The UK Wedding Report
If you’re getting married or attending a wedding this year, the chances are it will be on the 6th August and the bride and groom will be called Sarah and David.
Statistics announced today by Confetti, the UK’s number one wedding website, has given an insight into the most popular dates and names of UK weddings. Taken from its database of brides, the findings come as Confetti launches its 2011 Wedding Report, a comprehensive survey to find out the trends for modern day weddings.
The survey will collect responses from couples planning their wedding and those getting married this year.
The results, collected online until July and released in the autumn, will highlight the changes in wedding ceremonies, budgets and traditions, with a direct comparison to 2009 when the last major survey was carried out.
Kirsty Roe, marketing manager at Confetti said: "A lot has happened in the last two years with a change in government, greater freedom in marriage guidelines and a general shift in attitude towards spending money.
"We’re noticing a greater number of brides looking at trying to get more for their money by choosing more cost effective options such as choosing a week day wedding or making their own invitations and favours.
"Wedding traditions are also changing. The bride’s parents are no longer expected to pay for the wedding, with many couples having much longer engagements to help them save so they can contribute.
"There is also so more choice available, meaning brides can really use their wedding to express their personality and that of their partner.
"Fashion trends are being transferred onto wedding tables not just in terms of colour but also style, with retro, kitsch and rustic themes all being really popular with modern brides. With so many decisions to make, it will be interesting to see what the wedding report reveals later this year."
How we compare to the Royals
Following the Royal Wedding, related findings reveal the couple have much in common with today’s UK bride and groom. Kate, aged 29, is in the majority with 36 per cent of brides between 25 - 30 years old on their wedding day.
Their decision to shun a wedding list is also an increasingly popular decision, although only one per cent request a charity donation as William and Kate did.
Nearly 80 per cent of brides said they would prefer a cash or honeymoon contribution rather than domestic gifts.
In other areas, the Royal couple fall in to a minority. More than 98 per cent of brides said they would want their husband to wear a wedding band, something William decided not to do and two thirds thought that inviting an ex-flame to their wedding day (as both Kate and William did) is an absolute no no.
Their choice of date is also less popular, with Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall sharing their special day this year with five times more people than William and Kate.
There are currently more than 1,300 weddings planned for the 30th July and less than 250 for 29th April, despite Friday weddings being much more popular now.
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