weddingsonline, the country’s most popular wedding website have just announced the findings of their latest Irish wedding survey. It was based on over 1,200 participants and took place in January 2021.
This survey reminded us that couples are still getting married and weddings are still taking place, with 60% of our participants getting married in 2021. A quote from one of our participants: “It was great to see couples going ahead with their weddings and having a wonderful day!”
Smaller weddings are on the rise. 44% of our participants are inviting fewer than 100 guests. This is largely due to restrictions, but most are holding out for a large wedding (and boy, will they deserve it!)
When it comes to choosing their ideal suppliers and venues, couples say that recommendations are the most important factor. Only 10% stated that price was the most important factor.
This year’s findings from the weddingsonline survey capture the current attitudes towards weddings in Ireland.
- The average budget for a wedding including honeymoon is €28,045, down from last year’s €29,624, an average of €79 per head for the meal.
- Friday and Saturday are still the most popular days for weddings (74%), with Thursdays next in line.
- 58% of weddings took place between May and September, with July being the most popular month. 60% of our participants are getting married in 2021 and 26% are getting married in 2022.
- The most popular month to pop the question is December (27%). Engagements are very evenly spread throughout the rest of the year.
- Couples are having longer engagements with a massive 42% of engaged couples waiting more than 2 years to get married.
- Religious ceremonies are still the most popular (54%), while civil, spiritual and humanist ceremonies are on the rise.
- Smaller weddings are on the rise, with 44% of participants inviting fewer than 100 guests.
- 91% of the money spent on weddings was from savings, and the rest of the money came equally from parents, loans and gifts.
- 38% of couples surveyed went over budget with 10% spending over to 5 – 10K more than they had intended to.
- The average age for couples tying the knot is 30 – 32 years of age.
- On average, brides choose 3 bridesmaids and grooms opt for 3 groomsmen.
- 65% of couples chose to have flower girls and 36% chose to have page boys.
- The hotel venue remains the most popular choice at 68%, followed by the country house at 18% and then castles at 9%.
- 36% of couples surveyed have their speeches before the meal.
- The Top 5 wedding counties are Meath, Cork, Dublin, Galway, and then Kildare.
- 79% of couples honeymoon abroad with 73% waiting a few months after the wedding before they head off on their honeymoon.
- 68% of couples enjoy a mini-moon in Ireland directly after their wedding.
- The most popular honeymoon destinations are the Maldives, USA and Greece.
- The decided factor for which suppliers to book was recommendations (48%), favourite choice (42%), with only 10% stating that price was their deciding factor.
- 70% of the couples surveyed paid for accommodation for parents, and 46% paid for accommodation for the bridal party.
- 64% of participants use Instagram or Facebook to plan their wedding, 54% use Pinterest, and 45% attend wedding fairs.
How has Covid affected weddings?
- 47% of couples surveyed postponed their wedding, with 33% of them postponing more than once.
- Of the 52% who did not postpone, 47% of them went ahead with a smaller wedding.
- Couples are optimistic about the vaccine being rolled out, with 24% expecting wedding restrictions to be over by Summer 2021.
- 66% of couples expect that Covid has changed weddings, with smaller weddings on the rise.
The average spend in each category was as follows:
Engagement Rings: €2611
Wedding Rings: €1276
Band: €2145
DJ: €458
Photographer: €1607
Videographer: €1347
Wedding Dress: €1651
Ceremony Music: €465
Drinks Reception Entertainment: €275
Evening Entertainment: €698
Celebrant or other Officiant: €343
Makeup (bride only): €127
Makeup (per bridesmaid): €72
Hairstyling (per bride): €108
Hairstyling (per bridesmaid): €67
Wedding Planner: €70
Bridesmaid Dresses (per bridesmaid): €171
Beauty Treatments: €232
Accessories: €343
Price per suit: €237
Average number of suits bought: 5.4
Photobooth: €413
Wedding Car: €428
Wedding Cake: €365
Décor (Ceremony): €278
Décor (Venue): €296
Flowers: €649
Invites: €221
Foodie Treats: €169
Ceremony booklets: €221
Hen & Stag: €103
Favours (price per guests): €18
Honeymoon (per person): €2882
This is what couples said they wish they could have done differently:
- “Avoided a global pandemic!”
- “Book suppliers earlier so we’d have more choice.”
- “Hired a wedding planner.”
- “I wouldn’t change a thing!”
- “Not worried about small stuff.”
For further information please contact:
Jonathan Bryans
01 905 9680
Main image by Andrea Cittadini, pictured at Castello di Montignano
