The results are in. From surveys of more than 350 wedding businesses and 2,500+ engaged and recently married couples, Easy Weddings shares its 2022 Wedding Industry Report. The trends and projections point to an unprecedented year in weddings ahead as the industry finally bounces back from COVID.
From the largest surveys conducted in the Australian wedding industry, it’s clear that planning a wedding or running a wedding business during a pandemic has been frustrating, demotivating, and sometimes, heartbreaking. But, equally, it’s been uplifting to hear stories about flexibility, professionalism, compassion and understanding.
Looking ahead, the survey responses suggest many of the norms around weddings and wedding planning are being rewritten. Couples are either planning much further in advance to book suppliers in 2023 and beyond or are rushing to get married in a matter of weeks after experiencing long delays. Weekday weddings may be more commonplace and intimate, luxury weddings are likely to grow in popularity.
And of course, the sheer number of weddings will bring a new set of challenges to businesses and couples with our estimate being for 170,000 weddings in 2022 – about 45,000 more than usual. Many couples who wed during the past 18 months still intend to hold delayed celebrations with extended family and friends, making up for any COVID-compromises they had to make.
2022 ANNUAL WEDDING INDUSTRY REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
Impact of COVID-19 on Couples in 2021:
- 72% of couples reported that COVID increased stress and anxiety around wedding planning
- 48% had to postpone their wedding or delay setting a date altogether
- 18% had a small restricted ceremony and postponed a larger reception
- 44% were forced to reduce their guest numbers
- 37% live-streamed their ceremony
Impact of COVID-19 on Australian Wedding Businesses in 2021:
- Of the businesses who reported revenue being negatively impacted by COVID, the average response was a loss of -69%, with VIC and NSW contributing most to this result, at losses of 75% and 82% respectively.
- Just over half of businesses said even though they were struggling, they remained in operation.
- 46% of businesses were able to pivot either through diversification into other wedding-related categories or unrelated markets, or by innovating within their own category.
- One fifth of businesses operated as normal, while just under that closed temporarily.
- 6% reported that their business actually thrived during COVID, and 1% of businesses reported having to close permanently.
WEDDING INDUSTRY FORECAST 2022-2024
Projected Quantity of Weddings in Australia – 2022 and Beyond
After a devastating couple of years for the Australian wedding industry, with an anticipated decrease of almost 70,000 weddings due to restrictions and border closures, the future of the wedding industry in Australia looks promising.
Based on Easy Weddings booking data, vaccination progress, borders reopening, and wedding business optimism, 2022 and 2023 are set to be bumper years in weddings as couples are finally able to plan with confidence and walk down the aisle. Many couples who eloped or held micro-weddings during the pandemic will hold deferred wedding receptions in 2022. The trend continues in 2023 before tailing off slightly in 2024.
WHAT DOES THE REPORT COVER?
The Easy Weddings Annual Wedding Industry Report 2022 is the most comprehensive study of the wedding industry from both a couple and a wedding supplier point of view in Australia.
The report includes:
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- COVID-19 INDUSTRY IMPACT
- WEDDINGS IN AUSTRALIA
- THE AVERAGE AUSTRALIAN COUPLE
- WEDDING THEMES & STYLES
- THE WEDDING BUYING CYCLE
- WEDDING CATEGORY INSIGHTS & TRENDS
- DESTINATION WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS
