Lesson 1.2 The Latest Trends in Destination Weddings and Honeymoons

Question 1

Average wedding budget

Answer 1

US$28,427 (not including the honeymoon)

Question 2

Average wedding gown cost

Answer 2

$1,211

Question 3

Average marrying ages

Answer 3

29 for the bride, 31 for the groom

Question 4

Average number of guests

Answer 4

139

Question 5

Average number of bridesmaids

Answer 5

4 to 5

Question 6

Average number of groomsmen

Answer 6

4 to 5

Question 7

Most popular month to get engaged

Answer 7

December (16%)

Question 8

Average length of engagement

Answer 8

14 months

Question 9

Most popular month to get married

Answer 9

June (17%)

Question 10

Percentage of destination weddings

Answer 10

24%

(note: surveys typically define a “destination wedding” as any ceremony taking place more than 50/75/100 miles from the couples’ hometowns, so this percentage includes more ceremonies than those trips typically thought of as “destination weddings” by travel agents)

Question 11

most popular wedding colors

Answer 11

Blue (33%), followed by purple (26%), green (23%), and metallics (23%)

Question 12

What percentage of couples issue save the date notices and what percentage create them online?

Answer 12

More couples issue save-the-date notices (68% in 2012, compared to 57% in 2009). Twenty-eight percent created these online, versus 19% in 2009.

Question 13

Proportion and percentage of couples that have a destination wedding

Answer 13

In 2011, nearly 1 in 4 (24%) couples had a destination wedding; this has grown from 20% in 2009.

Question 14

Reasons couples opt for a destination wedding (international)

Answer 14

66% of international destination wedding brides opted for a destination wedding because they wanted a special, fun or exotic locale.

The second most popular reason why international brides chose a destination wedding was to host a more intimate affair with fewer guests (65%).

Question 15

Reasons couples opt for a destination wedding (domestic)

Answer 15

45% of domestic destination wedding brides opted for a destination wedding because they wanted a special, fun or exotic locale.

Domestic brides wanted a destination that was special to them as a couple (44%).

Question 16

Destination weddings have an average of X guests

Answer 16

86

Question 17

Average number of guests for domestic destination weddings

Answer 17

96 guests for domestic U.S. destination weddings

Question 18

Average number of guests for international destination weddings

Answer 18

62 guests for international DWs

Question 19

% of destination weddings in the continental United States

Answer 19

70 percent of destination weddings take place in the continental United States

Question 20

Top three destinations domestically

Answer 20

FL, CA, and NV are the top three locations domestically

Question 21

Top three destinations internationally

Answer 21

internationally, the top choices were the Caribbean [39%], Mexico [24%], and Hawaii [20%]

Question 22

Destination weddings lasting three or more days

Answer 22

60% last three or more days

Question 23

% of couples using a wedding planner

Answer 23

51 percent of DW couples use a wedding planner of some sort (e.g., a travel agent, an on-site resort wedding coordinator)

Question 24

% of DWs held outdoors

Answer 24

69 percent of DWs are held outdoors

Question 25

Destination wedding spend per guest compared to domestic weddings

Answer 25

Destination wedding couples are spending more on a per-guest basis than their more traditional wedding counterparts.

The median destination wedding spend is $404 per guest internationally, and $225 per guest domestically, compared with the national wedding average of just $137 per guest

Question 26

The average total destination wedding spend

Answer 26

$20,890 (not including honeymoon, engagement ring or travel expenses)

Question 27

Proportion of DW couples that plan a group activity

Answer 27

Aside from the traditional rehearsal dinner, after-party and next-day breakfast, 1 in 3 (32%) destination wedding couples plan a group activity like a sightseeing tour for their guests.

Question 28

% of couples who cover the cost of a group activity for at least some of their guests

Answer 28

Of the couples who plan a group activity, more than half (53%) cover the cost for at least some of their guests

Question 29

Average spend on group activity for couples that contribute to the cost for guests

Answer 29

For those couples who contribute to the cost, they spend an average of $2,598 internationally and $2,280 domestically planning these group events.

Question 30

% of couples paying for travel/accommodations for at least some of their guests

Answer 30

2 in 5 (39%) paying for travel/accommodations for at least some of their guests.

Question 31

Staying at the wedding destination beyond the wedding date

Answer 31

More than 4 in 5 international destination wedding couples and guests stay at the wedding destination beyond the wedding date, while more than half of their domestic counterparts do the same.

Question 32

Popularity of casual weddings

Answer 32

Casual and fun weddings are more popular. Seventeen percent described their nuptials as “casual” in 2012, compared with 16% in 2011, 14% in 2010, and 12% in 2009

Question 33

Trend for religious weddings and family officiating

Answer 33

Weddings taking place in religious institutions are also declining. Only 35% of brides held their weddings in a house of worship in 2012, down from 41% in 2009. And, more couples (33%) are having a friend or family member officiate the ceremony up from 29% in 2009.