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RSVP Insider: Where have all the weddings gone? By RSVP Founder James Lord I speak to about 30 of our members every week from all over the world. It gives us valuable insight into the state of the industry, the businesses and the people within it. This year, it would seem that it's difficult for half of you and a good year for the other half. Compared to the bonanza years of 2022 and 2023, we had to expect a downturn this year as the COVID wedding backlog cleared. The news that 2024 is a year significantly lower in terms of wedding volume came as a surprise to me, as I expected it to return to the 2019 level. After all, births, marriages, and deaths are relative constants from year to year regarding global and national numbers (global pandemics apart). So what is the reason? Even though the long-term trend is for the number of weddings to fall, the absolute number from year to year has been broadly similar. Spending, though, on weddings has increased significantly, especially at the top end. A planner in the States told me last week that now, in her local market, $250k is a starting point. The same figure on Lake Como barely gets you a local restaurant event. This is good news for suppliers and a planner who charges a % fee. A few weeks back, during a member call, I was asked why this year is different, and I was initially stumped. It cannot be COVID-related, can it? Have weddings completely fallen out of fashion overnight? It only dawned on me a few days later when I was on another call. It is COVID related. The world was locked down for about 18 months. People couldn't meet. The couples who would have been formed in this period didn't have the chance to meet, and 3 years later, they would be getting married. But they aren't, because they didn't meet. Simple really. Despite the challenges, there's a silver lining - everyone has bookings for 2025, a testament to the resilience of the industry. These bookings are from couples who met in 2022, signalling a return to normalcy. It's a positive note in an otherwise uncertain time. 

Last week, I had some time off and attended my cousins wedding in South Goa. 🌴 It was a wonderful (& sunny!) break, and I noticed quite a few unexpected things about how the South Asian wedding industry is changing, here's a quick summary. 👇🏼 💌 E-invites all the way! This couples didn't send any physical invites beforehand, and only had the necessary directional signage & itineraries during their wedding week. Alongside many of our Eternity couples also opting for the same, this definitely reflects a growing trend towards sustainability and reduced wastage in wedding planning. 🧵 An increase in pre-loved / rented outfits for wedding guests. Speaking of sustainably conscious weddings - there was a mixture of pre-loved, upcycled, and rented outfits amongst close family & friends (myself included - thanks Circular Threads Anoli Mehta!). This is definitely something that we weren't seeing even 2-3 years ago in the South Asian wedding space (!) 💸 A gift registry. Traditionally, South Asians are known for handing envelopes of cash to the happy couple & their families as blessings for the wedding. This time, the couple opted for a gift registry charity pot for their family & friends to contribute too. It was beautiful. Why does this matter? Some of you may be reading this and thinking it's nothing new or totally unexpected. However, that really isn't the case for South Asian weddings. If you ask your parents, they will definitely refer to the mithai (sweet) boxes that made the rounds when handing out invites, all the new outfits that each family member wore for the wedding, and the shagun (money & gifts) that the couple was destined to receive. Suppliers & couples - I would love to hear about some of the changes that you have noticed recently. 👇🏼 South Asian weddings are changing. As couples merge their culture & upbringing, we are identifying changes in how the weddings are being planned and taking place. Many of you know, that's why I started Eternity: to (digitally) be part of the modern day South Asian couples wedding planning journey and enable an enjoyable, efficient & collaborative planning process. p.s. Eternity is fundraising our first round with SEIS, and we are 30% committed so far. If you are interested or know anyone in your network who wants to know more, send me a message & we can chat! 📧

When is your wedding - Autumn, Winter, Spring or Summer? What to consider when choosing your wedding date: We have performed at weddings across the year, and from our experience there are a number of factors that you can consider. Firstly - is there a time of year that you already know you want to get married in? Maybe you both already know of a date / birthday / anniversary or time of year that is special to you as a couple. Secondly - when you imagine your wedding, what do you want your photographs to look like? Autumn: Can you imagine crisp autumnal colours: reds, burnt oranges and yellows in the trees or decorating the ground like confetti. Possibly autumn would suit you. Winter: Are you a festive couple? Do you love the colder months? Then winter may be perfect. Spring: Do you want blooms of flowers all around? Or blossoms in the trees? Then maybe spring time would work best. Summer: Can you imagine an outdoor wedding with the sun shining? Then maybe summer would work well for you. Remember - as we all know, weather in the UK can be unpredictable at times, and rain can occur all year round, no matter how carefully you plan! Thirdly - you’ll want to take suppliers availability and demand into consideration. “Wedding season” is the time of year when most weddings take place. Across the UK, there is a busy "wedding season" from May through to September. So keep it in mind - if you're planning on getting married during the months May to September there will inevitably be lots of other couples getting married around the same time as you. "Wedding season" can impact your planning process in a number of different ways. So here are some things that we think you need to know (as well as some of our tips and recommendations on how to navigate this time of year.) For some suppliers and venues, prices during wedding season can be higher, as there’s more demand for the suppliers and venues. Please note that Serenity String Duo prices are not defined by the season. Our prices remain the same year round. Is there a best month to get married? Of course not! There’s no right or wrong when it comes to choosing your wedding date, therefore there is no best wedding month - it just depends on what time of year works best for you as a couple. Naturally, each season has its own pros and cons. Below, we have tried to write down everything you need to know about peak wedding season, in the hope that this will help you and your partner decide what time of year works best for you. When is wedding season? Peak wedding season varies slightly from year to year, but typically, late spring into summer and very early autumn fall are the most popular times to get married. So - with all of that in mind - what do you think? We're excited to hear when you're planning on getting married! Best wishes, Laura & Katja

