New study from the global leader in weddings shows couples are increasingly relying on wedding professionals; more than half of U.S. couples video-chatted with vendors in 2022, up 35% from 2019

The report also found couples are developing new traditions and doubling down on the guest experience following the pandemic

NEW YORK, NY, June 5, 2023 — The Knot Worldwide, a leading global marketplace and family of brands championing celebration, today launches its 2023 Global Wedding Report, encompassing findings from a study of more than 25,000 people who got married in 2022 across 15 countries. After enduring the effects of COVID-19, data shows that couples are investing in vendors and guest experience while managing the state of the economy.

“The wedding industry was resilient throughout COVID-19 and bounced back quicker than most expected—but that doesn’t mean it was unchanged,” said Tim Chi, Chief Executive Officer at The Knot Worldwide. “Weddings look different than they did before and during the pandemic, which is why we’re calling 2023 the year of transformation. We found that after spending time apart from family and friends, celebration is more important than ever and couples are creating new ways to wow their guests. They’re also rethinking what matters most and incorporating what’s authentic to them. Couples have had to make concessions in response to economic conditions—but investing in guest experience, vendors and unique ways to celebrate are top priorities. Our findings underscore the need to evolve to keep pace with today’s couples.”

Top 5 themes and takeaways from The Knot Worldwide 2023 Global Wedding Report:

1. Guest experience

• Providing a stellar guest experience is a must in many cultures.
  • Giving favors to guests is increasingly common in Western Europe, with around 8 in 10 couples in Spain (83%), Italy (82%) and Portugal (79%) reporting giving favors. 
  • Wedding fests are an emerging way to delight guests in Europe and Latin America. Inspired by music festivals, the trend typically involves neon decor, music, smoke cannons, lights and pops of color. 

2. Trends

• Couples are waiting longer to get married and identifying new ways to highlight their individuality and values during their weddings.
  • Couples are increasingly marrying at an older age, especially in Western Europe where the average age to get married hovers around 35-36 years. 
  • Some of the most common ways people are making their wedding authentic to them include incorporating pets, having a unique wedding theme and exploring unconventional ways to symbolize their commitment such as matching tattoos, eco-friendly elements, and beyond.

3. Technology 

• The use of technology remains high among couples throughout the wedding journey, taking them from inspiration to action. 
  • For example, in Peru, nearly 3 in 10 looked to YouTube for inspiration during planning. In Brazil, 63% of survey respondents downloaded apps for wedding planning so they could plan on the go.
  • In the U.S., more than half of 2022 couples video-chatted with vendors, representing an increase of 35% compared to 2019. 

4. Vendors

• Couples across the globe are increasingly relying on vendors to bring their vision to life, but top priorities look different depending on the country.
  • Couples hired an average of 10 vendors for their wedding day in 2022. 
  • Photographers are among the most-hired vendors across geographies, hired by 85% of couples surveyed on average, but the rest of the list varies. Dress boutiques ranked as the No. 1 category hired in the U.S.—one of the few countries where photography isn’t first. Hair and makeup artists are second in demand in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India and Uruguay, while catering is the second-most important vendor for couples in France. 

5. Wedding investment

• Weddings have the highest average cost in the U.S. and tend to be lower in South America, aligned with incomes and each country’s cost of living. 
  • In the U.S., 2022 couples invested an average of $30K on their wedding day, while couples in Argentina spent $4K on average. 
  • A major factor impacting wedding spending is the guest count, which varies widely by country. India guest counts were highest in 2022 with an average of 285 followed by Mexico (145 guests) and Brazil (125 guests). 

Additional findings include: 

Dating

• While online dating continues to be the most popular way to meet a potential spouse in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., many other countries still prefer the traditional method of meeting in person.
• In 7 out of the 15 countries, the top way couples met was through friends in common, with Italy capturing the highest levels (33%). In contrast, in Latin America, it is more common to meet through work—especially in Peru (33%). 

Relationship milestones

• Across the world, people are increasingly reaching relationship milestones before marriage, with the exception of most Latin American countries. 
  • In North America and Europe, more than three-quarters of couples reported living together before marriage. The trend of living together pre-marriage is less common in Latin American countries like Brazil (41%) and Mexico (42%).
  • Many people are starting families together prior to getting married. In France, over half of newlyweds surveyed already had children (56%) and this is also true of more than 4 in 10 couples in Portugal (42%).

Engagement and planning

• In many countries, December is the most common month for couples to get engaged, followed by August. Couples in most locations tend to get married during the summer months—but the window between engagement and marriage varies widely across regions. 
  • People in India have the shortest window between their engagement and wedding, usually five to six months on average. Those in the U.S. and the U.K. tend to take longer (15-16 months on average). 

Invitations

• Overall, most couples still invite guests through invitations, using services through The Knot, WeddingWire, Bodas and more. 
  • More than 75% of couples in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Italy used invitations last year. In Latin America usage varied; invitations are used most in Brazil and Mexico.

Traditions

• Incorporating religion into weddings is most important in Latin America and parts of Europe, while it was least prioritized last year in the U.K. The majority of countries have their wedding and ceremony on the same date, but Latin American countries often split them into two events. 
  • Those in Brazil, Colombia, Italy, Mexico, Peru and Portugal are most likely to report having religious ceremonies, amounting to more than 50% of ceremonies in those countries, while U.K. weddings are the least likely to report having a religious ceremony (22%).
  • A large majority of couples have a ceremony and a wedding on the same date, especially in the U.S. (94%), Italy (91%) and the U.K. (91%). The exceptions were Uruguay (52%), Argentina (46%) and Chile (45%) where many held the ceremony on a different day. 

For more insights and trends, check out the full report here.

About The Knot Worldwide

In more than 16 countries around the world, The Knot Worldwide’s global family of brands enables our communities to celebrate the moments that make us. At the core of the TKWW business is a leading global online wedding marketplace, connecting couples with local wedding professionals and a comprehensive suite of personalized wedding websites, planning tools, invitations and registry services that make wedding planning easier for couples. The company’s wedding planning services are offered through its global wedding brands, including The Knot, WeddingWire, Bodas.net, Hitched.co.uk and Matrimonio.com. TKWW also supports parents through the pregnancy and parenting journey with content and tools on The Bump, and helps communities plan other important life celebrations through The Bash.

The company is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland with offices throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Check out The Knot Worldwide on LinkedIn.