Wedding Services Industry Report

Wedding Services in the US March 2013 1
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Tying the knot: Wedding-related activity will

rebound as postponed nuptials are planned
IBISWorld Industry Report NN006
Wedding Services in the US

March 2013
Agata Kaczanowska
2 About this Industry
18 International Trade
30 Key Statistics
Industry Definition
19 Business Locations
30 Industry Data
Main Activities
Similar Industries
21 Competitive Landscape
Additional Resources
21 Market Share Concentration
30 Annual Change
21 Key Success Factors
4 Industry at a Glance
30 Key Ratios
31 Jargon & Glossary
21 Cost Structure Benchmarks

23 Basis of Competition
5 Industry Performance
24 Barriers to Entry
Executive Summary
24 Industry Globalization
Key External Drivers
Current Performance
Industry Outlook
12 Industry Life Cycle
25 Major Companies
27 Operating Conditions
27 Capital Intensity
14 Products & Markets
28 Technology & Systems
14 Supply Chain
28 Revenue Volatility
14 Products & Services
29 Regulation & Policy
16 Demand Determinants
29 Industry Assistance
17 Major Markets
www.ibisworld.com | 1-800-330-3772 | info @ibisworld.com
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About this Industry

Industry Definition
This industry is composed of day-of

wedding service providers, apparel
retailers and venues. Wedding
coordinators are included because
Main Activities
The primary activities of this industry are
they have many responsibilities on the

day of the event. However, the
industry excludes pre-wedding and
honeymoon spending.
Wedding coordination
Ceremony and reception hosting
Wedding catering
Wedding apparel retailing
Wedding photography
Flower arranging
Jewelry design and retailing
Town car and limousine rental
Live or recorded music performance
Make-up application
The major products and services in this industry are

Accessories
Attire
Ceremony and reception venues
Coordinators
Flowers
Food and drink services
Photography
Other
Similar Industries
56192 Trade Show and Conference Planning in the US

Trade show and event planners organize, promote and manage events, such as business and trade shows,
conventions, conferences and meetings.
72232 Caterers in the US
This industry includes companies that provide single-event food services. Banquet halls with catering staff
are included in this industry.
81299b Personal Trainers & Wedding Planners in the US
This industry comprises establishments engaged in providing personal services in areas including wedding
and party planning and wedding chapels.
81311 Religious Organizations in the US
This industry includes churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, monasteries and other houses of worship
that are common locations for marriage ceremonies.
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About this Industry
Additional Resources
For additional information on this industry

www.cdc.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.nielsen.com
The Nielsen Company
www.theweddingreport.com
The Wedding Report
IBISWorld
writes over 700 US

industry reports, which are updated
up to four times a year. To see all
reports, go to www.ibisworld.com
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Wedding Services in the US March 2013
Industry at a Glance
Wedding Services in 2013
Key Statistics
Snapshot
Revenue
Annual Growth 08-13
Annual Growth 13-18
Profit
Wages
Businesses
$50.6bn -0.8%
2.3%
$23.0bn 501,798
$2.2bn
Consumer spending
Revenue vs. employment growth
Market Share
There are no
Major Players in
this industry
% change
% change
2
0
2
4
1
0
1
Year 05
07
Revenue
09
11
13
15
17
Year
19
07
09
11
13
15
17
19
Employment
SOURCE: WWW.IBISWORLD.COM
p. 25
Products and services segmentation (2013)
3.7%
5.1% Coordinators

Consumer spending
6.4%
Marriage rate
Flowers
25.6%
Accessories
Population
Number of college
students
9.1%
Attire
National
unemployment rate
13.5%
Photography
21.3%
Ceremony and
reception venues
p. 5
15.3%
Other
Industry Structure
Life Cycle Stage
SOURCE:
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SOURCE:
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Mature
Regulation Level
Light
Revenue Volatility
Low
Technology Change
Capital Intensity
Low
Barriers to Entry
Low
Industry Assistance
Low
Industry Globalization
Low
Concentration Level
Low
Competition Level
High
FOR ADDITIONAL STATISTICS AND TIME SERIES SEE THE APPENDIX ON PAGE 30
Medium
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Industry Performance
Executive Summary | Key External Drivers | Current Performance

Industry Outlook | Life Cycle Stage
Executive
Summary
Economic uncertainty and an increasing

acceptance of cohabitation caused a
significant proportion of couples to
postpone their nuptials over the past five
years, posing a challenge to the Wedding
Services industry. Unemployment
skyrocketed 60.3% in 2009, which
caused people to delay spending on
industry services. This resulted in a 5.8%
revenue decline in 2009. Meanwhile,
slowly changing social norms have
dragged down the marriage rate over the
past several decades, and in the five years
Higher
incomes and larger savings will allow

individuals to spend more on weddings
to 2013, it is expected to decline at an
annualized rate of 0.9%. During this
time, industry revenue is anticipated to
decrease at a 0.8% annualized rate to
$50.6 billion, including a 0.8% expected
rebound in 2013 thanks to rising
consumer spending.
Faster internet connections have
enabled industry operators to reach out
to potential clients at a lower cost in the
past five years. In addition, social
networking platform developments have
led to a shift in vendors marketing
strategies toward communicating a
Consumer spending
Consumer spending measures the total
amount of money Americans spend. An
increase in consumer spending indicates
that people will spend more on their
weddings and, thus, contributes to
industry revenue growth. Consumer
spending is expected to increase in 2013,
representing a potential opportunity for
the industry.
Marriage rate
Womens wages have increased,
unique vision to consumers. Less

expensive and more effective online
communication, however, has also
increased competition by enabling new
entrants to market to the same
demographics as established businesses.
Such improved marketing channels are
expected to drive enterprise growth at an
annualized rate of 3.6% to 501,798 firms
in the five years to 2013.
The marriage rate is forecast to
continue declining 0.9% annually on
average during the five years to 2018.
This, however, is not expected to
dramatically impact industry
performance. The amount spent on
weddings is estimated to grow during the
next five years as the demand for large,
costly weddings rises in response to
higher disposable income. A slow but
steady 3.0% annualized increase in
consumer spending is projected to
support revenue growth, as
unemployment falls about 5.0% annually
on average during the next five years. In
addition, as the average marriage age
and length of engagement further
increase, couples will have more time to
plan and save money for their
ceremonies. As a result, industry revenue
is projected to rise 2.3% annually on
average to $56.7 billion in the five years
to 2018.
decreasing womens financial dependence

on men. Also, the uncertainty in peoples
lives has increased because people
change their careers and locations more
than ever, decreasing their willingness to
make a long-term commitment. The
marriage rate dipped due to a delay in
nuptials that uncertainty and low
disposable income caused during the
Great Recession and then peaked in 2011.
The marriage rate is expected to
decreasein 2013, representing a potential
threat to the industry.
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Population
The expanding population contributes to
a relatively stable number of marriages in
the United States by partly offsetting the
rapidly declining marriage rate. However,
population growth has eased over the
long term because family sizes have
shrunk. A considerable portion of
population growth has occurred via
immigration. This also benefits the
industry because immigrants are more
likely to marry, slowing the decrease in
the marriage rate. This driver is expected
to increase in 2013.
Number of college students
The number of college students
represents the total enrollment (parttime and full-time, undergraduate and
graduate) of both public and private
universities. Although many people
delay marriage while in college, the
college-educated have the highest

marriage rates, according to Nielsen, an
audience research firm. As a result, a
higher number of college graduates is
forecast to boost the number of
marriages in future years. This driver is
expected to rise in 2013.
National unemployment rate
People who are unemployed are much
less likely to get married or spend a
considerable amount of money on a
wedding. The unemployment rate
measures the proportion of Americans
older than 16 years who are currently
unemployed and looking for work. This
measure does not account for individuals
who have given up on searching due to a
lack of opportunities; however, such
people are expected to reenter the job
market as job creation takes off. This
driver is expected to decline in 2013.
Population
Consumer spending
4
1.00
0.95
% change
% change

continued
1
0
0.85
0.80
Year
0.90
07
09
11
13
15
17
19
0.75
Year
06
08
10
12
14
16
18
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Current
Performance
High unemployment due to the Great

Recession led many couples to delay
their nuptials for financial reasons. The
bleak financial outlook caused a
simultaneous decline in consumer
spending and an influx of people
returning to school, creating a
temporary dip in demand for wedding
services; the marriage rate declined
4.2% in 2009. As a result, industry
revenue is expected to decline at a
five-year annualized 0.8% rate to $50.6
billion in 2013. Although the marriage
rate has returned to a slow decline after
peaking in 2011, consumer spending on
weddings has been rising as weddings
have become increasingly lavish. A

reversal in consumer spending and
unemployment are expected to support
growth in 2013, helping to push up
revenue 0.8%.
Industry profit is estimated to total
4.1% of revenue in 2013 due to a
rebound in demand and a rise in the
average amount spent on weddings. This
margin is up from 2008, when low
demand caused many businesses in the
industry to cut back on marketing and
wage expenditures. Price competition,
however, has limited profit growth as a
result of consumers bargain hunting
during the past five years.
Marriagestatistics*
Year
Marriagerate
(Units per capita)
Population
(Million people)
No.ofmarriages
(Millions)
(% change)
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0.0071
0.0068
0.0069
0.0071
0.0070
0.0068
304.1
307.0
309.6
312.3
314.9
317.6
2.16
2.09
2.17
2.21
2.20
2.16
-1.8
-3.2
3.8
1.8
-0.5
-1.8
*EstimatesbasedondatafromtheNationalCenterforHealthStatistics
SOURCE: IBISWORLD
Technology ups
competition,
specialization
Increasing participation in social

networks and online wedding service
websites are causing several changes
within the industrys fundamental
structure. Online social networks, such as
Facebook, enable vendors to place
affordable ads in front of a targeted
demographic, such as engaged women of
a certain age. The relative ease and
lowered cost of targeted marketing have
attracted new businesses to this industry,
despite a few consecutive years of
declining revenue. In the past five years,
the number of enterprises has increased
an estimated 3.6% annually on average to
501,798 in 2013. Therefore, service
providers face increasing price

competition in an industry where it is
difficult for consumers to distinguish
differences among services.
In response to increased competition,
vendors are transitioning their
promotional tactics toward niche markets
where customized and unique services
warrant higher prices. Also, social media
facilitates communication between
service providers and consumers,
enhancing the understanding and
information among all parties on a more
personal level. This increases consumers
propensity to spend while also allowing
vendors to offer discounted services.
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A big commitment
Shifting social norms are decreasing

peoples willingness to commit to
marriage, particularly at a young age.
Women are becoming more financially
independent, the need for some to get
married. Similarly, it is increasingly
acceptable for young people to stay single
longer, switch jobs and move. This shift
in perspective is leading couples to think
twice about commitment, prolong their
engagements or try cohabitation first to
make sure that they want to get married.
Also, over the past several decades,
weddings have become increasingly
Cutting back
The commercialization trend did

temporarily reverse during the Great
Recession when consumer spending
dropped 1.9% in 2009 because of high
unemployment and consumer
uncertainty. This decrease was more
pronounced for the primary
demographics of the Wedding Services
industry because consumers between the
ages of 20 and 29 had relatively lower
incomes and higher unemployment.
Although many couples decided to
postpone their nuptials, others worked
with their lower incomes by limiting their
budgets and asking their parents to pay
for more of the wedding.
The easiest way for couples to cut
back spending was to trim their guest
list, according to statistics from the
Knot. The Knots 2011 Real Weddings
Survey found that the average guest
count was 141, while the average number
of guests was 153 in 2007 (latest data
available). Other ways that couples
reduced costs included getting married
in the off-season or on a weekday,
because many vendors offer discounted
pricing during these times due to the
lower demand for their services.
One way for couples to reduce the
guest list and save money was by having
a destination wedding. Such marriages
commercialized. According to US Census

surveys, as people become less traditional
and less religious, they have begun placing
more emphasis on the extravagance of the
event. Bridal blogs and magazines often
emphasize the physical aspects of
weddings instead of the emotional
meaning behind them. According to the
latest survey from industry affiliate the
Knot, the cost of an average wedding
skyrocketed from less than $5,000 in
1980 to more than $27,000 in 2011 (latest
data available), creating another
disincentive to tie the knot.
During
the recession,
couples reduced guest lists
and planned destination
weddings to cut costs
occur at least 200 miles from the bride
and grooms primary residence, and
more than 80.0% of guests require
overnight accommodations. Many guests
choose not to attend such events because
of the higher cost of attendance, thus
greatly reducing the budget. Additionally,
couples can choose to get married in a
cheaper location than they reside in or
even in a foreign country where the
exchange rate stretches their budget. A
2005 industry survey by Fairchild, a
magazine publishing company, found
that the average destination wedding
reception was 41.0% of the cost of an
average reception. Based on the Knots
survey statistics and IBISWorld
estimates, about one-fourth of all
marriages in 2013 will be destination
weddings, compared with just 9.0% in
2007. The smaller guest lists and greater
number of destination weddings reduced
the demand for industry services over the
past five years.
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Do-it-yourself (DIY) weddings are a

trend that also helped sweep spending
away from the Wedding Services
industry. In 2008, DIY became popular
because it enabled couples to add a
personal touch to their nuptials while
saving money. While most couples plan
their own weddings, about one-third
hire professional planners. And many
even hire professionals to plan some of
the smallest of details, such as ambient
decor. Yet, according to the Knots
2008 Real Weddings Survey, 55.0% of
couples crafted their favors and
ceremony programs (latest data
available), and many also made their
own decorations. This trend not only
Industry
Outlook
During the Great Recession couples

found ways to spend less to weather the
storm, and they are anticipated to
continue their thriftier habits through
the next five years. Longer engagements
and lower living expenses through
cohabitation will enable couples to
continue spending less day to day, even
as employment recovers. With these
larger savings and a 3.0% five-year
annualized growth in consumer
spending, couples are expected to
demand more industry services through
2018. As a result, IBISWorld projects a
2.3% annualized increase in revenue to
$56.7 billion over the five years to 2018.
An influx of small businesses is
expected over the next five years
because of lowered barriers to entry
and positive business sentiment.
Because of such new business
formation, profit growth is expected to
be limited during this time. Higher
helped many couples cut spending on

certain services, but also created
external competition for vendors in
theindustry.
DIY also became popular as part of a
green movement to conserve resources
by using what was already available.
This included buying local and used
goods and using vendors that have
environmentally friendly business
practices. Similarly, many couples chose
to highlight such businesses as
preferred outlets in their registries or
even chose to donate to charities in
place of receiving gifts or favors. All of
these efforts helped consumers to curb
their wedding spending.
Industry revenue
4
2
% change
Do-it-yourself
0
2
4
6
Year 05
07
09
11
13
15
17
19
spending per consumer, however, will

help industry firms operate more
profitably by decreasing costs per sale.
Combined with savings from declining
wages and decreasing marketing costs,
profit is expected to expand to 4.3% of
revenue in 2018.
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An aging tradition
Structural unemployment is projected to

linger for the next few years, particularly
among the industrys main
demographic: consumers ages 16 to 25.
Additionally, unemployment will
continue to boost college enrollment
rates because people tend to return to
school when job prospects are limited.
In addition, people are less likely to get
married while still in school. Continually
growing social acceptance of
cohabitation will also lead many young
individuals to choose to delay their
wedding. These trends are forecast to
cause a more rapid decline in the
number of marriages to a five-year
annualized rate of 1.5%. As a result, just
2.1 million couples are estimated to say
their vows in 2018, compared with 2.2
million in 2013.
For decades people have delayed vows
to pursue their careers, yet this trend is
expected to help the industry in the next
five years. Countering the declining
number of marriages, consumers are
anticipated to save for longer than ever
prior to tying the knot. Although not all
savings will go toward their nuptials, this
move gives couples more time to build a
wedding fund. According to data from
the Knot, a prominent wedding resource,
Time is money
Consumers will benefit from the

economic recovery by gaining higherpaying employment. They are also
expected to be increasingly involved in
their careers, making the average couple
more time poor than in the past five
years. Consequently, the wedding
coordinators segment is forecast to
flourish. Also, because many people
delayed their weddings during the Great
Recession, couples parents are older on
average and likely less able to help out
physically. Demand for other
professional services that were easier
for couples to substitute or forego
the rate of cohabitation before marriage

is forecast to continue increasing at an
annualized rate of 1.7% over the next five
years, with about 75.0% of couples
already cohabiting before marriage in
2011 (latest data available). Couples are
better able to save for the big day by
consolidating rent payments and food
expenses through cohabitation.
Consequently, people ages 25 to 34 will
continue to grow as a share of industry
consumers, while younger couples will be
less likely to tie the knot. Consumers ages
25 to 34 will contribute greatly to
spending on wedding services and help
generate a 1.3% increase in industry
revenue growth in 2014.
Although parents historically
contributed more to weddings involving
couples from the youngest age group,
they are anticipated to shift to spending
more on older couples because getting
married later in life (older than 25) is
increasingly perceived as the norm.
Parents that pay for all or part of a
wedding are also more likely to invite
some of their friends to the event, which
further increases spending on food and
related services. As a result, the industry
will receive a boost from spending by the
previous generation.
The
wedding coordinators
segment is expected to
flourish as more people
return to work
because they were not perceived as
essential, such as live musicians, is also
expected to rebound.
The do-it-yourself trend will also grow,
though it will extend into more expensive
and personalized professional services.
For example, couples are already
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Time is money
continued
providing an array of desserts for their

guests. The trend will evolve from a
money-saving strategy to a creative
outlet as couples desire more elaborate,
customized desserts. Such increasing
discretionary spending on weddings will

attract new businesses. Consequently,
the number of enterprises is projected to
grow at a five-year annualized rate of
5.1% to 643,911 companies in 2018.
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Life Cycle Stage
The primary consumer base is contracting, but

expenditure per wedding is expected to rise
Adaptation to technology is expected to facilitate
enterprise growth and steeper competition
%Growthinshareofeconomy
Industry participants are refining their

products to appeal to consumers and
generate higher spending per customer
20
Maturity
QualityGrowth
Company
consolidation;
level of economic
importance stable
High growth in economic

importance; weaker companies
close down; developed
technology and markets
15
KeyFeaturesofaMatureIndustry
Revenue grows at same pace as economy
Company numbers stabilize; M&A stage
Established technology & processes
Total market acceptance of product & brand
Rationalization of low margin products & brands
10
QuantityGrowth
Many new companies;

minor growth in economic
importance; substantial
technology change
Caterers
Wine&SpiritsWholesaling
TradeShowandConferencePlanning
Jewelry&WatchWholesaling
WeddingServices
SoftDrink,BakedGoods&
OtherGroceryWholesaling
Decline
Shrinking economic
importance
10
10
10
15
20
%Growthinnumberofestablishments
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Industry Life Cycle

This
industry
is Mature
The Wedding Services industry is

mature because marriage will remain a
significant tradition in many Americans
lives. The average amount of money
spent per wedding is forecast to
increase during the 10 years to 2018 to
exceed a previous high of $27,882 in
2007, despite a steep drop in spending
during the recession.
The industrys contribution to the
economy, measured as industry value
added (IVA), is forecast to decline in the
10 years to 2018. IVA is projected to fall
as a result of decreased consumer
spending that coincided with a rise in
industry enterprises after the financial
meltdown. Gradual IVA growth from
2013 through 2018 will fail to make up
for the earlier drop. As IVA declines at
an annualized rate of 1.3% during the 10
years to 2018, GDP is forecast to grow

2.1% annually on average.
Barriers to entry are decreasing in
this industry because the effectiveness
of online technology has enabled
anyone to market to the same
demographics as established
businesses. Additionally, businesses
are not regulated, and initial
investment costs for many wedding
service providers are low. Because of
falling barriers to entry, enterprise
numbers are forecast to increase at a
5.1% annualized rate to 643,911
businesses during the 10 years to
2018. The increasing proportion of
smaller businesses, which tend to
make less revenue due to poor pricing
and marketing strategies, is also
keeping IVA low.
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Products & Markets
Supply Chain | Products & Services | Demand Determinants

Major Markets | International Trade | Business Locations
Supply Chain
KEY BUYING INDUSTRIES

81299b
Personal Trainers & Wedding Planners in the US

Wedding planners make arrangements on behalf of the bride and groom.
9901
Consumers in the US

Couples are the key drivers of demand for this industrys services.
KEY SELLING INDUSTRIES
Products & Services
42394
Jewelry & Watch Wholesaling in the US

This industry distributes jewelry to retailers who the bride or groom purchases it from.
42449
Soft Drink, Baked Goods & Other Grocery Wholesaling in the US
Wedding caterers purchase a majority of the food and non-alcoholic beverages they serve
from this industry.
42482
Wine & Spirits Wholesaling in the US

Wedding caterers purchase most alcoholic beverages from wine and spirits distributors.
42493
Flower & Nursery Stock Wholesaling in the US

This industry supplies florists with flowers.
44313
Camera Stores in the US

This industry sells camera and film to wedding photographers.
44612
Beauty, Cosmetics & Fragrance Stores in the US

Brides or make-up artists purchase many products from this industry to use on the day of the
wedding.
45291
Warehouse Clubs & Supercenters in the US

Many wedding vendors purchase miscellaneous items from such stores.
53211
Car Rental in the US

Some out of town vendors and wedding guests rent a car on the day of the wedding.
53212
Truck Rental in the US

Caterers and florists often rent or lease trucks to transport their products.
Products and services segmentation (2013)
6.4%
5.1% 3.7%
Flowers Coordinators
Accessories
25.6%
9.1%
Attire
13.5%
Photography
Total $50.6bn
21.3%
15.3%
Ceremony and
reception venues
Other
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Products & Markets
Products & Services

continued
Reception
The reception segment is expected to
make up 46.9% of wedding services
spending in 2013. Catering and other food
services are expected to be 25.6% of the
typical wedding budget while venue fees
will be about 21.3%. The line between food
services and venue is blurred in some
instances, contributing a heavier weight
toward the venue segment because some
venues, such as restaurants, also provide
food services. The venue segment
primarily includes hotels, country clubs,
restaurants and religious establishments.
Meanwhile, food service providers are
mostly caterers.
Due to high unemployment and
uncertainty, spending decreased over the
past five years. Many couples cut costs
through a combination of serving less
food or serving lower-quality food and
booking a smaller or less-expensive
venue. As a result, these segments
declined as a share of industry revenue
during this time. In 2011, however, the
trend reversed and spending on venues
began to gradually rebound. This
recovery is anticipated to continue into
2013 as disposable income increases, yet
it is not expected to balance out declines
from prior years.
Attire and accessories
The attire and accessories segment
includes all clothing items worn by the
wedding party, including shoes and
jewelry, but excludes make-up, hair and
nail services, which are counted in the
other segment. The attire and
accessories segment will generate about
15.5% of industry revenue in 2013. This
segment remained a consistent share of
revenue in the five years to 2013 because,
though spending on attire and
accessories declined, couples cut down
even more on other services.
The largest expenditure in the attire
segment is the bridal gown. Not only are
brides looking for deals in brick-andmortar stores, but also use online
networks to facilitate information
sharing about designers and stores. As a
result, brides are better able to easily
find and write reviews about bridal
boutiques based on pricing and
customer service. Such information
sharing has greatly compromised the
traditional monopolies that certain
bridal boutiques maintained, increasing
direct competition in the industry.
According to the Knot, the average
expenditure on a wedding gown dipped
from $1,317 in 2007 to $1,121 in 2011
(latest data available).
Details
The details segment is made up of
photographers, florists and coordinators,
and totals about 22.3% of industry
revenue in 2013. Over the past five years,
this segment has declined; many brides
turned to do-it-yourself flowers and
coordination or chose less comprehensive
packages with these vendors. This trend
is projected to reverse in the next five
years as discretionary spending picks up.
The photography segment has also
declined since 2008. This segment, which
includes videography, decreased because
photo and video sharing is now much
more prevalent thanks to social
networking sites, such as Facebook.
Consequently, photos and videos from
friends and family can fill in gaps that
photographers or videographers miss,
decreasing the importance of professional
services to commemorate the event. Prior
to the recession, however, the amount
spent on photography per wedding
increased markedly as consumers
demanded more professional coverage of
their event. According to the Knots Real
Weddings Survey the average couple
spent $2,299 on photography and
videography services in 2011 compared
with $2,651 in 2007.
WWW.IBISWORLD.COM
Products & Markets
Products & Services