Moms, make it the best day of everyone’s life! Don’t make this mistake…. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you’re gonna be able to handle everything on your own . As a mother, you want nothing but the best for your daughter on her wedding day. It’s a day filled with joy, excitement, and a whirlwind of emotions. When it came time to choose the perfect venue for my daughter’s special day, we found ourselves drawn to the idea of an all-inclusive wedding venue. Let me share with you why choosing Rose Briar Place, an all-inclusive venue, turned out to be the ultimate blessing for our family. 1. Simplified Planning Process Planning a wedding can be overwhelming. From coordinating vendors to ensuring every detail is perfect, the logistics can quickly become daunting. Rose Briar Place simplified everything for us. They offered comprehensive wedding packages that included everything from catering to decor, cake, dishes,and DJ. This meant less stress for us and more time to focus on creating beautiful memories with our daughter. 2. Cost-Effectiveness One of the initial concerns we had was staying within our budget without compromising on quality. With an all-inclusive venue like Rose Briar Place, we knew exactly what to expect financially. Their packages were transparent, covering all major expenses upfront. This helped us avoid unexpected costs and allowed us to allocate our budget wisely, ensuring every aspect of the wedding was top-notch without overspending. 3. Expert Guidance and Support From day one, the team at Rose Briar Place impressed us with their professionalism and dedication. They assigned us a wedding coordinator who worked closely with our daughter to bring her vision to life. Their experience and attention to detail were invaluable throughout the planning process. Whether it was choosing the right menu or deciding on the perfect lighting scheme, their expertise ensured that every decision we made was well-informed and aligned with our daughter’s dreams.

https://lnkd.in/dPiP6wt4 #Ipsos IndiaBus Views on Wedding survey provides new thinking emerging among urban Indians about this most happy ritual in one's lifetime: of getting married. We see prominent views around sharing of costs equally among the bride and the groom and also this predominant view on how weddings should not put undue financial pressure. Read our interesting survey that we ran on our #IndiaBus platform. #consumerinsights #wedding

How Ambani wedding can teach you to be less judgmental I agree, the Ambani (India's richest person) multi million dollar wedding has been one of the most over publicized events in India recently. As per reports, Ambanis spent INR 5000 Cr (approx. usd 150 Millions) for the wedding of Anant Ambani. The sheer thought of such amount being spent on a 'wedding' is indigestible to most. The news of this event has been making rounds for last few weeks. With this, everyone's having an opinion about it. Articles are being written, videos are being made, discussions are done about how this huge amount could have been better utilized for multiple other reasons and how its so senseless that this kind of money is being wasted on one event. You may have your opinion about this as well. But, hear me out. Here's a fun fact - Average Indian family spends 5%-15% of their total net worth on the weddings in family. And now the twist -  Ambani family is spending just 0.5% of their net worth here. Now does that sound unfair? I don't think so! Let's not get into whether these numbers are accurate or a little off, but the fact remains that the richest family in India is spending way less (percentage wise) than what an average Indian family would spend on a wedding. Doesn't that make all those judgements weak? We're very quick to judge others and we do that with our own measures. What we don't realise is that our measurements may not necessarily hold true for others. What is the no.1 priority for you in life may not even feature in the priority list of someone else. Besides, everyone's life journey is different. Its not Ambani family's fault that their net worth is so ridiculously high. In fact, its one of their achievements. Instead of judging them on their wedding spend, why not strive to achieve the same level of success in our quests. And that doesn't mean just in earning huge amount of money but doing our best in whatever task we undertake. Judging others is easy. Putting yourself in other people's shoes and feeling genuine empathy isn't. Of course, the Ambani family doesn't need your empathy, but a lot of other people might. So, let's spread less judgments and more kindness. Let's comment less and contribute more. Let's blame less and empathize more. #corporatelife #empathymatters #nojudgment #mindset #bepositive If this struck a chord then click FOLLOW for more! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you stuck or lost in your professional and personal life? I will help you transform your life into a purpose-driven, harmonious joyride through positive mindset reprogramming. DM for a FREE Discovery session.

