussing trends for the upcoming 2013 season and the wedding pros with me will be a restaurant/catering facility in the Holiday Inn & Suites, Hospice and Charitable Giving, a new Winery and lavender farm and a frozen ice cream/Gelato entrepreneur who produces individual treats like Tartufo, baked Alaska, and Gelato roses. Your input is always well received, valuable and welcomed,” says Sheryl.

 

Listen in live!

 

eWedNewz

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2012

Filed Under: bridal, eWedNewz, facts and figures, Florists, General News, Paul Pannone, Promotions, Social Media, The Internet, Travel, tuxedos, Uncategorized, wedding industry, Wedding Industry Events, Wedding planners, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , , ,

Caribbean Conference Cries Wolf

Posted on June 10, 2012 Written by 2 Comments

By Paul Pannone

Caribbean Week, 2012, in New York City brought together over 30 countries, pooling resources, ideas and goodwill of the most popular wedding destinations in the world. Information and education guides the group who strive to always keep ahead of trends and make travel experience to the region the best it can be.

I’m especially impressed by the group’s choice of speakers for the event. Headed by committed people including my friend, Jacqueline Johnson, the organization continues to grow and thrive at a time when economic challenges make it increasing difficult to do business.

 

Philip Wolf argued to get the PA system to work and delivered an impressive presentation.

 

This year the organization kept pace with the standard of excellence they’ve set for themselves and cried wolf; Philip Wolf.

It’s customary that you sit through a presentation before passing judgement on how good (or bad) the speaker was. With Wolf, his argument and vehement exchange with Marriott management over the public address system set the tone in my mind of what was to come. Problems with the system and a corporate approach by Marriott was not good enough for Wolf.

Mr. Corporate Marriott Man: “Let’s get the contract and review it.”

Wolf: “There’s no need to get the contract, let’s fix the problem.”

After some ear-splitting feedback and slight delay to the start of the presentation the dynamic speaker mesmerized the audience offering some radical ideas that upset some of the more tight (a$$) traditionalists who will differ with  Wolf’s approach; to telling the truth– instead of being politically correct.

In his presentation he made it clear how “good enough” is no longer good enough. His message clearly tells of the lackluster experiences that offer no explanation turns off consumers in a way never seen.

“It’s OK to be delayed on the tarmac for an hour, it happens. But to leave people to wonder why is unacceptable. It should be, ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to be delayed because there are 400 flights leaving this evening and we’re number 399,” said Wolf.

Mr. Wolf’s non-nonsense approach and unwillingness to accept some bullshit, corporate reason for ineptness, is both refreshing and needed. Raising the standards and refusing to accept things as they are is what’s going to bring about change.

 

Jacqueline Johnson continues to masterfully rise above injustice and adversity. She never misses a chance to hire the most dynamic speakers for her events that spark a bit of controversy, raise the blood pressure and bring about change. Smile Jackie– you know you love it.

 

I am thankful to my friend, Jackie Johnson, for inviting me. It’s no secret Jackie has been through her share of injustice, experiencing prejudice at every level. I admire her ability to survive and thrive in her world where she’s sometimes forced to deal with fluff, fake happy thoughts and false, gracious wishes. But I am equally happy in knowing she’s smiling, getting the story that most reporters would never cover.

Thanks Jackie,

Paul

 

 

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2012

Filed Under: Advertising and Marketing, Anti Fairy Dust, eWedNewz, Paul Pannone, Travel, wedding industry, Wedding Industry Events, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Average Price of a Wedding Dress Holds Steady

Posted on June 4, 2012 Written by 4 Comments

By Paul Pannone

Depending on whose data you believe the national average price of a wedding gown continues to hover around $1,100 dollars.

 

 Pick your poison; the Knot survey results shows the national average price of a wedding dress is inline with other data sources we’re watching.

According to a recent survey conducted by the XO Group reported by Fox Detroit the average sum spent by an American woman on her wedding dress is $1,121. The average price now reported doesn’t differ much from a study conducted by  BRIDE Magazine’s last year when they reported an average wedding dress cost is $1,289; a 20% increase over 2009 when the average cost was $1,072.

eWedNewz continues to follow how online sale of wedding dresses impact the price of dresses in retail store establishments. Most retailers say they’re watching the average wholesale price rise slightly but cannot pass the increase to their customers to absorb the higher cost.