continued
Other
The other segment consists of a variety of
services, which will generate about 15.4%
of industry revenue in 2013. Services
include entertainment, transportation,
beauty services, favors and decor (other
than flowers and printed items) like place
cards, menus, ceremony programs and
guest books. The most significant portion
of this expenditure is on entertainment,
which includes professional musicians,
DJs and dancers. This segment is
projected to expand in the next five years
as couples save and spend more money
on such elements.
However, spending on entertainment

and other services declined over the past
five years. Many brides asked friends to
fill in or did it themselves. Do-it-yourself
is a significant trend that appeals to
brides because it makes weddings more
personalized and was strengthened by its
low-budget appeal when consumer
spending dropped off in 2009.
Additionally, many venues have sound
systems that are compatible with mobile
music players, like the iPod, and provide
an easy way for guests to control wedding
playlists. This allows couples an easy and
cheap alternative to live music or a DJ.
Demand
Determinants
The demand for the services supplied by

this industry is determined by the
marriage rate and by couples budgets,
which are a portion of consumer
spending. High consumer spending
increases the likelihood of people setting
higher budgets for elements such as
entertainment like live musical
performances. According to the Knots
2010 Real Weddings Survey (most recent
data available), the money spent per
guest remained steady at $194 and the
average number of guests was 141 in 2010
compared with 149 in 2009 and 2008
when more survey respondents admitted
that they had trimmed their budget for
economic reasons. Couples often
decreased their budget by inviting fewer
guests to their wedding. This tactic
automatically drops per-person costs
such as food, furniture rental, menus and
favors. Prior to the Great Recession, the
Knots 2007 Survey found that the
average number of guests was 153. In
conclusion of these findings, the trend
toward smaller weddings could be to
create a more intimate feel for guests as
well as a cost-cutting measure.
Another factor that influences
wedding budgets is demographics. The
marriage rate is gradually decreasing,

and dipped further in 2009 when people
pushed weddings back due to uncertain
economic conditions including high
unemployment. Additionally, the
average age for getting married is
steadily increasing, as is the number of
couples living together prior to
matrimony. As a result, the average
couple now has higher disposable
income and has the means to pay more
for services than the average couple five
years ago. However, many people delay
marriage because of other priorities,
such as careers, and do not want to
spend as much on a wedding.
Other factors can also determine
demand for wedding services, such as
brand recognition, changes in fashion
trends and seasonal weather conditions.
Many couples purchasing patterns are
guided by their perception of certain
brands. As such, demand for highly
ranked brands is greater among
consumers with higher incomes and
more discretionary spending power.
Style trends also guide purchase
patterns. For example, there has been a
trend toward elaborate, multicultural
ceremonies, which has contributed to
WWW.IBISWORLD.COM
Products & Markets
Demand
Determinants
continued
Major Markets
increasing revenue for certain vendors.

On the other hand certain services vary
according to seasonal and weather
conditions. To this point, space heater

and tent rentals will likely rise during
unusually cold or wet months.
Major market segmentation (2013)
8.3%
2.3%
Consumers
Consumers
aged 35 to 39 aged 15 to 19
33.2%
9.7%
Consumers
aged over 39
Consumers aged
25 to 29
22.4%
Consumers
aged 30 to 34
Total $50.6bn
Consumers between the ages of 25 and
29 are the largest market for the Wedding
Services industry, accounting for 33.2%
of total revenue. Many members of this
age group have met the right person and
decide that they are ready to make the
commitment. The second-largest market
consists of people ages of 20 and 24,
which represents about 24.2% of
revenue. These two age groups are the
highest spenders in the industry because
they are most likely to have parents pitch
in and pay for all or part of their wedding.
However, the average age for couples
getting married has increased over the
past five years and, therefore, the
segmentation for this industry is also
shifting toward older consumers.
Consumers between the ages of 30
and 34 are estimated to account for
22.4% of the market. This demographic
group accounts for a lower share of the
market as they often have different
priorities than marriage, and a higher
proportion of this demographic is
already married. However, this figure is
24.1%
Consumers aged
20 to 24
forecast to increase over the next five

years because consumers 25 to 29 years
old may have delayed their vows due to
unemployment or uncertainty during the
recession or simply other priorities and,
therefore, entered this category.
Consumers over 34 are also much less
likely to get married or have a big
wedding due to different priorities and
other responsibilities (such as children)
that often prevent high spending.
According to The Knots 2010 Real
Weddings Survey, a business heavily
involved in the industry, the average
brides age is 29 and the average grooms
age is 31. The study also found that the
average length of an engagement is 14
months, giving couples time to organize
their big day. Also, 74.0% of couples
surveyed lived together before their
nuptials, compared with 70.0% of
couples in 2008 (latest data available).
This may be to save money for the
wedding, but relaxing societal norms
with regards to cohabitation also play a
role in the increase.
WWW.IBISWORLD.COM
Products & Markets
International Trade
Although some wedding services vendors

may travel to provide their services
abroad, this is not a significant segment
of the industry.
WWW.IBISWORLD.COM
Products & Markets

Business Locations 2013
West
New
England
AK
0.3
Great
Lakes
WA
ND
MT
1.9
Rocky
Mountains
ID
OR
1.2
West NV
5.3
1.3
SD
0.3
WY
0.7
MN
0.2
0.3
Plains
1.0
UT
CO
1.1
1.9
0.9
3.2
KY
10.4
OK
1.2
AZ
NM
1.6
0.5
Southwest
TX
8.6
HI
1.2
AdditionalStates(as marked on map)

1 VT
2 NH
3 MA
4 RI
5 CT
6 NJ
7 DE
8 MD
0.3
1.0
0.4
2.1
1.5
0.2
NC
3.0
SC
Southeast
MS
AL
1.9
1.6
GA
3.0
0.7
LA
1.5
FL
6.7
PercentageofMarriages(%)
0.3
1.6
1.5
0.6
TN
AR
WV VA
2.7
2.5
CA
West
OH
1.6
MO
KS
1.6
2.4
3.2
IN
3.4
0.6
PA
2.5
IL
0.5
1 2
3
NY
5.9
5 4
MI
1.4
IA
NE
0.2
WI
ME
MidAtlantic
9 DC
0.1
Lessthan3%
3%tolessthan10%
10%tolessthan20%
20%ormore
WWW.IBISWORLD.COM
Products & Markets
Marriages vs. population

