At this time last year, the Spring/Summer wedding season came to an abrupt halt, with brides postponing large events and instead opting for more intimate celebrations. Sales for weddings took a $23 billion hit, as micro weddings became the norm throughout 2020, and wedding industry professionals feared "postponement fatigue". There were over 1 million fewer weddings in 2020, than 2019.
But get ready for 2021! With the wider distribution of vaccines and states lifting venue restrictions daily, wedding season is getting a jumpstart this spring and summer. Industry experts predict that the number of weddings for 2021 will surpass 2019 and most of the increase will happen this summer and fall. Spending for weddings will return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024. Here's a look at the number of weddings by year from 2018-2024, from The Wedding Report:
As a side note, states are changing restrictions on a weekly basis, but according to Brides magazine, here are the latest CDC guidelines which should be followed:
Wedding guests, if vaccinated, can visit, unmasked and without social distancing, with other guests who are vaccinated.
Vaccinated guests can participate in indoor and outdoor activities and recreation without wearing a mask, "except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance."
Vaccinated guests can refrain from quarantine and testing following known exposure to COVID-19 if asymptomatic.
If you are inundated with wedding work now, expect this trend to grow exponentially from now until the end of the year. Consider 2021 the year you will be making up for lost time!
"Love may be blind, but marriage is a real eye-opener.”
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