Discussions with planners in metropolitan markets scoff at the number ($1,100) saying their clients spend more on “toilet paper” for their weddings than the national dress average.

eWedNewz continues to watch over companies that supply data to the wedding business that sometimes isn’t flawless.

 

 

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2012

Filed Under: Anti Fairy Dust, bridal, Bridal Dresses, Bridal Shops, catering, Data, DJ Disc Jockeys, eWedNewz, facts and figures, Florists, General News, Invitations, Jewelry, Limousines, Ongoing Story Investigation, Research, retail, The Groom, The Internet, The Knot, Travel, tuxedos, Wedding Dresses, wedding industry, wedding websites Tagged: , , ,

American Bridal and Prom Industry Association gets ready to Launch

Posted on May 30, 2012 Written by 4 Comments

By Paul Pannone

eWedNewz has learned of a new association of wedding industry manufacturers and retailers that will include all segments of the business. The organization is the result of a raging war against off-shore sources poaching American consumers and disrupting the wedding gown business.

eWedNewz has learned the support for the new organization garnered in a relatively short time  led to the expansion beyond the dress business. Plans to roll out and run the organization begins this week, as the board assembles to discuss details.

 

Will the IBMA be replaced by the ABPIA?

 

According to sources familiar with the story the board will include Bob Cahoon of Maggie Sottero  and other notable wedding industry members, including decision-makers from the Knot. Retailers for the board are also being considered and finalized at the first meeting this month.

The head of the group, Steve Lang, confirmed the launch and promised a more in-depth interview when all the facts are assembled. eWedNewz readers want to know what happened to the extensive coverage surrounding the war on Chinese websites that began back in March.

“You won’t be disappointed by waiting a week to get all the details, after we work them out at our meeting,” said Lang in an email exchange.

Since returning from a trip to China, visiting 27 factories that make products for Mon Cheri the flow of information was halted. Lang came under criticism by other manufacturers trying to launch their own offensive campaigns against piracy. But with the newZ of the new organization and a war chest of over a half-million dollars, evenly split between hard cash and media commitment value, sources feel all the other attempts will be consolidated under the new organization.

In past discussions Lang told eWedNewz he is disappointed in the IBMA’s lack of performance since its relaunch in late 2011. Since the start Lang told eWN he envisioned a broader wedding industry organization that could include benefits of membership to all segments of the business, not just dresses.

What do you think?

eWedNewz

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2012

Filed Under: bridal, Bridal Dresses, Bridal Magazines, catering, Florists, General News, Invitations, Jewelry, Limousines, Men's formal wear, Officiants, Ongoing Story Coverage, Photography, Poll, Promotions, Proms, retail, Social Media, The Groom, The Internet, The Knot, Travel, tuxedos, Uncategorized, Wedding Dresses, wedding industry, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , ,

Consumers Search Content and Connect with Products | Marketing Programs Launched a year ago Are Finally Working

Posted on February 21, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

By Paul Pannone

eWedNewz is tracking the progress of several marketing programs that give a greater level of interactivity with consumers and engage them to look for products and not wait for them. In advertising and marketing, out of sight is out of mind to consumers overloaded with a steady barrage of information. For most consumers the thought of buying a coat in the summer or a bathing suit in the winter isn’t likely. But to marketers, planting the seed in their brain for when they need the product is the key to success.

 

Images of Super 100′s products in world-famous brands printed by consumers in search of products tells the retailer marketing programs created by manufacturers are working.

 

Unlike static formats like print and other traditional forms of media, marketing programs centered around interactivity of the Internet are now successfully branding customers; introducing them to products before they’re even available. Creating demand and gathering orders has superseded producing products, announcing they exist and hope they sell. A careful watch of what consumers really want leads to less risk and the right inventory levels to match the demand.

This is really nothing new but the fluid, real-time nature of the Internet gives manufacturers a greater ability to fill the needs of consumers than ever before. For those harnessing the power of Social Media, the gateway to success is endless.  Now, manufacturers that held back from jumping into the digital age look back and wonder how they operated without it. What broke down some of the decisions were arguments of why companies that hold a lock on their industry still advertise.