30
20
10
Southwest
Southeast
Rocky Mountains
Plains
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Great Lakes
0
West
Most weddings, with the exception of

destination weddings, occur close to
home for the bride or groom.
Consequently, establishments in this
industry are spread similarly to the US
population. There are also a few
underlying trends that affect the
marriage rate in each state. For
instance, states with a higher
population in the primary demographic
for matrimony are host to the most
weddings per capita. On the other
hand, people in urban centers are less
traditional and more mobile, resulting
in fewer marriages per capita in
high-density areas.
IBISWorld estimates that about one
in four couples will have a destination
wedding in 2013. This represents an
increase from 2008, driven by a decline
in consumer spending. Destination
weddings are usually smaller and,
therefore, cheaper despite the associated
travel costs. Indeed, Las Vegas is the top
spot for people to elope, and Nevada has
the highest proportion of marriages in
relation to the population. Nevada hosts
5.3% of all nuptials in the United States,
while its population is only 0.9% of the
US total population. The top US states
Business Locations
Marriages
Population
for destination weddings are Nevada,

Florida and California, followed by New
York and Hawaii. As a result, the
Southeast and West regions have the
greatest proportion of marriages to
theirrespective populations. This
category is expected to decline slightly
in popularity this year as consumer
spending increases.
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21
Competitive Landscape
Market Share Concentration | Key Success Factors | Cost Structure Benchmarks

Basis of Competition | Barriers to Entry | Industry Globalization
Market Share
Concentration
Level
Concentration
in
this industry is Low
Key Success Factors

IBISWorld
identifies
250 Key Success
Factors for a
business. The most
important for this
industry are:
There are no identifiable major players in

this industry and the top four players
account for less than 10.0% of industry
revenue. The Wedding Services industry
is so fragmented because it is composed
of a wide variety of highly specialized
vendors, including florists, venue
providers and bridal gown retailers.
There are some venues that offer
wedding packages with a majority of
services included. However, most of these
venues have only one location and still
outsource to small businesses for these
services. Many of these venues are
located in Las Vegas, which is known for

eloping or where some couples decide to
have a spur of the moment ceremony. For
instance, Mandalay Bay offers several all
inclusive vows and reception packages
and they need just 24 hours notice. Other
venues offer marriage ceremonies
quicker than this, such as The Little
White Wedding Chapel that even offers
drive through ceremonies, because there
is no waiting period in Nevada after
receiving a marriage license. This law is
unique to the state, making the business
model impossible to replicate elsewhere.
Provide services to high

income individuals
Wedding services providers with an
exclusive, high-quality image are best
able to attract high-income individuals
that spend more on weddings.
able to meet different expectations for

each client.
Having a good reputation

Many wedding services providers rely on
word-of-mouth references to generate
their business.
Ability to vary services to
suit different needs
Wedding services providers must be
flexible to accommodate a variety of
client requests. They must also be
Cost Structure
Benchmarks
This industry is composed of a variety

of service providers. As a result,
individual cost structures vary from
this aggregated analysis.
Profit
Industry profit (i.e. earnings before
interest and taxes) is expected to increase
in 2013 to 4.3% of revenue, compared
with a low of 3.6% in 2008. The profit
increase will stem from a higher number
of weddings occurring this year as
Having a good technical

knowledge of the product
Wedding services providers must be
able to explain and deliver their
services to potential clients in a
variety of situations.
Willingness to outsource
when appropriate
The most successful wedding vendors
recognize the limitations of their
business and outsource if necessary,
ensuring that they provide a certain level
of services to every client.
postrecession disposable incomes

recover. Profit is expected to continue to
rebound in the next five years as industry
operators diversify and customize their
services to appeal to niche markets.
The industry segment that has had the
highest average profit from weddings is
venues. Venues have fixed maintenance
costs regardless of whether or not their
space is fully used. Also, they kept more
of their profit because real-estate values
declined, which led to lower property
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22
taxes. Meanwhile, florists and

photographers have some of the lowest
profit because their work involves high
expenditures in terms of purchases and
time spent performing services.
Wages
Wages are a significant, though declining
segment of revenue. They are anticipated
to absorb 45.4% of revenue in 2013.
Because many companies have let go of
employees since 2008, many were just
beginning to rehire workers in 2012.
Also, some workers created their own
businesses when they were let go and had
to pay themselves less as a result. Laborintensive industry segments, including
food services and coordinators, pay the
highest proportion of wages.
Purchases
Industry purchases are expected to total
32.8% of 2013 revenue. Vendors must
purchase items such as food, beverages,

flowers or gowns as part of their basic
services. Many of these costs fluctuated
in the past five years, variously
impacting different service providers.
For example, changing weather patterns
inflated flower prices and increased the
proportion of purchases for florists. On
the other hand, new venues were
cheaper to buy or refurbish after the
mortgage crisis due to an oversupply of
developed property and construction
workers. Because of the diversity of
expenses within this industry purchases
are estimated to stay a steady share of
industry revenue.
Other
Other expenses have also fluctuated over
the past five years. These include rent,
utilities, depreciation, and marketing
and administrative expenses. In general,
rent declined as a share of revenue as a
Sectorvs.IndustryCosts
Percentage of revenue
Cost Structure
Benchmarks
continued
AverageCostsof
allIndustriesin
sector(2013)
IndustryCosts
(2013)
100
4.3
4.3
80
34.7
45.4
60
Profit
Wages
Purchases
Depreciation
Marketing
Rent&Utilities
Other
22.7
40
2.1 2.1
8.5
20
25.7
0
32.8
2.6
4.7
5.8
4.4
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23
Cost Structure
Benchmarks
continued
result of lower property values after the

mortgage crisis. On the other hand utility
costs increased as a result of higher
energy prices. Marketing costs

contracted thanks to increasingly
effective targeting.
Basis of Competition
The Wedding Services industry has

traditionally been made up of many
small players that provide specific
goods or services, such as a couple of
designers dresses or flower arranging
for a local community.
many new operators are starting

businesses in the industry. As the
number of vendors rises, competition
intensifies. The fast-growing destination
weddings segment is also relying on
these technologies as couples
increasingly book services from online
information. The large amount of
information about vendors allows
couples to better judge the quality and
price of many services, and to choose
one to their liking. As a result of these
new technologies, wedding service
providers are increasingly competing
based on marketing.
Level & Trend

ompetition
C
in
this industry is
High and the trend
is Increasing
Internal competition
Wedding service providers are competing
with each other in terms of quality, price,
customer service and marketing. Because
services make up the majority of industry
revenue, the primary basis of
competition is customer service. No
matter how couples find a business, it is
imperative for the representatives to be
friendly and informative in order to book
that wedding. Yet customer service only
goes so far because the price and
(perceived) quality of vendors goods and
services determines their appeal to
brides. Many vendors choose to provide a
wide range of quality and pricing options
in order to expand their consumer base.
Technology has drastically increased
the competition between businesses in
the industry over the past five years.
Social media, blogs, online directories
and search engines have facilitated
couples research about wedding
vendors. It also allows word of mouth to
travel further and faster than it used to.
Easier communication between vendors
and potential clients has also facilitated
the availability of information. In
response to this market opening up,
External competition
Because most operators in this industry
generate a majority of revenue outside of
the industry, external competition is
limited. However, the Great Recessions
negative financial impact caused many
couples to reconsider their spending.
Many concluded that they could provide
themselves with services or products for
their own wedding, and many also asked
friends and family to pitch in and help
out. This do-it-yourself (DIY) trend took
off and became a popular way for
couples to save, but also to personalize
their weddings. As consumer spending
revives, the influence of consumer
competition on the industry is projected
to decline; however, the DIY segment
will continue as a way for people to
customize their weddings.
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24
Barriers to Entry
Level & Trend
arriers to Entry
B
in this industry are

