Big Weddings Are Coming Back in 2022!

It goes without saying that 2020 was tough year for everyone, for some more than others.  But for brides-to-be, it was definitely a roller coaster ride.  An estimated 50% of weddings planned for 2020 did not happen, and those that did were usually downsized or ended up being elopements.

Of those that were postponed, many are happening now in 2021 or have been moved to 2022.  After a long period of uncertainty, couples are now looking forward to planning big celebrations with a more traditional feel.  It’s a busy time for venues and vendors as brides compete for spots on ever more packed schedules.  

The pandemic has affected my business in a couple of ways.  Of course we had fewer brides come to us in 2020, but the main impact was on logistics and turnaround time, as several parts of the supply chain slowed down, especially for our international vendors.  While we didn’t miss any deadlines and were able to get everyone’s dresses to them on time, we certainly did have a few projects that were more challenging than they might have been otherwise.

Another aspect of my business that was affected was our ability to conduct in-person fittings.  While I’ve always offered virtual fittings for my remote clients via video conference, last year we had to do all our fittings online.  Which wasn’t so much of a technical challenge — it’s just always more fun for me to meet with my clients personally at some point.  Fortunately, we’re slowly getting back to normal, but anticipate doing most of our fittings online for some time to come.

As is the case with most wedding vendors, 2022 is going to be a busy year for us and is booking up fast. With ongoing challenges to supply chains being expected for some time, it’s never too early to get started planning your dream dress, even for 2023.  

If you’re a bride-to-be, congratulations and good luck to you as you begin the journey to your big day. Here’s few ideas to keep in mind as you plan your event.

1.  Make timely decisions —  You’re going to face a few challenges with scheduling venues and vendors. So be ready to make quick decisions when something is the right fit, because many brides will be competing for the same resources.

2.  Be flexible with your dates — Consider dates other than weekend, and alternate times for your event.  The most desirable venues are going to be booked, so the more flexible you are, the more options you will have.

3.  Be prepared for higher prices — Supply chain challenges and increased demand are going to mean increased costs for most vendors, especially florists (because of a worldwide flower shortage).

4.  If you’re going to have your dress custom designed, do it early in your planning process.  For my team, creating a custom design requires hundred of hours and several months to create.  So the sooner we can get started, the better.