Coke and Pepsi and the cola wars are prime examples of why advertising and staying in front of consumers is a must to keep ahead of the competition. No one doubts how fickle many consumers are. Most have no significant preferences in cola products. Advertising reinforces the image of a certain drink or brand. If both Coke and Pepsi stopped advertising lesser brands would be more noticed and pick up (consumer) market share. To their distributors any decrease in the advertising budget would be taken as a sign of weakness.

In growing numbers advertising budgets are shifting to the Internet; not just by adding, updating or improving a web site. Companies that want to stay competitive in the current business environment are adding 24/7– live – web presence besides the company website to increase a positive customer experience, answering questions and directing consumers to distributors (retailers) that carry their products.

According to experts in this new field the product message must be shelled in discussions around the product. Simply hiring interns or low-paying employees to tweet doesn’t work.

According to SocialNomics.net

Premium brands are beginning to talk less about their products and more about lifestyle

Other brands are encouraging product specific discussion to drive purchase consideration

Campaigns that linked social media back into the real world helped drive engagement

Tried and tested competitions and giveaways are continuing to work well

Some brands are beginning to monetise social media

 

eWedNewz watches several Social Network campaign including the one from FLOW Formal. After Years of decline the owners of the company are committed to revive a tuxedo industry that was essentially dead. Wedding experts and onlookers keeping score say they like what they see.

Christine Boulton of Think Like a Bride recently wrote a story covering some of the details;

“The men’s formal wear industry had all but written its own obituary. Stuck firmly in the past; saddled with outdated looks and hopelessly chained to traditional marketing channels, it was sinking fast. They were living in a bubble.”

Part of the changes at FLOW include creating proper content and information to go along with new product styles for consumers in search of updated tuxedos. Plagued by years of decline store owners have not kept up with new fit demands of today’s consumer. Getting that message out to consumers has been a struggle leaving many to abandon renting tuxedos. Now, with the help of proper promotion and marketing the men’s tuxedo business is undergoing a major overhaul led by FLOW.

The efforts are now heard as store owners report consumers walking into their stores with images they printed and want what they saw online.

According to the owners of 1888MYTUXES, “Google searches and printouts of the 2012 product lines are making our job so much easier. The customers are trusting us knowing that they are getting the current styles and real thing, not the bait and switch of days gone by!”

eWedNewz is tracking similar pilot programs involving photography, wedding venues, travel and planners.

 

 

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Filed Under: Advertising and Marketing, eWedNewz, General News, Joseph Abboud, Men's formal wear, Ongoing Story Investigation, Paul Pannone, Photography, Promotions, Research, retail, Social Media, The Groom, Travel, tuxedos, Uncategorized, Wedding planners, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Technical Tricks and Cheap Labor Blamed for Struggling U.S Wedding Vendors

Posted on October 31, 2011 Written by 3 Comments

By Paul Pannone

The top story last week involving cutbacks and layoffs at Martha Stewart set off discussions in all areas of the wedding business including the Wedding Water Cooler. Members gave statements both privately and publicly in Social Media forums giving their opinions of why the wedding business is in such disrepair. Many agreed with calling the wedding business the Golden Goose, feeling it’s being used as a temporary fix by unemployed carpetbaggers. Some went further to say the wedding industry is being choked to death by several other key factors that include cheap labor and technicalities.

Wedding analyst, Christine Boulton, said she was shocked at the reports surrounding Martha Stewart. “This just blows my mind. For years now the only Wedding publication that wasn’t on the decline was MSW. I guess that was just smoke and mirrors too.”

Boulton is strong proponent against fairy dust tackling every fallacy from All You Need is Face Book to the wedding industry itself being recession proof . Currently Boulton is involved in a campaign that tries to focus on problems beyond the wedding industry. But Boulton is getting help from her fellow Wedding Water Cooler friends, keeping a close eye on the wedding business.

 

Jacqueline Johnson sits on the board of Caribbean countries and watches how perfectly legal maneuvering diverts business from one portion of the wedding market to another.