Low and Decreasing
Industry
Globalization
Level & Trend
lobalization
G
in
this industry is
Low and the trend
is Decreasing
Barriers to entry have declined

drastically in the past five years with
the advent of cheap targeted marketing
options online like Facebook. While
vendors used to rely on expensive
advertising local and nationwide
magazines in order to attract clients,
they now have a plethora of cheaper
options to use. The decreased cost of
reaching the consumer has allowed
many small businesses to enter into
the industry.
Existing vendors still benefit from
reviews and word-of-mouth
recommendations. However the wide
variety of services and markets makes it
possible for new operators to start out,
albeit with a much smaller consumer
base. The effectiveness of online
communications has lowered barriers
to entry by enabling anyone to market
to the same demographics as
established businesses.
Start-up costs have also decreased in
the past five years for many businesses.
The mortgage crisis resulted in lower
rates for real estate, making it cheaper to
buy or lease a venue or office.
Meanwhile, technological advances and
lower consumer spending led to
decreased prices of equipment such as
computers and digital cameras. Another
factor that decreased start-up costs was a
high unemployment rate. This decreased
the opportunity cost for many new
This industry has a low level of foreign

ownership and no trade. Wedding
services providers typically operate on a
local level, rarely even travelling within a
region or nationwide. The internet has
enabled some couples to seek out foreign
products for their wedding, such as
offshoring custom gown production or
BarrierstoEntrychecklist
Competition
Concentration
Life Cycle Stage
Capital Intensity
Technology Change
Regulation & Policy
Industry Assistance
Level
High
Low
Mature
Low
Medium
Light
Low
vendors who started out in the industry

when they became unemployed, as
opposed to foregoing a steady income to
create their wedding services business.
In some instances, larger vendors
benefit from economies of size and
scope. For example, Davids Bridal teams
up with designers such as Vera Wang but
mass produces dresses to sell in its over
300 locations nationwide. Many smaller
dress shops cannot compete with the
scope and pricing of Davids products.
However, Davids lacks the quality and
customer service aspect of the wedding
business and, therefore, appeals mainly
to brides with a low budget. As a result,
many smaller bridal gown vendors
project an exclusive image to avoid direct
competition with Davids. Many small
operators in the industry benefit not only
from their ability to offer a wider range
of goods but also from their personalized
customer service.
purchasing jewelry from foreign e-tailers.

However, this remains a minimal
component of the industry. Besides the
geographical barrier, there are also
cultural barriers to globalization for this
industry. Many cultures have diverse
wedding traditions that are best
addressed by local professionals.
WWW.IBISWORLD.COM
Major Companies
There are no Major Players in this industry | Other Companies
Other Companies
The Walt Disney Company
Estimated market share: 1.4%

The Walt Disney Company is an
international conglomerate best known
for its early cartoon characters, movies
and amusement parks. The company
was founded in 1923, and IBISWorld
estimates that US operations generate
about 92.0% of total company revenue.
Disneys main revenue stems from a few
segments, including media networks,
parks and resorts, studio entertainment,
consumer products and interactive
media. These various segments work in
conjunction with each other; for
example, its parks, resorts and consumer
products all contribute to Disneys
weddings services.
The company stated in 2010 that over
1,000 couples married each year at Walt
Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort
and aboard Disney Cruise Line. However,
Disney claims to have hosted about
40,000 weddings since September 1991,
which totals to about 2,000 weddings
each year on average through 2011. This
discrepancy between the figures indicates
that the number of Disney weddings
declined in recent years, most likely as a
result of the decrease in disposable
income and a lower marriage rate.
Nonetheless, IBISWorld expects over
1,000 Disney weddings in 2013 as
disposable income improves and wedding
expenditures rise.
As a venue, Disney earns $20,000
for the average wedding it hosts for 50
people. Most of the ceremonies held
at Disney are considered destination
weddings. However, the company
does not segment out weddingspecific revenue.
Davids Bridal
Estimated market share: 1.0%

Known as the Walmart of weddings,
Davids Bridal is the largest national
retailer specializing in bridal gowns. With
more than 300 stores nationwide, the

company also sells costume jewelry,
bridesmaid dresses, communion dresses,
flower girl dresses, prom dresses,
wedding gifts, wedding books, gloves,
handbags, headpieces, shoes and
undergarments. It also operated 19
higher-end stores under the Priscilla of
Boston brand name before discontinuing
it in late 2011.
Davids distinguishes itself from other
bridal shops by offering low-priced
gowns and bridesmaid dresses in many
styles and locations throughout the
country. To this point, the retailers
average dress costs about $550, while the
national average cost for wedding gowns
amounts to $1,075, according to Conde
Nast Bridal Groups Brides magazine.
Manufacturing dresses in-house has
enabled the low costs; the company
produces its own dresses in Asia, where it
can take advantage of low labor and
overhead costs.
Formerly a division of Federated
Department Stores (now Macys Inc.),
Davids Bridal was sold in late 2006 to
private equity firm Leonard Green &
Partners. Since this buyout, the company
does not disclose its financial information
to the public. In 2013, IBISWorld
estimates Davids Bridal will generate
about $506.3 million through its retail
sales, accounting for about 1.0% of the
industrys revenue.
The Pros Entertainment Service Inc.

Estimated market share: Less than 1.0%
Headquartered in Clearwater, FL, the
Pros Entertainment Service Inc. is a
large and diverse business. It offers
DJ, video and photography services in
40 of the largest US markets. Over half
of its estimated $3.0 million in
revenue is expected to contribute to
the Wedding Services industry.
However, Pros has operated for over
30 years as a family business. As a
WWW.IBISWORLD.COM
Major Companies
Other Companies
continued
result, there is little publicly available

information about the company.
In the past five years, the company has
developed a bridal website and hired
higher-quality professionals. The
company operates proprietary design and

video studios and a photography lab. This
in-house strategy has contributed to the
companys success by enhancing
production flexibility and creativity.
WWW.IBISWORLD.COM
Operating Conditions
Capital Intensity | Technology & Systems | Revenue Volatility

Regulation & Policy | Industry Assistance
Capital Intensity
Level
The level
of capital
intensity is Low
The Wedding Services industry depends

on labor to accommodate consumers.
Labor expenditures are high because
businesses in this industry compete
primarily on the basis of customer
service. As a result, vendors spend an
average of only $0.06 on capital for every
dollar they spend on labor.
Most capital costs are related to
equipment or buildings that have an
extended useful life. Also, many industry
operators have minimal capital costs
because of the nature of their services.
For example, officiants incur little to no
capital expenses.
Capital intensity
Capital units per labor unit

0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
Economy
Other Services
(except Public
Administration)
Wedding
Services
Dotted line shows a high level of capital intensity

ToolsoftheTrade:GrowthStrategiesforSuccess
InvestmentEconomy
Recreation,PersonalServices,
HealthandEducation. Firms
benefit from personal wealth so
stable macroeconomic conditions
are imperative. Brand awareness
and niche labor skills are key to
product differentiation.
Information,Communications,
Mining,FinanceandReal
Estate.To increase revenue
firms need superior debt
management, a stable
macroeconomic environment
and a sound investment plan.
Caterers
TraditionalServiceEconomy
WholesaleandRetail. Reliant
on labor rather than capital to
sell goods. Functions cannot
be outsourced therefore firms
must use new technology
or improve staff training to
increase revenue growth.
Wine&Spirits
Wholesaling
Jewelry&WatchWholesaling
TradeShowandConferencePlanning
SoftDrink,BakedGoods&
OtherGroceryWholesaling
CapitalIntensive
LaborIntensive
NewAgeEconomy
Wedding
Services
ChangeinShareoftheEconomy
OldEconomy
AgricultureandManufacturing.
Traded goods can be produced
using cheap labor abroad.
To expand firms must merge
or acquire others to exploit
economies of scale, or specialize
in niche, high-value products.
WWW.IBISWORLD.COM
Technology
& Systems
Level
The level
of
Technology Change
is Medium
Revenue Volatility
Level
The level
of
Volatility is Low
The software, machinery, equipment and

