Digital and Virtual Wedding Planning at an All-Time High as Couples and Wedding Pros Navigate New Reality During COVID-19 Pandem
WASHINGTON , May 27 /Businesswire/ - As wedding plans are put on pause for hundreds of thousands of couples during the global Coronavirus pandemic, WeddingWire, a leading international wedding planning resource that has helped millions of couples plan their weddings, today shares the state of engagements and wedding planning for those with weddings this year directly impacted by COVID-19 and those with future dates in 2021. Offering a suite of digital tools via the WeddingWire app for planning whenever, wherever, WeddingWire continues to serve engaged couples during this challenging time. Most couples with wedding dates between March and August are choosing to postpone their wedding celebrations (only 7% are canceling altogether) and do not plan to decrease their guest list count (94% in the US, 87% globally) or their budget (95% in the US, 90% globally) for their rescheduled festivities. Just like weddings have been postponed, couples are postponing engagements—for now. However, as states begin to reopen and social distancing restrictions are lifted, WeddingWire anticipates a surge in engagements and wedding planning.
“What we’re learning from being in constant communication with our engaged couples and network of wedding professionals is that there is a strong desire to keep the planning momentum moving forward, as couples and their families plan highly anticipated celebrations of love, and vendors prepare for events to reignite across the country,” said Jeffra Trumpower, Senior Creative Director at WeddingWire. “WeddingWire’s suite of digital planning resources ensures couples can tackle planning necessities efficiently without needing to leave their homes. Additionally, our network of wedding professionals are creatively providing the same level of service to couples virtually as they would during normal planning circumstances. The wedding industry is a resilient one, and it’s no surprise to us that these professionals are doing whatever it takes to make planning possible—and easy—for couples during this challenging time.”
WeddingWire’s expansive suite of digital planning tools has always been designed to support couples who are wedding planning anytime, anywhere. Now, more than ever—and with the launch of new features to the arsenal—WeddingWire can help couples get things done from home. These resources allow couples to plan productively however they think is best, from wherever they feel safest, and are oftentimes the first step in connecting virtually with the wedding professionals that will create their special day. WeddingWire’s newly launched tools include:
These new resources complement the already established suite of digital resources that have been helping couples and vendors plan together for years, including:
"The WeddingWire 360° Virtual Tours have allowed us to keep our business running smoothly, and helped engaged couples who are planning their wedding get a sense for our venue space without stepping foot outside their home during this global crisis," said Todd Mozingo, owner of Chatham Station in Cary, North Carolina. "Couples can navigate our space at their own speed and convenience, and get a sense for our size, texture and layout, along with a general familiarity that two dimensional pictures don't always convey. Couples are confident in this technology; in fact, several couples who used our 360 Virtual Tour during the pandemic have booked our space for their weddings without seeing the space in person."
As states begin lifting or loosening social distancing restrictions, many couples and vendors are still operating with health and safety in mind and prioritizing virtual meetings where possible. The standard wedding to-do list remains the same, but wedding pros have adapted their approach to fit today’s evolving regulations and recommendations from government bodies and health organizations. Innovative solutions from vendors are becoming more widespread as couples look to take control of their wedding planning at a time where staying home may feel like their safest option. For example, caterers are working with couples to provide in-home tastings, and bridal salons are offering virtual consultations with to-be-weds alongside at-home try-ons, where they will ship a number of sample wedding dresses for brides to try on at home.
"Our goal for navigating the global pandemic is to keep the human side of purchasing a wedding gown as much as possible," said Krysta York, Owner of Charlotte's Weddings in Portland, Oregon. "Virtual appointments allow us to keep our connection with brides, as they invite us into their homes—virtually—and into their lives. In addition to virtual appointments, we launched a virtual sample sale, which was a great resource for couples getting married quickly, who either still needed their attire or were honoring their original wedding date with a small, intimate ceremony. We also spent several days before our closure producing video content to educate and have fun with our brides—we want them to remember how magical it is to find their gown."
Other vendor categories, like florists and hair and makeup artists, are also offering virtual meetings and in-home services. Virtual hair and makeup tutorials, and bouquet- and arrangement-making sessions via video chat are helpful for couples who are having a minimony—a small ceremony with just the couple, their officiant, and a few loved ones in attendance via video conference—prior to their postponed festivities, during which they can use the vendors’ full, more traditional services.
"Love is definitely not canceled, and hair and makeup artists are virtually helping couples in this new phase of weddings, whether that be through at-home tutorials for intimate minimonies ahead of a rescheduled wedding, or providing virtual consultations for weddings a few months down the road," said Megan Garmers, Founder and Director of MG Hair & Makeup and The Bridal Masterclass. "We are embracing video chat and streaming technology to coach couples virtually on how and what to do with a list of carefully curated products so they can look like the best possible version of themselves during this time. Now more than ever, social media plays a big role in couples choosing their wedding day looks, but the abundance of inspiration can be daunting. By offering virtual consultations, hair and makeup artists help couples—and even wedding party members—have a more focused approach to finalizing day-of details that work best with their face shape, hair type, skin type and more."
As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted on large events, WeddingWire anticipates weddings will have an increased focus on health and safety for wedding guests, such as providing customized masks, hand sanitizer and other precautions. Vendors will also likely work with couples to rethink the flow and floor plan of wedding celebrations, allowing for social distancing with satellite bars and dance floors to cut down on guest traffic, and grouping guests together by households for dinner seating. Couples will also lean into leveraging technology to not only involve guests who are unable to attend and are tuning in from afar, but also to communicate with guests as new updates become available about the status of events and how that may impact a couple’s specific wedding weekend plans.
Planning in the time of coronavirus has required vendors and couples to work together and creatively redefine what planning a wedding looks like. As planning momentum continues for upcoming celebrations, the reality is that weddings may look different in the near future, but they will happen again. It’s important for couples to continue on with their planning journey, knowing 2021 will have a larger-than-normal increase in weddings, and that those nearest and dearest to them will be eager to celebrate once it’s safe to do so.
About WeddingWire
WeddingWire is a trusted online marketplace, connecting couples with local wedding professionals and a suite of comprehensive tools that make wedding planning easier. Operating within a $250 billion global industry, WeddingWire helps millions of couples every month find the right team of wedding professionals to personalize and pull off their special day. Couples around the world can read more than 5 million vendor reviews and search, compare and book from a directory of over 500,000 vendors local to them. Visit WeddingWire online at WeddingWire.com and follow on social media: Facebook.com/WeddingWire and @WeddingWire on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
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