 

 

Wedding Expert, Jacqueline Johnson of Marry Caribbean, gave a strong statement saying, “Thanks for always being on target with the state of the bridal industry and the number of service providers who are looking to build a business in this category. Even large companies are looking at this market hoping to make even more money – Cunard is taking all three ships out of Britain and registering in Bermuda just to capitalize on the Destination Wedding Market. Under the British flag they cannot perform weddings at sea, but with Bermuda registry this can be done. According to them, they want to share in the lucrative wedding business.”

Wedding industry sources say they’re competing with a host of problems that include a flood of competition in a shrinking wedding market. But most Americans blame the inability to compete with cheap, offshore labor that manufacturer inferior products.

Pointing a finger at offshore manufacturing, Dyane Bradley told eWNz, ” It doesn’t seem to matter about the quality of what they have to offer. They believe that if they “SLAP BLING” all over it, they will buy! It’s even harder for Jewelry Artist who pour a piece of their soul into each piece they design and create. We have to compete with Gown Designers who use Slave Labor to create their designs because their sales are low.”

eWedNewz is talking to manufacturers that say they’re exploring the possibility of bringing back some lost jobs by hiring domestic companies to make a small portion of products here in the United States. Some admit it is a stretch, due in part to the higher costs. But it’s a start and far cry from the exodus of manufacturing to China in the late 1990′s.

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Anti Fairy Dust, bridal, Bridal Dresses, Bridal Magazines, Bridal Shops, Current Events, Economic news, General News, Social Media, Travel, wedding industry, Wedding Water Cooler Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Vendors Welcome New Opportunities offered by Same-Sex Marriage

Posted on June 29, 2011 Written by 8 Comments

By Paul Pannone

Last week, New York joined Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia allowing same-sex marriage and Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey approving of civil unions. After years of struggle addition of a major market state like New York drew attention of many resistors that were torn as to whether a market to sell to would emerge.

With New York passing the right for Gay and Lesbians to marry, indecisive vendors are now fighting the clock to tap into the market.

 

Renowned wedding and travel expert, Jacqueline Johnson, identified the up and coming market over a year ago. Johnson updated her view writing, “According to renowned Forrester Research, this market of more than 7 million generates more than $41 Billion per year on their personal and leisure travel. They also tend to be more engaged with online travel booking than straight travelers. In comparison to the rest of the travel population, the incidence of rental cars and flights is much greater, but to successfully sell to LGBT travelers you must understand that your success depends on offering the right travel content – in the right way,” on her blog.

“Ignoring this emerging market would be a huge mistake for any vendor,” Johnson told eWN over a year ago. “As I write in my latest post, getting your content right is the most important element in developing a successful LGBT leisure travel business strategy. It is more important than social media, more important than mobile and more important than marketing. Why, because next to content, everything else is window dressing. I truly believe that to be true,” she told eWedNewz.

Suppliers like Paul Eilenberg are offering items made specifically for the gay community. Many others say they’re developing product specific items that will become available in time for same-sex weddings, set to begin next month.

Marcinho Savant, executive planner for the wedding planning company savvyplanners.com, said he’s already received 127 email inquiries since the bill’s passage Friday. He announced Tuesday that in light of the increase in interest, he planned to open a new New York City office this week, on Lexington Avenue in Midtown.

Savant told eWedNewz,”We’ve fought for this moment for so long and now that it’s finally happening, we’re taking every measure to insure all levels of credibility and honesty are met.” Savant told eWedNewz he’s taking a pragmatic approach to offering same-sex products while still working under the confines of a society that will need time to adapt to the changes. When eWNz pointed out the changes are now called “law” he responded by saying,” I’m still going to tread carefully, just to make sure.”

[Read more...]

Filed Under: eWedNewz, facts and figures, General News, Promotions, Publications, Research, retail, Same-sex marriage, The Groom, Travel, Uncategorized, wedding industry, Wedding Industry Events Tagged: , , ,

The Wedding Business Yawns at the Knot Name Change

Posted on June 28, 2011 Written by 5 Comments

By Paul Pannone

A Press release announcing a name change for The Knot to the XO Group drew little attention from the wedding business. Save for only a scattered response on various channels, not many wedding experts really gave their detailed thoughts on what it means.

