2018 Newlywed Report Provides Insight on Engagement Behaviors, Financial Habits, Planning and Trends from Nearly 18,000 Americans
WeddingWire, Inc., the global online leader connecting engaged couples with wedding professionals, released results from itsNewlywed Report, the largest and most comprehensive current industry report. The report looks at behaviors of 17,862 newlyweds and provides insight into real, modern-day couples and their journeys through getting engaged, searching for and selecting their vendors, and spending money planning for their big day.
The latest Newlywed Report sheds light on couples’ entire wedding processes. Some of the most notable findings from this year’s report include:
Blurring Lines of Tradition
While some traditional elements remain common for modern-day Millennial couples, like getting down on one knee (82 percent) and asking parents for their blessing (72 percent), other traditions are becoming less practiced, like one partner changing his or her last name (70 percent — down 12 percent over the last two years) and taking a honeymoon within a few days of the wedding (less than half — down 12 percent over the last two years).
In addition, the continued focus on personalization and custom touches creates shifts in tradition. For example, 40 percent of couples now incorporate mixed gender wedding parties (up 14 percent in the last two years), and nearly 60 percent of female bridesmaids wear different dress styles on the couple’s big day (up 14 percent over the last two years).
Engagements: A Public Affair
The most popular time for proposals remains between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, with nearly 40 percent of couples getting engaged during that time. Millennial couples specifically have an increasing desire to incorporate friends and family — both near and far away — into their proposals.
For more than half, the ring is still a surprise, but it is a growing trend to discuss preferred styles before a proposal. Dropping hints, shopping around and purchasing online (over 30 percent of couples do this) are more frequent behaviors. With the average price of an engagement ring at $5,000, it’s important to feel confident about the decision. The most popular ring characteristics for females are a diamond stone (74 percent), halo setting (53 percent) and 1-2 carats in size (50 percent).
Planning: Here, There, Everywhere
The biggest planning pain points for couples include setting budgets and finding vendors. Fortunately, online resources like budget trackers, web-based checklists and vendor directories can simplify the process.
Couples’ reliance on technology throughout their wedding journey has continued to increase, with 83 percent of planning done online and 42 percent of that online planning being from a mobile device or tablet. Additionally, over half use a wedding planning app to further simplify the extensive planning process, and 62 percent create a wedding website to host easily-accessible event details for guests. While technology is prominent, when it comes to the big day, one-in-four ask guests to “unplug.”
Although couples largely use wedding related websites to identify their vendors, they rely on recommendations and reviews when it comes to actually making hiring decisions (on average, couples hire 13 vendors). For inspiration, Pinterest takes the front seat. Couples use this platform two-times more than any other social media site.
Today’s Couples
Although no two couples are alike, there are some prevalent nuances that have evolved over the years. Couples are not only older to wed (the average age is now 32), but also more likely to live together before marriage (79 percent). In addition, one-in-four find love online.
While some traditions have stood the test of time (sharing a first dance), new trends are emerging (walking down the aisle to non-classical music). Couples are getting more creative when it comes to making their special day feel undoubtedly “them.”
- 40 percent have unique musical choices during the ceremony (e.g. bagpipes).
- 21 percent add local elements based on the city where the couple met or grew up (e.g. food or decor).
- 18 percent include ceremonial customs related to their ethnicity/religion (e.g. jumping the broom).
- 17 percent hire special or out-of-the-box entertainment for guests (e.g. fortune tellers, caricature artists).
