AUSTRALIAN2019 WEDDING INDUSTRY REPORT SHANNON STENT PHOTOGRAPHY As one of our valued If you’ve ever heard me speak at an industry event you’ll know that customers and partners, I’m a big fan of ‘nerdy topics’ like data. That’s because data like this can help show us where our businesses sit within the industry, and I’m pleased to be able inspire us to get them to where we actually want them to be. to share the results of The data in this document can give you an insight into the minds of our 2019 Easy Weddings the millennial couples who will be getting married in 2019, 2020 and annual Australian beyond. As well as specific data for major industry categories, we’ve also put together detailed insights and trends about what the average wedding survey with Australian couple looks like, what they like about suppliers, and what you. inspires them with the weddings that they are planning. We hope you can use this valuable data to help build your products, services and businesses to understand the Australian couple and help make their wedding the perfect day it should be - not just for the couple, but for everyone. Matt Butterworth CEO and Founder Easy Weddings 2 WEDDINGS IN 04 AUSTRALIA THE AVERAGE 06 AUSTRALIAN COUPLE WEDDING THEMES 08 STYLES AND COLOURS THE WEDDING BUYING 10 CYCLE WEDDING CATEGORY 12 INSIGHTS AND TRENDS 36 GENERAL FEEDBACK DESTINATION 37 WEDDINGS 38 HONEYMOONS ABOUT EASY 40 WEDDINGS INDUSTRY EDUCATION 42 IN AUSTRALIA DEREK BOGART PHOTOGRAPHY Between September and October 2018 we surveyed more than 4,100 couples in our annual wedding survey. They shared with us everything from what theme and style they want for their big day, to how much they expected to spend, what services they booked, and how long they’re going to spend on their honeymoon. We’ve put the results into Australia’s most in-depth wedding report ever, giving us the largest, most accurate and up-to-date picture of what modern Australian couples and the industry look like today. 3 Weddings in Australia NT QLD 1% OF ALL WEDDINGS 18% OF ALL WEDDINGS AVG WEDDING COST AVG WEDDING COST $24,600 $24,759 WA 10% OF ALL WEDDINGS AVG WEDDING COST $29,024 NSW 33% OF ALL WEDDINGS AVG WEDDING COST 112,954 $36,082 The number of marriages across Australia in 2017* SA 7% OF ALL WEDDINGS AVG WEDDING COST $28,606 ACT VIC 2% OF ALL WEDDINGS 27% OF ALL WEDDINGS AVG WEDDING COST AVG WEDDING COST $23,339 $33,891 TAS 2% OF ALL WEDDINGS AVG WEDDING COST $28,948 Images: Zena Lythgo / Ferarri Formalwear & Bridal / Taronga Center / Flowers with Love Stonefield / Mad About Cakes / AL-RU Farm / Lala Design $22,055 is the average original wedding budget 4% $26,895 is what couples believe their wedding will cost 5% $32,333 is the average cost of a wedding 3% *Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 4 On average, 9% of couples will spend more than $60,000 on their wedding day. 14% of couples in NSW will spend more than $60,000, followed by 10% in VIC, 7% in SA, 6% in WA and just 4% in QLD.* 19% of couples choose their wedding date based on the season 14% choose a date that has special meaning to them 11% will marry on the date they can book their preferred wedding venue March, June, August and November 2019 will experience more weddings as there are five Saturdays in each of these months. The most popular months to get married in 2019 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 9% 11% 19% 12% 8% 4% 3% 5% 8% 10% 9% 2% The most popular dates for weddings in 2019 JAN MAR MAR MAR APR APR APR MAY OCT OCT 19 9 16 23 6 13 27 4 12 26 The most popular day of the week to get married MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN 2% 3% 3% 5% 14% 63% 10% The most popular wedding season SUMMER AUTUMN WINTER SPRING 22% 37% 13% 28% *Limited data for TAS, ACT and NT to provide a reliable average 5 The average Australian couple Average age Average age of a bride of a groom 28 29 The average couple: Will invite 97 guests to their wedding - 12% won’t invite plus-ones HAVE 8 PEOPLE IN THEIR WEDDING PARTY (INCLUDING THEMSELVES) Have been engaged for 22 months 90% are getting married for the first time and will marry in their home state 59% will receive financial assistance from their parents 39% will fund the wedding on their own 85% will have a wishing well at their wedding 80% have attended at least 2 weddings over the past year Images: Make Ones Way Photography 6 89% will live together before getting married Wedding guests say an average of $120 per couple 49% will buy a house before the wedding is considered an appropriate amount to spend on a wedding gift. This 29% will already be parents or will be expecting on their big day increases to $220 per couple for close family or friends. # A L L F O R L O V E In the first 6 months following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Australia there were 3,149* same-sex marriages performed and legalised across the country. We predict that more than 5,500 same-sex weddings were performed in Australia by the end of 2018. *Source: Births, Deaths and Marriages between Dec 9, 2017 and June 30, 2018. 