intellectual property of most wedding
services professionals have not changed
greatly during the past few decades.
Venues and clothing retailers are much
the same, as is the job of caterers, florists,
entertainers, hair, nails and make-up
artists, and coordinators.
However, an abundance of online
resources for consumers has boosted the
competition between vendors. Likewise,
the internet has facilitated price hunting
and customization. Online services such
as The Knot or Wedcharm share
information from and about wedding
vendors, making it easier for consumers
to learn about the variety of options
available to them. More intense
competition, in turn encourages vendors
to set themselves apart by catering to a
niche audience, or offering discounts or
unique services. As a result, many
vendors are transitioning their
marketing strategies toward
communicating a unique vision to
clients through social networking,
blogging and wedding websites.
Effective online communications have
also lowered the barriers to entry for
wedding services providers by enabling
anyone to market to the same
demographics as established businesses.
One segment of the industry that has
benefited greatly from technological
change is the Photography segment.
Digital photography has revolutionized
wedding photography businesses. Digital
technology also allows photographers to
easily edit and touch up images without

the need for studio technology or manual
airbrushing. Programs such as Adobe
Photoshop make these editing
capabilities commercially available. Such
advancements and other features, such as
online album design, have enabled
photographers to provide more add-on
services. As a result, photographers now
deliver more personalized, unique
products to clients, increasing their
revenue per wedding and their share of
the industry. This change has also
benefited other vendors because
photographers often provide the pictures
or videos they then use for marketing.
As technologies are adapted by an
increasing segment of the population,
they are expected to further change the
landscape of the Wedding Services
industry. For instance, mobile
applications have the potential to alter
how couples approach wedding planning.
Another example of technological
changeis that some people choose to
hook up an iPhone to their venues sound
system and have a friend control the
music instead of a professional DJ. Yet
prior to iPhones, other media like MP3
players, CDs or tapes could be utilized.
Therefore, if not driven by high-quality
and easily accessible music selections
today, the trend may be driven by
couples minimizing expenses in the
aftermath of the Great Recession.
Nonetheless, easy-to-use and newly
emerging technology is influencing the
industrys performance.
Historically, volatility was lower as

revenue gradually grew. However, the
commercialization of weddings increased
the industrys dependence on consumer
spending. This industrys revenue
volatility increased modestly in the past
five years due to the high unemployment

and economic uncertainty that led
couples to spend less on or postpone
their nuptials. For instance, revenue
rebounded 1.0% in 2012 yet dropped
5.8% in 2009. The gradual economic
WWW.IBISWORLD.COM
recovery has smoothed industry volatility

as industry revenue returned to slow
growth starting in 2011. The current dip
A higher level of revenue
volatility implies greater
industry risk. Volatility can
negatively affect long-term
strategic decisions, such as
the time frame for capital
investment.
When a firm makes poor
investment decisions it
may face underutilized
capacity if demand
suddenly falls, or capacity
constraints if it rises
quickly.
is projected to result in growth during the

next few years while spending returns to
pre-recessionary levels.
VolatilityvsGrowth
1000
Revenuevolatility*(%)
Revenue Volatility
continued
Hazardous
Rollercoaster
100
10
WeddingServices
1
0.1
Stagnant
30
10
BlueChip
10
30
50
70
Fiveyearannualizedrevenuegrowth(%)
* Axis is in logarithmic scale
Regulation & Policy

Level & Trend
he level of
T
Regulation is
Light and the
trend is Steady
Industry Assistance
Level & Trend
he level of
T
Industry Assistance
is Low and the
trend is Steady
Government regulation
Although each state regulates marriage,
there are no other regulations that
apply specifically to wedding service
providers. Most state laws dictate that
officiants must be registered in the
state, or have state approval by holding
a recognized position in the community
like that of a judge, priest or rabbi, in
order to perform a legal ceremony.
The county or court clerk issues a
marriage license for a nominal fee in
the state that the ceremony is
performed in. Some states have a
Although there are online services and

bridal fairs that help vendors to advertise,
there is no organization that supports
operators across the scope of the industry.
specified waiting period, usually of a

few days, before the license is issued.
This hampers the establishment of
quick-wedding establishments in
these states. A ceremony performed
elsewhere, even abroad, is usually
valid in any state as long as the
marriage was legal in the jurisdiction
where it occurred. Also, most states
require that both bride and groom are
18 or older. In most states minors are
permitted to marry with parental
approval, and court approval is
increasingly required as well.
WWW.IBISWORLD.COM
Key Statistics
Industry Data
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Sector Rank
Economy Rank
Industry
Value Added
($m)
34,143.7
33,389.3
32,874.8
32,631.3
30,454.6
28,062.8
26,824.6
26,891.2
26,651.3
26,417.1
26,210.2
26,523.8
26,548.1
26,603.7
26,660.3
2/56
102/1210
Establishments
415,391
428,598
439,442
450,692
432,910
422,790
436,503
461,768
487,431
513,107
533,811
568,637
595,181
625,676
653,537
3/56
16/1209
Enterprises Employment
400,672
758,549
414,342
763,611
425,199
772,951
436,720
779,173
420,134
731,293
410,942
697,842
424,923
703,979
450,207
727,672
475,958
750,523
501,798
771,966
522,847
784,724
557,814
816,778
584,749
835,329
615,653
858,020
643,911
877,951
3/56
4/56
17/1209
51/1210
Exports
---------------N/A
N/A
Industry
Revenue Value Added
(%)
(%)
1.3
-2.2
1.0
-1.5
1.5
-0.7
-3.5
-6.7
-5.8
-7.9
-0.6
-4.4
0.9
0.2
1.0
-0.9
0.8
-0.9
1.3
-0.8
3.8
1.2
2.0
0.1
2.4
0.2
2.0
0.2
45/56
54/56
1026/1210 1088/1210
Establishments
(%)
3.2
2.5
2.6
-3.9
-2.3
3.2
5.8
5.6
5.3
4.0
6.5
4.7
5.1
4.5
4/56
87/1209
Enterprises Employment
(%)
(%)
3.4
0.7
2.6
1.2
2.7
0.8
-3.8
-6.1
-2.2
-4.6
3.4
0.9
6.0
3.4
5.7
3.1
5.4
2.9
4.2
1.7
6.7
4.1
4.8
2.3
5.3
2.7
4.6
2.3
4/56
13/56
88/1209
316/1210
Exports
(%)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Revenue
($m)
52,579.8
53,269.7
53,786.6
54,573.8
52,655.1
49,588.3
49,285.0
49,710.7
50,219.8
50,633.5
51,310.5
53,240.6
54,280.7
55,582.1
56,709.3
4/56
169/1210
Annual Change
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Sector Rank
Economy Rank
Key Ratios
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Sector Rank
Economy Rank
IVA/Revenue
(%)
64.94
62.68
61.12
59.79
57.84
56.59
54.43
54.10
53.07
52.17
51.08
49.82
48.91
47.86
47.01
18/56
234/1210
Imports/
Demand
(%)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Exports/Revenue
(%)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Figures are inflation-adjusted 2013 dollars. Rank refers to 2013 data.
Revenue per
Employee
($000)
69.32
69.76
69.59
70.04
72.00
71.06
70.01
68.31
66.91
65.59
65.39
65.18
64.98
64.78
64.59
31/56
1104/1210
Wages/Revenue
(%)
58.24
55.96
54.53
52.92
51.59
50.29
49.03
47.80
46.59
45.42
44.28
43.17
42.08
41.03
40.02
12/56
101/1210
Imports
---------------N/A
N/A
Wages
($m)
30,622.4
29,810.3
29,331.6
28,879.3
27,163.7
24,938.7
24,163.2
23,759.4
23,399.5
22,999.3
22,721.1
22,983.3
22,843.4
22,803.2
22,696.5
3/56
69/1210
Domestic
Demand
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Number of
Marriages
(Thousands)
2,287.7
2,248.8
2,181.2
2,201.7
2,159.1
2,087.6
2,167.2
2,217.3
2,204.3
2,159.7
2,145.3
2,131.1
2,116.6
2,097.0
2,080.8
N/A
N/A
Imports
(%)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Wages
(%)
-2.7
-1.6
-1.5
-5.9
-8.2
-3.1
-1.7
-1.5
-1.7
-1.2
1.2
-0.6
-0.2
-0.5
54/56
1104/1210
Domestic
Demand
(%)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Number of
Marriages
(%)
-1.7
-3.0
0.9
-1.9
-3.3
3.8
2.3
-0.6
-2.0
-0.7
-0.7
-0.7
-0.9
-0.8
N/A
N/A
Employees
per Est.
1.83
1.78
1.76
1.73
1.69
1.65
1.61
1.58
1.54
1.50
1.47
1.44
1.40
1.37
1.34
44/56
1151/1209
Average Wage
($)
40,369.71
39,038.59
37,947.55
37,064.04
37,144.76
35,736.89
34,323.75
32,651.25
31,177.59
29,793.15
28,954.26
28,138.98
27,346.59
26,576.54
25,851.67
23/56
945/1210
Share of the
Economy
(%)
0.28
0.26
0.25
0.25
0.23
0.22
0.21
0.20
0.20
0.19
0.19
0.18
0.17
0.17
0.16
2/56
102/1210
WWW.IBISWORLD.COM
Jargon & Glossary
Industry Jargon
DESTINATION WEDDING A marriage ceremony or

