Finding your “Happily Ever After”
Growth of the Romance Industry
Despite economic downturns and the growing recession, the wedding industry continues its steady climb as one of the fastest growing industries around the globe. Couples continue to demand the best for their “special day” while raising the bar for those that follow. As a Wedding and Romance specialist, I have planned and executed many weddings and wedding-related events throughout the years. I have seen the wedding industry change, flourish and morph into a multi-billion dollar industry. It continues its steady climb thanks in part to technology and our love for travel. Traditional weddings have all but lost their appeal and couples are turning to more unique venues and destinations to exchange their vows.
Season of Love
This is the season of love, where couples young and old declare their new and renewed love and commitment to one another. For those of us in the wedding industry, it is a time of planning, coordinating and guiding couples in their quest to find the perfect venue for their wedding or vow renewal. Whether it is at home, on a beach, a mountaintop or a ship, couples are looking for that perfect, romantic spot where they can pledge their love to each other and begin their happily ever after.
Technology and Love
While love is eternal, technology has revolutionized the way we go about our daily lives, so of course, we would expect it to have an impact on one of the fastest growing industries of our time: The Romance Industry. We now increasingly rely on technology to guide us to the perfect resources through online retailers, vendors, venues and even to help us find our perfect mate with the help of dating websites and social media.
Our reliance on technology for even the most personal of items reflects how we, as a society, have moved away from the “traditional” and we are becoming more open and accepting of the change. Being able to communicate with people all over the world has given us the opportunity to open our social circle and become more diversified. We embrace individuality and have opened ourselves up to unlimited opportunities for love.
It Takes a Village
In recent years we have seen romantic events such as proposals, engagements, and weddings move from simple private family affairs to elaborate and sometimes public productions. The bar has been raised to include custom made rings, multi-tiered cakes, exotic floral designs, scripted proposals, and custom-made dresses. Theme based weddings, multiple pre- and post-wedding events, destination weddings in exotic locations are not the exception anymore They have become the norm. There are photographers, videographers, drones, musicians, bands, DJs, wedding planners, floral designers, makeup artists and creative designers all of whom are part of the production team to create your modern-day wedding or romantic celebration.
This reality has shaped the romance industry to become more commercial while still feeling authentic and requires a multitude of skilled professionals working together to make each event a success according to its own criteria. Technology, wedding trends and “hot” destinations will continue to change from year to year.
Diversity of Family Means Diversity of Wedding
The average marital age is rising, and couples are waiting until they are established in their careers and have more disposable income prior to getting married. For many couples, one or more of them may have been married or in a long-term commitment previously. There may even be children. Couples want to create a memorable experience for both themselves and their guests and are willing to pay to ensure that happens. Whether it is a surprise proposal, a small, intimate wedding or a lavish affair for hundreds of guests, today’s couples expect and demand perfection. They want a celebration that is unique and will showcase their personalities and traditions but most important they want to make it about them.
And They Lived Happily Ever After…
So, what remains a constant in this crazy thing called love during all these changes? The answer is simple and universal, “…and they lived happily ever after.” It’s the line that we all remember from our childhood fairy tales. The characters may be interchangeable, but the fantasy has always remained the same. The dream of shared passion, the power of love and the ability to recreate those magical moments in the fairy tales of our youth.
This is why it is so important to work with a professional wedding and romance planner to be sure that not only does your “Happily Ever After” dream come true, but that it is also on a budget, under control and exceeds everyone’s expectations. After all, you deserve it!