When it comes to wedding planning, emotions can run high, and it's easy to get bogged down in the minutiae. Here are three pieces of advice to help you focus on keeping a healthy perspective and enjoy the process: Focus on the Big Picture Weddings are about celebrating love and the beginning of a new chapter together. It's easy to get caught up in the details, but remember why you're here in the first place.* Don’t worry if the napkins don’t perfectly match the tablecloths or if a few flowers are out of place. What matters most is that you're marrying the love of your life surrounded by family and friends. The memories you create will last far longer than any centrepiece."* Trust Your Vendors *You hired professionals for a reason. Trust in their expertise and let them do what they do best. Remember, they’ve done this many times before and are there to make your day special.* It’s normal to want everything to be perfect, but try to relax and let your vendors handle the details. By letting go of some control, you'll have more time and energy to enjoy your wedding day. Embrace Imperfection *No wedding is without its surprises. Sometimes, the unexpected moments are the most memorable and cherished.* If something doesn’t go exactly as planned, laugh it off and move on. These are the stories you’ll tell for years to come, and they often add a unique charm to your wedding day. I remember at my own wedding , I had left my radio playing( yes, it was a long time ago😂) my dear Father ran upstairs to turn it off as he bent down the back of his trousers split. It was a good job he was in a morning suit and the tails hid the split. No one could understand why he stayed standing throughout the service . When we arrived at our reception my mother took him into the cloak room where he dropped his trousers and she quickly sewed the seam. I never did ask where she got the needle and thread from but it caused much hilarity. Bonus Tips: Be Present: Remember to be in the moment. It's a day that goes by quickly, so take a step back now and then to soak it all in. Delegate: Encourage them to delegate tasks to trusted friends or family members on the day of the wedding so they can focus on enjoying themselves. Plan for Self-Care: Suggest incorporating a few self-care moments on the wedding day, like a quiet breakfast, (with champagne, of course 😜)a morning walk, or a short meditation session, to help you stay calm and centred But above all enjoy!

" Ambanis conduct mass wedding...Is anyone buying this crap? " Just to show you are a kind person, care for the suffering, throw some food to stray dogs in the streets before you throw a grand feast to your rich relatives and friends. Ambanis are trying to neutralize heavy criticism over lavish spending on their offsprings weddings by doing some charitable acts. Last March, before the first pre-wedding festivities, they feasted entire population of their village near Jamnagar with delicious meals. As part of the lavish pre-wedding festivities (they are never ending!) that would finally lead to over-the-top wedding on July 12 in Mumbai, the super-rich Indian family held a mass wedding where 50 dirt poor couples tied the knot. Mass weddings in India are popular in rural areas, many couples in them see each other for the first time during the ceremony, it is a kind of Russian roulette for the poor brides. They don't even know what they are getting, many grooms are illiterate, jobless and some of them are alcoholics, criminals, wife beaters but the belief is whoever organizes/ pays for them would go straight to heaven, it is helping the poor! These 50 couples will soon be dropping babies like bunnies and India already suffering from overpopulation certainly doesn't need more mouths to feed! btw, India by population overtook China last year and an Indian minister said China made a mistake by limiting couples to just one child! He said India now has demographic advantage by having the most under 30 people. What good would, "demographic advantage", do if India cannot use it, have enough jobs to provide them? India now has the highest number of unemployed youths among developing countries.

As a wedding planner, I have seen firsthand the consequences of ignoring the "adults only" clause on a wedding invitation. While it may seem harmless to bring along nieces, nephews, or even friends' children, it can cause a great deal of stress and frustration for the couple. First of all, it is important to understand that the decision to have an adults-only wedding is not made lightly. The couple has likely put a great deal of thought into their guest list and budget, and inviting children may not be feasible. It is not a personal attack on anyone's parenting or children, but rather a choice that the couple has made for their special day. When guests disrespect this request, it can cause a great deal of emotional stress for the couple. They may feel disrespected, frustrated, and even angry that their wishes were not respected. Moreover, it can disrupt the entire wedding planning process, as the couple/planner may need to rearrange seating, catering, and other logistical details to accommodate unexpected guests. As a wedding planner, I always advise my clients to be clear and direct in their invitation wording. If they want an adults-only wedding, they should state so explicitly on the invitation. In addition to this, it's important to communicate this information with close friends and family members early in the wedding planning process, and to be prepared to enforce the policy on the day of the wedding. And I'll conclude by saying, while it may be tempting to make exceptions for close friends and family members, it's important to respect the couple's wishes when it comes to an adults-only wedding. Disregarding this request can cause undue emotional stress for the couple, embarrassment to guests on the wedding day and can disrupt the entire wedding planning process. Share this post to someone that may need it. You Know I Love You X.O.X.O Your Wedding Educator Olamide~ The Heiress Head Planner, La' Heiress Weddings #Weddingplanner #weddingtips #nigerianplanner #weddingmemes #nigerianwedding #nigerianbride #nigeriangroom #bridetobe