Wedding trends come and go, but new research from The Knot finds that across the world, couples are ready for big celebrations after two years of pandemic restrictions. The wedding planning website’s 2023 Global Wedding Report has just come out, based on a study of more than 25-thousand newlyweds in 15 countries.
The report reveals:
- In general, weddings peak when the weather is nicest, which is late summer in many European countries. In the U.S., October continues to be the most popular month for weddings.
- Couples in all 15 countries rely heavily on vendors, hiring an average of 10 pros for their event. Photographers are hired by 85% of couples, not just for the wedding day but for engagement shoots and post-wedding events, too.
- In North America and Europe, over 75% of couples live together before they get married.
- December is the most common month for couples to get engaged in many countries.
- Wedding planning timelines are longer in the U.S. and the U.K., where couples spend an average of 15 to 16 months planning.
- Many couples are using technology to help prepare for the wedding, in the U.S. more than half of couples video chatted with vendors.
- The U.S. has the highest average cost for weddings, at $30-thousand for an average of 117 guests.
- As for traditions and trends, 89% of U.S. couples had a first dance, 74% had a cake cutting, while only 37% had a bouquet toss.
- Across all 15 countries, 75% of couples took a honeymoon and/or a “minimoon.”
Source: The Knot