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Tag Archives: Wedding Planning
TheKnot.com 2013 Wedding Statistics
Largest survey in US – 13,000 brides – finds average wedding budget in America rising despite more casual weddings…
The XO Group Inc, creator of the top wedding website TheKnot.Com, conducted a comprehensive report surveying nearly 13,000 US brides and grooms married in 2013. TheKnot.com 2013 Real Weddings Study captures detailed information on the average cost of a wedding, average number of wedding guests, wedding style trends and other key statistics related to weddings in America.
“Wedding budgets have been increasing steadily since the economic downturn of 2008, and in 2013, couples spent a record high average of nearly $30,000,” said Carley Roney, co-founder of The Knot. “Couples are more focused than ever on creating a unique, personalized and once-in-a-lifetime experience for their guests – plus they’re doing so in a modern way, by planning from their smartphones, publicizing details on social media and more.”
We put together an infographic on the Top 2013 Wedding Statistics from their survey:
Top 2013 Wedding Trends
GROWING BUDGETS. Couples are spending more on their weddings than ever. Following the trend of growing budgets for the past two years, wedding budgets are at an all-time high with the average wedding cost hitting $29,858, the highest level ever. Less couples (20%) say the economy affected their wedding budget – a statistic that has continually decreased year over year, since reaching an all-time high of 34% in 2009. Wedding standards also continue to rise, in fact, about 1 in 8 couples (14%) spent more than $40,000 on their nuptials, and nearly 1 in 4 (24%) didn’t even have a budget.
GUESTS CONQUER ALL. Couples are concentrating on creating an experience for guests. Not only did spend per guest increase to $220, up nearly $26 per guest from 2009 when couples spent $194 per guest, but guest entertainment continues to gain popularity. This rapidly rising category only continues to grow – in 2013, nearly 1 in 3 couples (30%) provided additional guest entertainment, compared with just 11% in 2009. Additionally, while the number of brides who throw a rehearsal dinner, after-party or morning-after brunch has remained steady, brides are spending more money on these events. In 2013, brides spent an average of $1,184 on their rehearsal dinners (up from $1,135 in 2012) and $457 on their morning-after brunch (up from $429 in 2012).
TRADITIONS CONTINUE TO EVOLVE. Couples are foregoing some traditions to modernize their nuptials. Couples are becoming more liberal in their prewedding lifestyles; nearly 3 in 4 couples (74%) now opt to live together prior to getting married. Casual weddings are also on the rise, with 17% of brides classifying their weddings as casual in 2013, up from 12% in 2008. Along the same lines, couples aren’t marrying in religious institutions as much as they used to; just 33% chose to do so in 2013, down from 41% in 2009. While the majority of brides still opt to take their spouse’s last name (80%), this tradition is becoming less popular, down from 2009 when a whopping 86% changed their last names. Similarly, 1 in 10 (10%) brides kept their names in 2013, up from just 7% of brides who chose to do so in 2009.
SEASONAL SHIFTS. Summer is slowly making its way out of style as the wedding season. Summer is generally defined as wedding season, however, the trend toward beautiful summer weddings is shifting. In 2013, 35% of couples opted for sunshine-filled nuptials, down from 2009 when 41% of couples opted for the season. In recent years, fall has been making headway as the “new” wedding season, but the rise of fall weddings is pausing. In 2013, 32% of couples chose the season, down from its high of 36% in 2011. Spring is gaining traction with couples who aren’t afraid of April showers; 26% of brides chose pretty spring weddings, up from 22% in 2011. Winter is also coming from behind to give couples gorgeous snow-filled portraits; though still the minority, 7% of couples chose a winter wedding in 2013, up from 5% in 2012.
PERSONALIZATION AT A PEAK. Weddings are the ultimate form of self-expression. The trend in weddings for many years has been to create a personalized experience, where the couples’ personalities are evident in many areas of the wedding. This trend is on the rise, with couples opting for unique details like signature wedding cocktails, which 20% of couples had, up from just 12% in 2008, and hosting interactive food stations (15% of weddings in 2013, up from 13% in 2010). Couples are also personalizing their ceremonies into unique, touching experiences with a family member or friend officiating – just 57% of couples hired a professional ceremony officiant, down from 63% of couples who did so in 2009.
