Who’s your target customer? Meet the couples planning weddings in 2025 and beyond

By:
Maddy Laurie
/
Updated on: October 24, 2024

Meet the average wedding couple for 2025 according to our Annual Wedding Industry Report. We surveyed thousands of couples nationwide to learn who they are, what matters to them, and what kind of weddings they’re planning–right down to the nitty-gritty details!

Photo: InStitchu
Photo: InStitchu

The average couple getting married in 2025 consists of a 32-year-old bride and a 33-year-old groom. For same-sex couples, these statistics shift slightly: for brides, the average age is 35, and for grooms in same-sex partnerships, the average age is 36.

If we look back to 2016, the average bride and groom were 28 and 29 respectively. So, why the shift? COVID-19, cultural shifts, and, more recently, the cost of living are impacting couples’ choices to delay marriage. Around a third of couples are waiting to marry so that they can save for their wedding.

So, how do you keep your wedding business ahead of the curve? By understanding exactly who you’re working with and what makes them tick. We’ve gathered insights from over 4,000 couples and 800 wedding businesses to give you a clear picture of the couples you’ll be catering to in the year ahead.

47Business OF weddings theCaravan And Tonic. Photographer: West Creative
Caravan And Tonic. Photographer: West Creative

Key Demographics You Need to Know

What is their journey to the altar?

Most of our surveyed couples met through dating apps (28%), followed by introductions from friends or family (21%). The majority (90%) are living together before marriage, a slight increase from previous years. While 91% of couples are getting married for the first time, this number has dropped by 1%. Additionally, 68% of couples aren’t parents yet, although this trend is gradually shifting, with a 3% decline in child-free couples.

What is their financial situation?

Money plays a huge role in how couples approach their weddings. Two in three couples get financial assistance from family, who fund 39% of the total wedding cost. The number of couples seeking financial support from family has grown 3% from last year.

A whopping 90% of couples are opting for cash in a wishing well instead of a traditional gift registry. This trend helps them offset some of the costs, while 9% of couples are also using honeymoon registries to chip away at those post-wedding expenses.

Photo: Veri Photography
Photo: Veri Photography

How are they budgeting?

Speaking of finances, the average wedding budget in Australia is $27,455. However, most couples exceed that by 28.6%. Couples are taking longer to save for their weddings, with the average engagement stretched from 22 months to 24. For three quarters of couples, one partner takes the lead on wedding planning, a 4% increase on last year’s result.

Sticking to the budget is a big stressor for 25% of couples, and what they spend can vary widely depending on where they are. This is followed by the stress of managing the guest list.

Curious to know how the average wedding cost differs across the country? We’ve got you sorted:

  • Victoria: $37,128
  • Tasmania: $28,427
  • ACT: $31,631
  • NSW: $38,566
  • South Australia: $31,018
  • Queensland: $30,408
  • Northern Territory: $25,150
  • Western Australia: $33,472
Photo: BLUSH Wedding Photography
Photo: BLUSH Wedding Photography

What is their wedding going to be like?

The average wedding includes 88 guests, slightly down from previous years, with couples inviting 28 fewer guests than they’d ideally like. Most weddings feature a wedding party of 8 or 10 people, though fewer couples are opting for a traditional bridesmaid and groomsmen setup (72%, down by 12%).

The most popular wedding themes are rustic (21%), romantic (20%), and modern/minimalist (20%). Whites and neutrals dominate the colour palettes, chosen by a third of couples, followed by greens at 17%.

Though 56% of couples still prefer an all-in-one reception and ceremony venue, there’s been a slight increase in couples choosing a separate ceremony venue. Outdoor garden venues are the most popular choice at 20%, followed by wineries at 14%, capitalising on Australia’s beautiful weather.

Multi-day celebrations are becoming a popular trend, with 43% of couples opting for extra festivities beyond the wedding day.

Interested in how wedding aesthetics and venue preferences change across states? Learn more in the full industry report.

How are they finding you?

Couples are now pulling wedding inspiration from all kinds of sources – from social media to Easy Weddings, Google, and good old-fashioned word of mouth. To get noticed and picked by these couples, it’s more important than ever for wedding businesses to have a strong, consistent presence across the most popular platforms. This includes your social media, your Easy Weddings storefront, and your own website, backed up by plenty of reviews and examples of your work. Since first impressions often happen online, being active where couples are looking is key to turning their search into a booking with you.

How can you connect with them?

So, how can you best reach these couples once they’ve shown interest? First, be quick. Couples expect a response within 48 hours, but 18% book with the first vendor who replies. Automated SMS responses for enquiries made via your social channels or website can give you a head start, impressing couples with your efficiency while you prepare a more detailed follow-up.

Photo: Hey Jack
Photo: Hey Jack FIlms

For more insights into the wedding industry and how you can connect with couples planning their wedding, check out our 2025 Australian Wedding Industry Report. It’s packed with the latest trends, giving you everything you need to engage couples in meaningful ways throughout their wedding journey.

To learn how your wedding venue or business can gain a competitive edge by partnering with Easy Weddings, submit an online enquiry form here, and we will be in touch.

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