Wedding planners are the driving force behind this dynamic industry. They meticulously knit all the elements together and deliver an impeccable event to remember for a lifetime Right now, whether you’re planning a destination wedding at home or abroad, there are countless moving parts surrounding COVID-19—and what it means for your event is precisely how the planners are driving this industry to take you closer to your dream wedding.
At this point, it’s safe to say that any wedding in the near future will look different, whether it’s allowed to happen on a smaller scale now or as you’d dreamed later on. To help you understand how the future is looking from the eyes of planners, check out the below stats:
Global Wedding Industry Will Emerge, Bigger & Better
The market will nevertheless bounce back once the considerably restricted public life is relaxed and the economy heals eventually. Conveying the positive sentiments Kiran Mansharamani from Warq Events, Spain, says – “It’ll take time to go back to normalcy, to big and lavish events. But there will be extreme importance of personalization and attention to detail. Weddings might be smaller but will definitely be more personal and human.”
Micro Weddings Are The Future of 2021 Weddings
Now, there’s literally a pandemic in front of you, so, if you want to get married, you have to push through the barrier and find a way to gather your loved ones. Weddings at their heart are a celebration with your friends and family. With 43% of respondents saying that they are conducting weddings with a guest list of between 50-100, it’s safe to say that the weddings and celebrations aren’t going anywhere and the world will witness some never-seen-before decor and settings for micro weddings.
The Destiny Of Destination Weddings Is Bright
When will a destination wedding abroad be possible, you ask? It depends on the destination, but a good start is to begin researching how they’ve handled COVID-19 so far.
With vaccines rolling out in different parts of the world, the wedding market both local and international is gradually opening up. With 65% of respondents saying they have restarted local weddings, 44% of respondents confirmed that they have restarted hosting destination weddings.
2021 Witnessed A Rise In Weddings Compared To 2020
Compared to the pre-pandemic times, 40% of the respondents have received at least 1-10 inquiries in the year 2020-2021. In the current year, this number has gone to 40+.
“They have been in fits and bursts, the inquiries had been steady till October and they then slowed down till December 2020 then picked back up again after Christmas and have been steady since.” Tells Bernadette Garside, Director, The Perfect Wedding Company, Spain & Canary Islands.
“We received significantly more than 40+ inquiries in this period – but overall only 40-50% of the previous year.” Adds Christina Holt, Owner & Director, Wedding Concepts, South Africa.
Local Market Is On A Rise
Our research reveals that more than 50% of planners expect the domestic market to be the number one contributor to wedding recovery. But here’s a little secret: although the local dependability on the market has gone up in pandemic times, planners have not stopped doing destination weddings. 30% of planners have relied only on destination weddings in 2020.
It’s The Year Of Luxurious Intimacy
Sure the number of guests at a wedding has been reduced, but the budget for luxe weddings has gone up. Couples are looking to create a more intimate setting with large on luxe and opulence for a more immersive experience. Last year we all had to take a break and enjoy our time at home. We could all switch off, so we could encourage new ideas and our creativity more. This mainly affects the decoration. Large on luxe, small on the scale: more lavish detail, luxury look, over-the-top floral and decor with a smaller guest count.
“Catering as well, it has become one of the most important points in a wedding. Being able to compile a satisfactory catering with options for everyone: vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, for children, international, special allergies… Needless to say that rather than spending on a pre-set menu, appetizers, snacks and post-dinner snacks are on top of everyone’s minds.” Says Kiran Mansharamani, Warq Events, Business Development Manager, Spain.
“With the requests for 2021 and 2022, the budgets are larger overall.” Tells Brenda Babock, Owner, Brenda Babcock Celebrations, Italy.
“Live streaming for those that cannot make it into town for the wedding and food. Having a professional caterer provide a longer dinner experience is a must.” Adds Rebecca Grant, Owner, New Creations Wedding Planning, USA.
Group Size Will Be Smaller
Thanks to COVID-19, 60% of planners are now planning on downsizing their guest lists. While unfortunate, there’s also a silver lining. With more intimate celebrations, couples will have the ability to take advantage of dream venues and splurge on elevated menu options and design details.
“It depends on the mentality of the couples. Some of them aren’t cutting anything and some are cutting from all the mentioned stuff.” Says Reham Badr, Wedding Planner, Victoria’s Wedding, Egypt.
“I work in the luxury sector and people are open to spending more than before on everything.” Points Brenda Babcock, Owner, Brenda Babcock Celebrations, Italy.
“It appears that clients are inviting less and spending the same. They have more for all of the frills.” Adds Jennifer Johnson, Owner, Epic Presentations, St. Barthélemy.
“Group size, decor and frills for sure. Where we were previously looking into bands, clients are content with a DJ form of entertainment.” Points Celeste Potgieter, Senior Planner & Creator, Celeste Styled Events, South Africa.
Craving For That Human Touch
“For the first contact, it is very helpful and let’s be clear, time is precious for everyone. Working with international clientele makes it so much easier to have the first contact via Zoom, Teams or any other platform. However, there always has to be a personal interaction, on a second stage perhaps, but it’s basic for a satisfactory development of the event and a deeper connection with clients and vendors.” Says Kiran Mansharamani, Warq Events, Business Development Manager, Spain.
“Before the pandemic doing a virtual meeting was rare. As a destination planner now all meetings are virtual for the most part. Site inspections are happening but fewer of them. Clients are a lot more comfortable with virtual meetings now.” Adds Jennifer Johnson, Owner, Epic Presentations, St. Barthélemy.
85% Of Planner Have Ranked The Following As Top Criteria For Attending The Event:
- Number of attendees
- Safety Protocols & SOPs by the organizer
- Safety Protocols & SOPs by the destination where the event is held
Get Your Brand To An Online Marketplace
The numero uno factor that the planners have rated the most when it comes to sourcing their business in the current times is ‘online.’ No wonder online marketplaces play a crucial role in sourcing the business. When all your wedding needs starting from sourcing your planner to the venue to photographers to caterers from all around the world get fulfilled, you ought not to look anywhere else.
Planners Have Ranked UAE As The Topmost Destination In The Current Times To Tie The Knot
Picture Courtesy: @shadow.mena
With 60% of the population being vaccinated, coupled with fewer travel restrictions and uncompromised & strict sanitization factors, UAE has been ranked as the top country to host a destination wedding. Being right at the center of the world, it had witnessed some of the most intimate and luxurious weddings in 2020.
“It is going to be a slow comeback and will take some time for weddings to go back to pre-pandemic size as far as guest count. Our couples and their families have to be assured of the continued safety protocols but also given the confidence that with the majority of guests being vaccinated, celebrations can safely take place. It will not be long when our industry thrives and flourishes again as people have a short memory and are eager to celebrate love.” Beautifully sums up Nikki Khan, President of Xquisite Events, USA.
Feature Image Credit: @vincenzodascanio
