Carol Johnson, publisher of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons is bearish on the weddings category. She says that weddings are a recession-proof category. “In tough times people tend to bond together. Weddings unite households”. She said that the Kiplinger Report is predicting 100,000 more weddings this year. She commented that post-9/11 there was a surge in weddings. “People can say no to a vacation, but they will go on vacation if a family or friend invites them to a wedding.”
Among new trends, she said they are seeing a lot of “weddingmoons,” where people go away to get married and honeymoon, and then return and have a big party at home to save costs. She forecast the DR would continue to do well.
She highlights the fact that in these cost-conscious times people are looking more into destination weddings for cost savings. “Some weddings are free, guests pay for their meals, and people can spend more time with family and friends,” she stressed. She says that the benefit for the hotel is that they get customers for life.
She praised the DR for being an easy to get to destination, with many flights and attractive fares. “The DR is perceived as value for money. It is poised to prosper, for that matter how to get on the consumer short-list will be the issue,” she commented.
Wedding Report says that Americans will spend US$61.4 billion on weddings. But spending per wedding is down as people seek to cut costs. According to the report, while US$28,000 was spent on a wedding on average in 2007, in 2008 reflecting the economic troubles, wedding spending was down to US$21,000, a 24% decline. Nevertheless, the report says weddings will remain consistent through 2013. In 2009 weddings are forecast to increase to 2.2 million in the US, up from 2.21 in 2008. Growth for 2013 is forecast to reach 2.24 million.
Johnson says that since weddings are planned well in advance, the effects should not be felt yet. “The fact is that milestone occasions will take place, regardless of whether the economy is perceived to be good or bad,” she explains.