A Good Laugh! How to Plan a Wedding, The Brutally Honest Edition
The Huffington Post posted CollegeHumor’s hilarious and brutally honest 10-step guide on how to plan a wedding.
Warning: A few “choice” words are used in the video – for added emphasis, of course! Watch with your special person – it is guaranteed to break the tension!
Congratulations! You’ve found that one special person you’re going to spend the rest of your life with.
You can already envision the happy life you’re going to live together, but first things first: Will you make it through the wedding without losing your family, friends, savings and sanity in the process?
CollegeHumor has put together a 10-step guide on how to plan a wedding — and there’s a dash of brutal honesty included for each step.
Just try to remember that it’s happily ever after once it’s all over.
Wedding Hair and Makeup – Dos and Don’ts
With summer solstice around the corner, wedding season will soon officially be in full bloom! With many brides, bridesmaids, MOBs and families preparing to celebrate love and joy on their special days, Stylelist.com shared 8 Wedding Hair & Makeup Dos and Don’ts. Most of these tips seem like common sense, but when the frenzy and excitement of wedding planning kicks in, it can be very easy to overlook these basic Dos and Don’ts!
#1: Don’t ignore you skin; do start with a great base.
#2: Don’t cover up your greys with all-over colour; do use a root touch-up.
#3: Don’t let all the hot tools damage your hair; do prepare by nourishing your hair.
#4: Don’t worry about chipped nails; do keep a small bottle of polish by your side on the big day. (Added Spence tip: Do shellac to not have to worry about chips!)
#5: Don’t wait till the last-minute; do prepare, test and try.
#6: Don’t overdo it; do keep it simple.
#7: Don’t just pack tissues; do wear long-lasting eyeliner.
#8: Don’t get lipstick all over your guests and groom; do wear a lipstick that lasts.
Click here to read the full article on Stylelist.com and the details on each tip.
Bridal Fashion Week 2015: Spring Trends
Yes – it is hard to believe that we are already looking at the spring fashion trends for 2015 – but let’s be honest here ladies, we really do start dreaming, planning and taking action to find THE perfect dress well in advance of the BIG day…
Direct from the fashion gurus over at InStyle and industry experts at WWD, here are a few highlights from Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2015, including Vera Wang’s daring, unique presentation of her spring bridal collection through a short film rather than a runway show, Carolina Herrara’s Bridal Spring 2015 Collection of classic elegance, Oscar de la Renta’s Dreamy Spring Collection, Temperley’s Bridal Spring 2015 Collection: Something Old, Something New and Jamie Chung’s Bridal Fashion Week Diary on her search for the perfect wedding dress.
Photo Source: Instyle.com
Photo Source: Instyle.com
Photo Source: Instyle.com
Photo Source: WWD.com
Photo Source: WWD.com
Photo Source WWD.com
Photo Source WWD.com
InStyle’s 8 Bridesmaid Dresses Your Bridal Party Will Actually Want to Wear
Thank you to the fashion gurus over at InStyle for sharing their top 8 picks for bridesmaid dresses that your bridal party will want to wear again.
As many can relate, investing in a new dress that will never see the light of day post the wedding day is a tough financial pill to swallow. To have your special ladies by your side feeling fabulous in what they are wearing, and already planning on when they are going to rock their bridesmaid dress again is a win-win for all!
As Amy Shey Jacobs, from InStyle says, “the key to finding the perfect bridesmaid dresses for your bridal party? Choosing gowns that don’t scream “wedding”—aka dresses your bridesmaids would happily wear post-fete.”
Be sure to check out InStyle’s recommendations here inspired by spring’s hottest styles.
Our Visual Inspiration
Our Visual Inspiration. Let’s be friends on Pinterest.
For better, for worse – Pinterest is the 21st century’s version of the old fashioned “scrapbook”. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.
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