In mid-2021, weddings came back like a tidal wave as a result of the COVID vaccine rollouts and state reopenings. Now, as we head into 2022, the wedding industry is booming. Planning your wedding this year will prove more challenging than ever before. The competition is fierce when sourcing venues and vendors, especially with COVID still hanging over people’s heads. There’s not only an increase in the number of weddings, but it’s coupled with labor and supply shortages that bring a new set of challenges. Venues, vendors, and wedding items like attire will be in massively high demand, and with demand outweighing supply, couples will need to get savvy with their planning. Read on for ways to make planning your wedding during a boom year possible.
6 Tips for Planning Your Wedding in 2022
It’s no secret that the wedding industry is booming. In 2021, U.S. wedding services reached nearly $58 billion in revenue. That number is set to increase in 2022, which means more couples will be getting married next year than any other year before it. If you’re planning your wedding during this wedding boom year, here are six tips you need to know and follow.
1. Make Prompt Decisions on Venues and Vendors
Neither will wait, including your wedding planner, and you need a wedding planner to help you navigate the planning process. Planning your wedding in 2022 looks different than any other year prior. Easy decisions suddenly need detailed consideration. Last-minute decisions now need months of planning. You need the help of wedding experts now more than ever, so reach out to your desired wedding planner before they are booked for the year.
2. Adjust Expectations for Your Wedding Budget
Everything, and I mean everything, costs more now. Supply chain issues and staff shortages have profoundly impacted the wedding industry. Global delays in supplies for florists, caterers, and other vendors, service industry labor shortages, and the honest-to-god truth of vendors increasing their prices after a year and a half of no work are very real. Couples can no longer expect things to cost what they used to, so adjusting your expectations and managing your wedding budget wisely is essential.
3. Be Flexible… Really Flexible
Flexibility is vital, especially when choosing your wedding event dates and venues. If you have a dream venue in mind, consider a weekday or Sunday wedding. You can also consider an off-season wedding. Most couples get married on a Saturday between June and September. Choosing a date outside of these popular times may prove successful in terms of solidifying the venue and vendors you want.
4. Be Mindful of Guest Communications
It’s imperative to be extra considerate and timely regarding the guest experience. Send out your Save the Dates early enough for guests to book travel and accommodations well in advance. Update your wedding website regularly, and include a field for guest email addresses, so you can keep them up to date on changes to your wedding that may affect their plans. When in doubt, over-communicate, so guests are well-informed and feel considered.
5. Consider Destination Wedding Venues Outside the U.S.
If you’ve ever dreamed of having a destination wedding, now may be the perfect time to make that dream a reality. International tourism has been hard hit by the pandemic, and many international destinations are offering incentives for groups. Consider Italy, Mexico, and the Caribbean, among others. Just be sure to take precautions with contracts, share travel information, and have your planner help you coordinate international vaccination requirements to share with your guests.
6. Don’t Forget COVID Still Exists
Although the vaccine is readily available and states have lessened their social-distancing and stay-at-home requirements, COVID is not gone. Planning your wedding in 2022 still means planning it in the midst of a pandemic, so consider whether a 250-person wedding is practical for you and your guests. Intimate weddings are not just a COVID phenomenon; they are a wedding trend that is here to stay. While a micro-wedding may not be your cup of tea, scaling down your wedding by adjusting your guest count to 100 or 150 might be a happy compromise. Make sure to create a safe environment that involves communicating clear COVID vaccine and testing requirements, having an outdoor wedding, serving individually-passed hor d’oeuvres, and more.
Planning Your Wedding with HauteFêtes in 2022
Planning your wedding during a wedding boom year is no easy task. However, even with these challenges, you can have the wedding of your dreams; it just takes a little extra care, consideration, flexibility, and planning. Let us help you choose the perfect venue, manage your wedding budget, and find the ideal vendors to design the wedding you’ve always wanted. It’s possible, and we’re here to make it happen. Contact us today to solidify your wedding date!