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winter weddings
Are Engaged Couples Saying “I do” or “I don’t” At This Time of Year? |
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Written by Rebecca Dumais
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Are Engaged Couples Saying “I do” or “I don’t” At This Time of Year?
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According to the Society of American Florists, 13 per
cent of weddings take place in the winter, with 11 per cent of those
being Christmas weddings.
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While it’s true that most weddings take place in spring and summer, there are couples who choose a winter date for their big event. Although the prices for your customers’ wedding may vary at this time of year, marketing your services during the colder, quieter months can help keep you warm with increased work during what seems like the longest season of the year.
According to data collected in March 2005 from the Society of American Florists, 13 per cent of weddings take place in the winter, with 11 per cent of those being Christmas weddings. Summer weddings account for 35 per cent, spring weddings 29 per cent, and autumn weddings 23 per cent.
Will winter ever catch on as a trendy time of year to tie the knot? Tanya List, designer at Cool Green & Shady in Toronto, doesn’t believe so. “We might get one or two weddings in January and one or two in February,” she explains. “I think most people that have a wedding in the winter will go south to get married instead.”
Winter may have gotten a bad rap in terms of questionable weather, delays and overall unpleasant temperatures, but it does have its advantages and can be seen as a romantic time of year. “I think it’s a great time of year – November, December – is a fantastic time (to get married) – it’s beautiful,” states Janine Baker, owner of Tapestry Floral in West Vancouver. If she had her druthers, she adds that she would probably want to get married at that time of year. “With the chill in the air, it’s kind of cozy and very romantic to me.”
Baker adds that over the last two years they have been progressively getting more wedding business around Christmas and New Year’s. “Over the last five years we went from having none to having five winter wedding jobs in December,” she says. She has noticed an increase in business due to factors like destination weddings; if friends and relatives are already getting together for the holidays, the couple may choose to have their wedding coincide with the festive season. And, more simply, “it could be the bride or groom’s favourite time of year,” she concludes.
Carmela Walters, owner of Thoughtful Gifts and Flowers in Toronto, also believes this time of year is slowly increasing in popularity. “We’re becoming a 12 month a year industry,” she says.
Perhaps if more people thought of Christmas-treed themes, winter wonderland, velvet dresses or even the romance depicted in the film, Dr. Zhivago, perhaps engaged couples might warm up to the idea of getting married when there’s snow on the ground. Prices do change at this time of year, such as with flowers, but where one might increase, another part of one’s wedding might be more affordable, therefore giving the bride the option of spending less in one area, and more in another. “I think there’s a difference in pricing for someone getting married in January compared to a wedding in July. I think prices are lower in January as far as banquet facilities,” notes Walters. Baker agrees: “Other aspects of the wedding that are not peak season (in the winter) are a better price, such as photography.”
For the florist, although the cost for supplies and flowers is more expensive, is a shop more apt to stay busier in the winter if it can try to offer fair prices to the customer? “Yes, absolutely,” says Walters. Last January a bride wanted Calla lilies, which cost about $1.15 – $2 in July. “I paid almost $4.50 per stem in January,” she states.
Regardless of the time of year or price, brides tend to pick the blooms in which they prefer at any time of year. “I’m still finding that roses and calla lilies (are popular),” claims Walters. “They still have their dream wedding.”
Typical seasonal colours are also often chosen. “You’ll get more of the jewel tones for the holidays,” says Baker. “We’ve had all white and silver, blue and silver – still sticking with a festive feel, but not always just red and green,” she adds. Baker also finds that desired colours also seem to stem from whatever seems to be popular for home décor. “This year I’m sure we’ll see the chartreuses and bronze displayed in the actual wedding,” she says.
In order to drum up a little more business for what is still largely considered the off-season for weddings, perhaps with some simple, yet strategic marketing, you can acquire some more wedding work. Baker makes sure to advertise in all of the local wedding directories as well as have a presence on the Internet. “We’re also participating in a few different wedding shows this fall and in November so that we’re fresh in people’s minds.”
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