According to David Fuhrer, “This is meaningless. The rationale is that they are transitioning from the NASDAQ to the NYSE; the “XO Group” could be a tic-tac-toe consortium. A generic name feeds into “lifestyle” company opposed to “The Knot” that infers “tying of” and could have meant they’re nautical, but most savvy investors get the “play” on words. The more interesting question is whether the move from NASDAQ to NYSE is a positive or if the NYSE is losing stature.” 

David Fuhrer is the ex-owner of My Complete Event, a wedding web site abandoned in 2010. Fuhrer spoke out against all wedding web sites, saying they are unsustainable as a business but are only valuable as “part of a business”. Fuhrer’s story rocked the wedding web site business, including his ex-associates at My Wedding, raising eyebrows and awareness in the wedding industry. According to Furher’s direct statements, advertising with many wedding listing web sites is a waste of money.

Other remarks included Carla Lowrey saying, ” Some companies just need not to name change. Personally, having a name change doesn’t escape from underlying problems that the company is currently facing with its customers. They need to do External and Internal Customer Satisfaction Surveys and dig deep on the root of the companies issues.”

 

For years Lowery’s sentiments are rampant among wedding industry sources. Some feel the name change at the Knot is a reshuffling of the deck to attract new investors and raise stock price, as the wedding business faces serious challenges and decline in the years ahead. According to wedding sources and investors familiar with the story, confidence in the Knot’s ability to keep up with the declining nature of the wedding business is a concern. Investors that contacted eWNz asked whether they should dump their stake in the Knot, wanting to know the inside story. In the end, each inquiry came up with their own assessment; no one can outperform the market.

The new website details what is taking place saying, “Our flagship brand, The Knot, is the authority on all things weddings, with fresh advice and ideas on the #1 wedding website, TheKnot.com, and in our magazines, books, and television programs. A sister site, WeddingChannel.com, packages stylish planning information with a patented registry search tool — it’s the only place online where wedding guests can search multiple retailers to find and purchase the perfect gift from a couple’s registry. Both brands also deliver what brides need most: extensive listings of local wedding planning services.And we don’t just leave the couple at the altar! After the wedding, our members face a whole new adventure (and discover that wedded bliss includes things like shopping for insurance!). That’s when they turn to our newlywed brand, The Nest, for smart tools, down-to-earth advice, and an avid community that’s focused on everything from picking a good red wine to getting along with in-laws to shopping for a new house.

Our latest addition, The Bump, is all about…well, making babies! Created for first-time parents, this bustling website and local purse-size guide deliver the expert answers, real mom opinions, and local resources needed to survive pregnancy and the first six sleepless months.

To complement our life stage brands, we’ve launched many unique services: e-commerce, which is focused on personalized products for weddings and baby gifts; personal website builders; and local mom social networks. Whatever our audience needs, we either direct them to the solution or develop one for them.”

Wedding expert sources agree, the Knot, is the biggest wedding industry entity, by any name. Many are of the opinion the wedding industry has changed faster than technology, advertising, marketing and wedding vendors have been able to adapt. Discussions surrounding the Knot say they have the financial means to overcome the challenges; many say the “reset” of sorts, is just a faster way of getting some of those challenges behind the company.

Wedding marketer and member of the Wedding Water Cooler Discussion group, Chris Jaeger said today,” Everyone seems to have a love-hate relationship with The Knot. Regardless, I think you have to give them credit, David and Carley especially, for getting that company to where it is today.

Getting listed on the NYSE is no small task and a pretty clear sign, in my mind, of their success. They’ve basically beat down the Goliath (Condé Nast); it’s pretty impressive if you ask me.

I would guess that 98% of the people who whine about their advertising not working at The Knot have lousy, home-grown, websites, self-made brochures from Vista Print, and their nephew designed their company logo. These people shouldn’t blame The Knot, they should look in the mirror and they will see the problem. The CRAP I see online these days is painful to my eyes.”

eWedNewz will keep watch on the progress of the XO Group. What do you think of the name change move?

Feel free to comment here or Paul@ewednewz.com (516) 312-0090 privately.

