With the world on the brink of an economic downturn, here is my wedding industry forecast for 2025.
As President Donald Trump’s tariff policies trickle their way through the economy, the fear of an impending recession is at an all-time high.
According to GBN, “more than half of Britons believe the UK will enter a recession in 2025”. With a shrinking economy, the pound at its lowest against the dollar and the rise of inflation, what are the consequences for the wedding industry?
Ultimately, navigating a rocky economic landscape in 2025 means that professionals may potentially have to pivot their businesses or find new ways to show value.
Wedding industry forecast: The Rise of Tighter Wedding Budgets
With the rise of budget-conscious couples, the average cost of a wedding in the US is $33,000, according to Zola. While in the UK, that figure is around £23,822, according to Bridebook. The reason being is, “nearly 50% of engaged couples say they’re adjusting their budget due to economic uncertainty” according to The Knot Worldwide, and rightly so.
The wedding landscape has changed post-covid with more couples spending less, and micro weddings and elopements on the rise. Zola Wedding Survey 2025 says ”57% of couples in 2025 are opting for micro weddings”, up from 45%. While, “elopements are up 18% YOY” according to Brides.com.
But, how does this affect does the four main markets?
Luxury Market
Those $75,000+ budget weddings are still happening, just with more of a focus on exclusivity.
Mid-tier market
The mid-tier market, being the backbone of the industry will feel the squeeze. As a result, more couples will make trade-offs with guest counts and extras.
Budget weddings
This market will continue to thrive due to more couples wanting to show their creative flair whilst saving money.
Micro weddings & Elopements
Post covid saw the rise in this type of wedding as couples, particularly Gen-Z couples, value intimacy over head-count.
“Whether luxe or lean, couples want their money to mean something”
For professionals to stand out, they must marry their client’s spending habits with their non-negotiables to deliver exceptional events.
Wedding industry forecast: Vendors Pivoting Under Pressure
As wedding and event professionals continue to navigate rising inflation rates, difficulties with supply chains and rising costs across the board. Here are some of the difficulties within both US and UK markets.
wedding industry forecast: US Market
- 12-18% spike in tariffs and shipping delays create a negative outlook on the wedding experience. Hidden costs for the couples mean they are spending more time doing price comparisons. Therefore, feel the emotional pressure early on in the planning process.
- For event professionals, shrinking profit margins and difficulty with revenue forecasting mean couples face more indecision
wedding industry forecast: UK Market
- For UK professionals they can expect continued Brexit implications. Such as, longer lead times and higher import fees
- Local sourcing means that businesses can be eco-friendly. Florists could opt for British-grown blooms, but this can have its limitations
Conclusion
Wedding industry forecasts, show that couples are still very much getting married. They are just prioritising differently to how they did in the past.
As a vendor or planner, this is the time to adapt, streamline your business, embrace technology and automate wherever you can.
“The demand for love and celebration still remains, it’s just getting leaner and more intentional”
If you are a wedding or event professional, I would love to speak with you. Please book your free discovery call call with me today to learn about how Wedo Planner will set you up to future-proof your business.
