The wedding industry certainly saw some of the most interesting times in history over the last few years. Weddings in 2021 looked a lot different from weddings in 2020, 2019, and so on. What makes 2021 weddings so unique and fascinating and how will they impact future weddings like yours? The wedding experts and your friends here at Conklyn’s Weddings & Events are exploring these statistics, questions, trends, and more to give you a better idea of how your wedding might compare to weddings of the past.
What Is the Average Cost of a Wedding?
We can report that the average price tag on a wedding in 2021 was $22,500. However, as the pandemic had a great impact on the wedding industry in 2020, this was a dramatic $3,500 increase from the previous year. When comparing the average cost of weddings pre-pandemic, such as 2019 when the average cost of just the reception was $23,000, it is still under the “norm” and pre-pandemic projections. With a large number of small weddings and backyard soirees playing a role in the price drop, more couples in 2021 did pull out all the stops for a lavish dream wedding.
What Was Trending for 2021 Weddings?
Weddings in 2021 saw a lot of classic traditions, from small weddings in outdoor venues and grand cake cuttings to bouquet tosses and first dances. This year also saw new takes and twists on tradition with more unique venues, alternatives to the classic white wedding dress, and even inspiration from the Netflix hit, Bridgerton. When it came to flowers, warm tones like fall hues including pops of purple, deep burgundy, and rich orange outshined the seemingly popular white florals amongst lush greenery.
How Did COVID Impact Weddings?
Both couples and their guests were ready to celebrate their wedding with higher energy, enthusiasm, and even bigger budgets than before. While 30% of wedding guests inquired about health and safety precautions before sending their RSVP, many guests increased their investment in attending the wedding. In 2019, wedding guests spent an average of $430 on attire, travel, and gifts. This average increased in 2021 as 32% of guests increased their budget for attire, 24% of guests spent more on travel, and 37% of wedding guests gave a more expensive gift to the newlyweds.
What About the “Wedding Boom”?
If you haven’t heard much about the wedding boom, the 2021 wedding season was just the beginning, seeing approximately 1.93 million weddings. The impact of COVID on 2020 weddings resulted in 21% of 2020 wedding couples postponing their nuptials, 41.5% moving their date to 2021, and 7% canceling their wedding, leaving only 30.5% of couples who tied the knot in 2020. This year, 2022, we are expecting to see a total of 2.47 million weddings, which is the largest number of weddings in one year since 1984. While so many newly engaged couples help create this number, we can also attribute the dramatic increase to those who rescheduled their 2020 and 2021 weddings. The wedding boom will continue through 2023, which is already looking at 2.24 million weddings with an average price tag of $24,900.
How Will 2022 Weddings Compare?
In 2022, it is expected that the average wedding will continue to increase in price, slowly but surely, and reach approximately $24,300. Although micro weddings, small receptions, and socially distant ceremonies were the main trend and continue to be popular in 2022, not everyone has decided to cut back on their big day. As celebrations continue to grow back into what they once were, more inspiration from Bridgerton will influence style and decor, new traditions will be incorporated, and old traditions will continue to ebb and flow with the times. Greenery and muted tones will go head to head with bold pops of color and multi-colored florals, which will continue to increase in popularity for both weddings and events.
Whether you are planning a small or large wedding, fancy a Bridgerton theme or something modern or boho, prefer greenery or bold, colorful flowers, or want to create something truly unique and out-of-the-box, the trusted professionals here at Conklyn’s Weddings & Events are at your service.