reception 200 or more miles away from where the
couple lives and at least 80.0% of guests require
overnight accommodations.
OFFICIANT An officiating priest or minister.

WEDDING VENDOR A company that provides services
on the day of the marriage ceremony or reception.
DO-IT-YOURSELF (DIY) A category of customers who

complete tasks and projects on their own that would
generally be outsourced to a business or service provider.
IBISWorld Glossary
BARRIERS TO ENTRY High barriers to entry mean that

new companies struggle to enter an industry, while low
barriers mean it is easy for new companies to enter an
industry.
CAPITAL INTENSITY Compares the amount of money
spent on capital (plant, machinery and equipment) with
that spent on labor. IBISWorld uses the ratio of
depreciation to wages as a proxy for capital intensity.
High capital intensity is more than $0.333 of capital to
$1 of labor; medium is $0.125 to $0.333 of capital to $1
of labor; low is less than $0.125 of capital for every $1 of
labor.
CONSTANT PRICES The dollar figures in the Key
Statistics table, including forecasts, are adjusted for
inflation using the current year (i.e. year published) as
the base year. This removes the impact of changes in
the purchasing power of the dollar, leaving only the
real growth or decline in industry metrics. The inflation
adjustments in IBISWorlds reports are made using the
US Bureau of Economic Analysis implicit GDP price
deflator.
DOMESTIC DEMAND Spending on industry goods and
services within the United States, regardless of their
country of origin. It is derived by adding imports to
industry revenue, and then subtracting exports.
EMPLOYMENT The number of permanent, part-time,
temporary and seasonal employees, working proprietors,
partners, managers and executives within the industry.
ENTERPRISE A division that is separately managed and
keeps management accounts. Each enterprise consists
of one or more establishments that are under common
ownership or control.
ESTABLISHMENT The smallest type of accounting unit
within an enterprise, an establishment is a single
physical location where business is conducted or where
services or industrial operations are performed. Multiple
establishments under common control make up an
enterprise.
EXPORTS Total value of industry goods and services sold
by US companies to customers abroad.
IMPORTS Total value of industry goods and services
brought in from foreign countries to be sold in the
United States.
INDUSTRY CONCENTRATION An indicator of the
dominance of the top four players in an industry.
Concentration is considered high if the top players
account for more than 70% of industry revenue.
Medium is 40% to 70% of industry revenue. Low is less
than 40%.
INDUSTRY REVENUE The total sales of industry goods

and services (exclusive of excise and sales tax); subsidies
on production; all other operating income from outside
the firm (such as commission income, repair and service
income, and rent, leasing and hiring income); and
capital work done by rental or lease. Receipts from
interest royalties, dividends and the sale of fixed
tangible assets are excluded.
INDUSTRY VALUE ADDED (IVA) The market value of
goods and services produced by the industry minus the
cost of goods and services used in production. IVA is
also described as the industrys contribution to GDP, or
profit plus wages and depreciation.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE The level of international
trade is determined by ratios of exports to revenue and
imports to domestic demand. For exports/revenue: low is
less than 5%, medium is 5% to 20%, and high is more
than 20%. Imports/domestic demand: low is less than
5%, medium is 5% to 35%, and high is more than
35%.
LIFE CYCLE All industries go through periods of growth,
maturity and decline. IBISWorld determines an
industrys life cycle by considering its growth rate
(measured by IVA) compared with GDP; the growth rate
of the number of establishments; the amount of change
the industrys products are undergoing; the rate of
technological change; and the level of customer
acceptance of industry products and services.
NONEMPLOYING ESTABLISHMENT Businesses with
no paid employment or payroll, also known as
nonemployers. These are mostly set up by self-employed
individuals.
PROFIT IBISWorld uses earnings before interest and tax
(EBIT) as an indicator of a companys profitability. It is
calculated as revenue minus expenses, excluding
interest and tax.
VOLATILITY The level of volatility is determined by
averaging the absolute change in revenue in each of the
past five years. Volatility levels: very high is more than
20%; high volatility is 10% to 20%; moderate
volatility is 3% to 10%; and low volatility is less than
3%.
WAGES The gross total wages and salaries of all
employees in the industry. The cost of benefits is also
included in this figure.
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Wedding Services in the US March 2013 1

Tying the knot: Wedding-related activity will

IBISWorld Industry Report NN006

Wedding Services in the US

2 About this Industry

21 Market Share Concentration

21 Key Success Factors

31 Jargon & Glossary

21 Cost Structure Benchmarks

Key External Drivers

12 Industry Life Cycle

14 Products & Markets

28 Technology & Systems

14 Products & Services

29 Regulation & Policy

www.ibisworld.com | 1-800-330-3772 | info @ibisworld.com

Wedding Services in the US March 2013 2

About this Industry

This industry is composed of day-of

The primary activities of this industry are

they have many responsibilities on the

The major products and services in this industry are

56192 Trade Show and Conference Planning in the US

Wedding Services in the US March 2013 3

About this Industry

For additional information on this industry

writes over 700 US

Wedding Services in the US March 2013

Annual Growth 08-13

Annual Growth 13-18

Revenue vs. employment growth

Products and services segmentation (2013)

Key External Drivers

Food and drink services

Life Cycle Stage

Wedding Services in the US March 2013 5

Executive Summary | Key External Drivers | Current Performance

Economic uncertainty and an increasing

incomes and larger savings will allow

Key External Drivers

unique vision to consumers. Less

decreasing womens financial dependence

Wedding Services in the US March 2013 6

college-educated have the highest

Key External Drivers

Wedding Services in the US March 2013 7

High unemployment due to the Great

have become increasingly lavish. A

Increasing participation in social

providers face increasing price

Wedding Services in the US March 2013 8

Shifting social norms are decreasing

The commercialization trend did

commercialized. According to US Census

Wedding Services in the US March 2013 9

Do-it-yourself (DIY) weddings are a

During the Great Recession couples

helped many couples cut spending on

spending per consumer, however, will

Wedding Services in the US March 2013 10

Structural unemployment is projected to

Consumers will benefit from the

the rate of cohabitation before marriage

Wedding Services in the US March 2013 11

Personal Trainers & Wedding Planners in the US

Consumers in the US

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Warehouse Clubs & Supercenters in the US

Car Rental in the US

Truck Rental in the US

AdditionalStates(as marked on map)