 

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Filed Under: bridal, catering, Economic news, eWedNewz, Florists, General News, Invitations, Limousines, Men's formal wear, Publications, retail, Social Media, The Knot, Travel, Uncategorized, wedding industry, Wedding Water Cooler, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , ,

BRIDES ANNOUNCES FINDINGS FROM 2011 AMERICAN WEDDING STUDY

Posted on June 17, 2011 Written by 36 Comments

 

BRIDES ANNOUNCES FINDINGS FROM 2011 AMERICAN WEDDING STUDY

Couples skip sit-down receptions, embrace mobile apps and evites

June 17, 2011 – New York, NY – BRIDES, the #1 brand in the world for reaching engaged women, has once again conducted the AMERICAN WEDDING STUDY, the quintessential analysis of spending and behaviors around wedding planning that provides key insights to the emerging and established trends surrounding this economically charged life phase. 

KEY FINDINGS:

  • Results of the 2011 BRIDES American Wedding Study show couples doing more with less; overall wedding spending has decreased slightly but there are more events surrounding weddings (double digit increases for wedding weekends, destination weddings, engagement parties, and bachelorette parties) and the wedding itself incorporates more elements and more personalization than ever before.

 

  • Couples are blending old with new, preserving select traditions like the first dance and cake-cutting but bidding farewell to sit-down dinners and buffets in favor of cocktail hours and passed hors d’oeuvres. Nearly 10% of all weddings feature a “man of honor” or “best woman”, 14% of couples are married by a friend or family member ordained for the occasion and 11% of couples make charitable donations on behalf of their guests.

 

KEY COSTS: 

  • The average wedding cost is $26,501, slightly more than a 5% decrease from 2009 when the average cost was $28,082 but up $8,000 since 2002.
  • The reception accounts for 36% of wedding costs, with an average price tag of $13,367.
  • Outside of the reception, the largest chunks of money are going to photography/videography ($3,367), wedding rings ($1,495) and flowers ($1,426). 
  • The average wedding cake costs $480.
  • The current average cost of an engagement ring is $4,647, a 27% decrease from 2009’s average engagement ring cost of $6,348.
  • Average wedding dress cost is $1,289, which a 20% increase since 2009 when the average cost was $1,072.
  • The average bridesmaids dress costs $134.
  • Everyone pitches in to pay for the wedding and surrounding events. 
    • Brides- to-be are the primary contributors for the bridesmaid’s luncheon (60%), wedding ceremony (57%), wedding weekend (53%) and post-reception party (47%).
    • Together, 68% of brides and grooms are paying for their honeymoon.
    • The brides’ parents are focused primarily on paying for the wedding reception (58%), next-day brunch (44%) and engagement party (36%).
    • His parents are still paying for the majority of the rehearsal dinner (60%).
    • Their friends take charge of the bridal showers (72%) and bachelor/bachelorette parties (88%).

 

ENGAGEMENT:

  • December is still the most popular month of the year to get engaged (18%).
  • Length of engagement has increased from 14 months in 2009 to 15.4 months in 2011.
  • The majority (63%) of brides-to-be provided input on their engagement ring, with over one in five (21%) actually selecting the ring themselves.  This is an increase of 9% versus 2009.

 

FROM WEDDING DAY TO WEDDING WEEKEND TO WEDDING YEAR:

  • 91% have a honeymoon (14% increase since 2009).
  • 35% have an engagement party (+21%).
  • 22% have a wedding weekend (+38%).
  • 15% have a destination wedding (+25%).
  • 87% have a rehearsal dinner.
  • 86% have an average of 2.3 bridal showers. 
  • 34% have a post-wedding brunch.
  • 24% have a post-reception party.
  • 5% have multiple ceremonies.

 

WEDDING DRESS:

  • She’s buying her wedding dress 9 months before the wedding.
  • Average wedding dress cost is $1,289, a 20% increase since 2009 when the average cost was $1,072.
  • Today’s bride is also spending another $581 on wedding day accessories, jewelry, headpiece and veil.
  • 1 in 2 purchase from an independent local bridal salon, with another 29% buying from a national bridal chain.
  • 84% of brides wear something old, new, borrowed and blue.
  • Close to half (45%) will box up their dress to pass it on.  Another 10% will either sell their dress, give it to another bride or re-cut/remodel to wear again.

