- Couples turn to extravagance and luxury after long pandemic lockdowns.
- Wedding planners have seen revenue skyrocket with the increase in bookings and more expensive inquiries.
- Ultra-luxury wedding planners say couples are now inviting fewer guests, but offering even finer experiences.
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From llamas, exotic cars, and speedboat rides to flower arrangements that cost more than a year of college tuition dangling from ceilings, a wave of unusually lavish weddings is bringing the wedding industry a cash win that was badly missed during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
“It’s the roaring 20s for weddings,” said Alicia Fritz, the owner and wedding planner at A Day In May. in which people are really present and full of love. “
More couples are getting married in 2021 than in any year since 1984, and the rush to post-vaccination weddings is driving professionals in the wedding industry to simply survive the coronavirus pandemic to spend skyrocketing requests, bookings, and profits from increasingly expensive ceremonies achieve.
“You go all out,” said Marisa Guerrero, vice president of Debbies Bloomers. “They want unique accents and a special wedding that is different from what they have seen in other locations.”
Couples pay a premium for expressive structures like flower arches and chandeliers, take photos in llamas, drive off in exotic sports cars and indulge in unusual wedding buffets like donut walls and mac and cheese bars.
With customers spending an average of about $ 5,000 on flower arrangements, almost double what it was in 2019, Guerrero works seven days a week, and often up to 12 hours a day, to keep up with the flurry of inquiries, according to Guerrero. The trend is also mirrored in other wedding vendors, who told insiders that their earnings were up 40 to 50% compared to 2019.
However, those planning weddings for millionaire and billionaire customers with seemingly unlimited budgets say they haven’t seen cost increases per wedding, which often cost millions of dollars. Instead, couples often invite fewer guests, but offer a more spacious and tailored experience for those who make the cut.
“We’re looking for a once in a lifetime experience,” said Alison Laesser-Keck, creative director of wedding planning company Alison Bryan Destinations.
Some of the high profile weddings included meals prepared by Michelin-starred chefs, speedboat rides through scenic Utah slot canyons, paid guest accommodation, and appearances by celebrities like Miguel and Janelle Monae. Your clients usually work in finance or entertainment, and some are household names.
“They are doing well and want to pamper their guests,” said Laesser-Keck. “It’s about how we can take care of our family and friends and give them an experience they could never have on their own.”
Sarah Crowell, senior planner at Mavinhouse Events, said she’s seen a surge in multi-day weddings, where activities traditionally reserved for the bridal shower – like sunset sailboat rides, brunch, and beach walks – are open to the entire guest list.
This thriving wedding season is the result of weddings being postponed from 2020 and people looking to save money after over a year of quarantine that they saved on family celebrations, wedding experts said.
The flood of bookings has also allowed some providers to change their business and personal lives.
Angela Lauren, the owner of Angela Lauren Photography, moved from struggling to keep her business alive during the pandemic to looking for a home, and Teresa Eoff, the owner of Figure Eight Events, said the extra income could be hers Businesses bring out their garage studio and into a storage room.
Demand can far exceed what companies can handle. Laesser-Keck has received over 90 inquiries per month since January.
“We opened inquiries and did enough business for the next two years within a week,” said Laesser-Keck. “Demand for all businesses is going through the roof.”