60% of engagements are formed with the ring as a surprise 24% of couples are choosing an engagement ring together Couples will spend an average 6% of engagements are agreed upon without a ring of $5,147 on the engagement ring The most popular dates for engagements in 2017/2018 JAN 18 MAR 18 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 31st 14th February 2nd June 1st January 10th & 31st March DEC 17 FEB 18 JUN 18 7 Wedding themes + colours The 10 most popular overall wedding themes Couples are now choosing elements from more than one theme or style to deck out their weddings. Luxe rustic, classic vintage and garden romantic weddings are all variations on traditional wedding themes. RUSTIC ROMANTIC GARDEN / CLASSIC / CONTEMPORARY OUTDOORS TRADITIONAL & GLAMOROUS VINTAGE BOHO CHIC BEACH DIY VINYARD Romantic, garden/outdoor, vintage, DIY and boho chic styles are all more popular as secondary wedding themes than they are as primary themes. Images: Black Avenue Productions Top 5 voted primary Top 5 voted secondary wedding themes wedding themes › Rustic › Romantic › Classic/Traditional › Garden/Outdoors › Romantic › Rustic › Garden/Outdoors › Classic/Traditional › Contemporary & Glamorous › Vintage Images: Jave Lee Photography 8 Popular trends to watch out for GREENERY PERSONALISED SIGNS CIRCLES HANGING INSTALLATIONS The most popular wedding colour groups Like wedding themes, couples are choosing more than one wedding colour for their big day. Two or even three colours paired together can often NEUTRALS BLUES PINKS METALLICS REDS make up a couple’s wedding style, with white, navy, burgundy, blush and dusty rose being the most popular shades of colours across weddings overall. Most popular primary colours Greenery and NAVY BURGUNDY WHITE metallics are more popular as Most popular supplementary secondary colours colours to the NAVY WHITE GREENERY wedding theme than they are as the main focus. Most popular tertiary colours WHITE GOLD GREENERY When looking at popular wedding colours, it’s important to note the difference between shades within colour groups. Gold is currently a much more popular metallic than silver, while elements of greenery are used more often in styling than the actual colour green. The most popular shades of colour in each group NEUTRALS BLUES REDS PINKS GREENS METALLICS PURPLES ORANGES YELLOWS WHITE NAVY BURGUNDY BLUSH GREENERY GOLD LAVENDER PEACH DAFFODIL Supplier Credits: Left Top: Naomi Rose / Right Top: State of Elliott / Left Bottom: Soul Florals Studio (photography by Chantelle Stapleton Photography) / Right Bottom: Florium Creations 9 Wedding buying cycle START Wedding Wedding Formal Hair & Flower Venues Videography Wear Makeup Girls Marriage Wedding Wedding Photo Hens / Bucks Celebrant Music Stylists Booth Party Wedding Wedding Wedding Wedding Wedding Photography Flowers Decorations Jewellery Accommodation Wedding Bridesmaids Catering Bomboniere Lingerie Planner Dresses Wedding Wedding Wedding Wedding Wedding Hire Dress Invitations Services Beauty Services Wedding Wedding Wedding Wedding Honeymoon Cars Cakes Shoes Accessories FINISH 10 Wedding category insights & trends Image: Ferndara Creative 11 facts + figures › 93% of couples will hire a wedding venue. › The average cost per head for a wedding venue is $157. › 11% of couples will choose their wedding date based on when their venue of choice is available. › Couples have an average of 97 guests attend their wedding. 80% will invite less than 150 people, while 48% of couples will invite less than 100. WEDDING CATEGORY INSIGHTS + TRENDS + INSIGHTS WEDDING CATEGORY Wedding Venues Supplier Credit: Serafino McLaren Vale 12 CUSTOMER HAPPINESS 4.8 / 5 The wedding venue is usually the first service a couple will book in their wedding planning process. The average number of guests attending weddings has remained the same over the last two years, meaning that couples are looking for quality service from their wedding venue to truly create a memorable experience for themselves and their guests. This includes venues focusing on personalisation, customer care and high quality food. QLD WA $12,504 $13,971 WEDDING CATEGORY INSIGHTS + TRENDS + INSIGHTS WEDDING CATEGORY $15,264 The average cost of wedding venues across Australia NSW 5% $16,539 ACT $12,348 SA $14,821 TAS VIC $10,722 $15,964 What couples believe is the The most popular types of most important part of their day reception venues Wedding ceremony 46% / Wedding reception 34% Reception venue 36% / Winery 19% The guests we get to celebrate with 9% Historic site 18% / Restaurant/hotel