 

WEDDING LOCATION:

  • Nearly half of couples (48%) wed in the city or town where they currently live, with 23% returning to their family’s hometown for the occasion.
  • One in ten engaged couples (15%) have a destination wedding, which is an increase of 25% from 2009.
  • Of those having a destination wedding, they are staying an average of 6 days/nights on location and their guests are staying 3 days/nights.

 

WEDDING PARTY:

  • The majority of weddings (91%) have a maid/matron of honor, one out of ten (10%) include a man of honor.
  • 89% of wedding parties have a best man and 7% have a best woman.
  • In addition to a maid/matron of honor and best man, the typical wedding party features 4.5 bridesmaids and 4.5 groomsmen/ushers for a total of 11 people in the main bridal party.
  • The average bridesmaids’ dress costs $134.
  • 62% of wedding parties also include a flower girl and 53% feature a ring bearer. 4% also include their pets.

 

WEDDING AND RECEPTION:

  • The average number of guests is 152.
  • The majority of brides-to-be (67%) would categorize their wedding as semi-formal in contrast to casual (19%) or black-tie (13%).
  • 38% of receptions are described as classic or traditional. 30% are described as intimate or modern (24%), a 76% and 71% increase over 2009.
  • Traditions are still important:
    • 91% of weddings feature the cutting of the cake
    • 90% of weddings incorporate a first dance
    • 87% of weddings include celebratory toasts
    • 68% of brides throw the bridal bouquet (down from 74% in 2 years)
    • 57% of grooms throw the bride’s garter (- 65%)
    • Only 4% of weddings feature guests throwing rice.
    • 20% now have a photo booth.
    • 11% now make donations to charities in lieu of favors.
    • 3% have started including professional dancers or comedians for entertainment.

 

REGISTRY:

  • 93% of couples register for wedding and shower gifts.
  • On average they register nearly 7 months (6.7) before the wedding – or 9 months after their initial engagement.
  • The average engaged couple joins fewer than three registries (2.7).
  • 82% of engaged couples register through a combination of in-store and online.  Only 17% of engaged couples register strictly online. 

 

GIFTS:

  • Couples spend $582 on gifts for each other. The #1 gift from bride to groom is a watch; the #1 gift from groom to bride is jewelry.
  • They’ll also spend an additional $760 on gifts for parents ($254), bridesmaids ($268) and groomsmen ($238).
  • #1 gift for bridesmaids is jewelry; #1 gift for groomsmen is liquor related (flasks, shot glasses, steins or premium liquor).

 

OTHER FINDINGS:

  • Liquor has increased in importance with 92% having some type of bar, toast or signature cocktail and liquor or alcohol glassware gifts for groomsmen doubling since 2009. 
  • 1 in 5 use a mobile app to help plan, shop for or register for their wedding.
  • 17% use a social media app to plan, shop or register.
  • Nearly 1 in 5 couples are now using evites or emails to invite guests to the wedding or save the date.
  • The #1 theme for weddings is beach, tropical, luau.
  • 14% of couples have a friend or family member ordained in order to perform the ceremony.
  • Only 42% will have either a sit-down or buffet meal.  Instead, couples are opting for cocktail hour (58%), passed hors d’oeuvres (46%), dessert stations (28%), food stations (19%), picnic/barbeque (5%), sushi chef (2%), wine tasting (2%), food trucks (1%) or cheese mongers (1%). 

 

METHODOLOGY:  Respondents were women ages 18+, either engaged or married within the year. The sample included women who have visited Brides.com or Brides magazine subscribers, representing more engaged women than any other media outlet.  A total of 2,985 qualified surveys were evaluated.  Respondents were surveyed between April 15 – April 28, 2011. 

ABOUT BRIDES:

In over 75 years of publication, BRIDES has remained the most widely read magazine in the category and the country’s foremost authority on engagement, weddings, and marriage.  BRIDES, BRIDES.com and 16 brides local magazines are published by Condé Nast, a division of Advance Publications, which operates in 25 countries and is home to some of the world’s most celebrated media brands.

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