Seasoned Events has conducted an independent survey - within its own portfolio, and throughout the wedding industry - with over 500 venues surveyed, and over 90% said that 2019 has been a disastrous year.
Most said that weddings were down because people were just not spending and this is reflected by the average wedding in 2018 costing over £15,000 and in 2019 coming in at an average cost of £12k. The numbers have dropped by 45% in 2019 from 2018.
The industry believes that this is down to Brexit and ongoing uncertainty in the economic climate with the costs of producing a wedding rising by 10% in 2019.
However; with the industry now gearing up for its busy period of enquiries for 2020, things seem to be changing. Wedding enquiries are up by 35% for 2020 already compared to the same period this time last year for 2019.
Beccy Thorp, Head of Function & Events at Syon Park, said, “We have had less enquiries coming in for dates in 2019. This started last year and has continued throughout 2019.
'However, the enquiries for next year are looking stronger than we have seen in quite a few years – with lots of interest in the newly refurbished, exclusive Hotspur Wing with its own butler.”
Beccy and Colin Sayers, Managing Director of award winning caterers Seasoned, believe that the increase in enquiries for 2020 that it will be an excellent year and the whole industry is excited about next year.
Colin said, “I talk to my colleagues all over the industry and in wedding venues and they are all telling the same story and we can’t wait to see what next year will bring. We all love catering for weddings and to have a buzz back in the industry has got to be good for all.”