wedded                     bits

Use the latest wedding trends—from budget considerations to eco-friendly options—to assist you in your marketing and sales.

by Morgan Chilson


    Approximately 2.2 million weddings are on the calendar for this year in the United States, and, according to THE WEDDING REPORT, overall wedding budgets are being reduced in 2008. With flowers remaining one of the areas where many couples make budget cuts (see chart below), it’s important for you to become educated about all aspects of today’s nuptial ceremonies and receptions. Use the following information as you plan your wedding marketing strategies, and show your bridal clients that you are committed to satisfying their preferences.

green weddings
    While it’s chic to be environmentally conscious, many brides pick and choose the parts of their wedding on which to “go green.” Using recycled paper, serving organic foods and wines, and skipping the handouts are some of the popular ways to go green, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CATERING EXECUTIVES (NACE). The organization’s poll found that 37 percent of their caterers reported 20 percent of their customers were going green.
    But JEAN PICARD, master bridal consultant and California State Coordinator for the ASSOCIATION OF BRIDAL CONSULTANTS (ABC), says she’s surprised at the green trend as it relates to flowers. “I would have thought that by now that would have been much, much bigger, but it’s not,” she says. “It’s catching on a bit, but for the most part, they’re going for the look, and whether the flowers have pesticides or not is not relevant.”
    An area where green does work for brides is invitations because recycled paper is looking good, Ms. Picard says. Still, on almost every “hot wedding trends” list, going green makes the top 10.

dressing up
    Romantic dresses in floor-length and ankle-length styles are gracing bridal aisles this year, according to the top trends list compiled by YOUR WEDDING COMPANY, an online wedding products company. Strapless dresses are giving way to off-the-shoulder styles or unique necklines.
    The vintage look is making an elegant mark on weddings. That often means delicate fabrics like chiffon; layers of tulle; and embellishments like beaded straps, keyhole backs and lace sleeves, according to THE KNOT.
    While brides are going softly romantic, it’s becoming popular for grooms to eschew the formal tux and, instead, dress down in a suit, according to JOYCE SCARDINA BECKER on ABOUTWEDDINGS.COM and author of Countdown to your Perfect Wedding.
    Colors are all across the board, with brides choosing what they like rather than what is popular. They’re also trying to choose dresses for their attendants that can be worn again as party dresses.

	2008 ceremony and reception venues (United States)
	Church/Place of worship Banquet hall Garden/Park Residence Beach Hotel Country club Historical building Resort Lakefront Courthouse/Justice of   the peace Other Indoor versus Outdoor Indoor Outdoor   Ceremony 49% — 10% 8% 7% 6% 4% 4% 2% 2% 1% 7% 65% 35%   Est. Weddings 7% 33% 5% 10% 2% 14% 12% 5% 3% 2% — 7% 78% 22%

here comes the budget
    Economic concerns are taking a toll on wedding spending this year, with brides and grooms looking for a big bang for fewer bucks. “The theme for the next 18 months is going to be creative cost control,” says DAVID WOOD, president of the ASSOCIATION OF BRIDAL CONSULTANTS (ABC). “People are still getting married, people are still wildly enthusiastic, but for the next year and a half, the budget is going to be the top priority.”
    CHAR HEIN, the Colorado state coordinator for ABC, echoes those sentiments, explaining that even brides with high-end weddings are finding places to cut costs. She books many weddings at the five-star Broadmoor Hotel & Resort in Colorado Springs, where the base food and alcohol estimate for 150 guests is about $42,000.
    Couples are using creative cost-cutting options, such as holding the wedding on a day other than Saturday to get discounts, according to a survey by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CATERING EXECUTIVES (NACE). Fifty-two percent of respondents say they’re seeing weddings booked on Fridays and Sundays. In that same survey, 48 percent of catering executives say they’ve seen declines in spending on catering. In addition to cost consciousness on the part of bridal couples, Ms. Hein says some guests aren’t attending the weddings because of travel expenses.

Morgan Chilson is a business writer based in Topeka, Kan. Contact her at morgan@exactlywrite.net.

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