This report presents a comprehensive overview of destination weddings—a booming trend that has grown from barefoot beachside elopements to ritualized weekend events with family and friends. We articulate how you can achieve a competitive edge, with analysis of key marriage demographics, cutting-edge industry trends, shifts in service offerings, and our custom consumer research. Specifically, this report examines:

• The changing face of marriage in the U.S. and how that is impacting the industry
• Generational-specific influences on destination wedding types
• Demographics that are shaping the destination wedding market, currently and in the near term
• How overall wedding trends are impacting destination wedding demands
• The most effective forms of advertising and promotion
• What locations are most popular

Extensive consumer survey data provides an in-depth look at who is having destination weddings, including what elements are most important, where they go and how that decision is being influenced. Also discussed are how many people will attend, and who is paying for the trip. A 5-year forecast estimates where this market is headed in the future.

Scope and Themes

What you need to know

Definition

Abbreviations and terms

Abbreviations

Terms

Executive Summary

Marriages are on the decline, yet destination weddings boom

The key destination wedding demographics

Wedding trends

Destination wedding components

Magazines are the most utilized and noticed source of exposure

The destination wedding consumer

Couples will continue to travel for their nuptials

Market Drivers

Key points

Young people hold off on nuptials; prime wedding age bracket (25-34) grows

Figure 1: Estimated median age at first marriage, by gender, 1890-2006

Figure 2: Population aged 18 or older, 2002-12

Echo Boomers, traditional; Gen Xers, high-end; Baby Boomers, intimate

Figure 3: Population by generation, 2007

Echo Boom

Generation X

Baby Boomers

Figure 4: Top 10 Baby Boomer travel trends

Marriage, divorce and second weddings/vow renewal

Figure 5: Marriages in the U.S., 2001-06

Figure 6: Persons 15 and older who were married, 1960-2005

Figure 7: Marital status of people aged 15 or older, by age, 2006

Divorce

The “second time around”

Being single is “in”

Couples looking for more intimate experiences with close friends and family…

…and to save money

Figure 8: Attitudes toward financial security, 2006

Diversity in population reflected in marriages

Hispanics

Figure 9: Total population and Hispanic population by age, 2006

Figure 10: Incidence of destination weddings, by race/Hispanic origin, April 2007

Interracial and cross-cultural marriages

Gay weddings and commitment ceremonies

Figure 11: Relationship status of gay men and lesbians, by gender, 2001

Online booking, real-time Web technology on the rise

Figure 12: Top online activities of Internet users, October 2006

Market Size and Trends

Key points

Market size

Figure 13: Total destination wedding spending, 2001-06

Figure 14: Total destination wedding spending, 2001-06

Wedding market trends

The general travel market

Figure 15: Paid vacation days available to private sector employees, by average wage and geographical

Wedding dates

Figure 16: Marriages, by month, 2004

Growth in high-end, extravagant weddings

Figure 17: Spend on destination weddings, already had vs. planning to have, 2007

Figure 18: Number of guests at destination weddings, already had vs. planning to have, 2007

More men involved in planning

Figure 19: Attitudes towards destination wedding amenities, by gender, April 2007

Weddings that “give back” and green weddings

Giving the gift of travel

Market Structure and Players

Key points

Hotels/resorts/cruises

Hotels/resorts

All-inclusives

Cruise weddings

Airlines

Activities

Destinations

Figure 20: Location of destination weddings, already had vs. planning to have, April 2007

Figure 21: Location of destination wedding, by amount spent, April 2007

Hawaii

Caribbean

Las Vegas

Advertising and Promotion

Key points

Leading influences

Figure 22: Factors influencing the location of destination weddings, already had vs. planning to have,

Magazine advertising

Overview

Figure 23: Ad pages and revenue for bridal magazines, 2005 vs. 2006

Figure 24: Condé Nast bridal publication circulation and reader profile

Resorts

Destinations

Figure 25: Destination Weddings and Honeymoons magazine ads, Summer 2007

Other promotional activities

The Destination Wedding Consumer—Who Does It, and Where

Introduction

Key points

Topline highlight:

Highlights by age:

Highlights by household income:

Highlights by presence of children:

Hispanics:

Marital status:

Incidence of destination weddings

Figure 26: Incidence of destination weddings, by topline and age, April 2007

Figure 27: Incidence of destination weddings, by household income, April 2007

Figure 28: Incidence of destination weddings, by race/Hispanic origin, April 2007

Figure 29: Incidence of destination weddings, by marital status, April 2007

Figure 30: Incidence of destination weddings, by presence of children, April 2007

Figure 31: Incidence of destination weddings, by region, April 2007

Location, location, location

Figure 32: Planned or actual location of destination wedding, April 2007

The Destination Wedding Consumer—All the Details

Reasons for choosing a destination wedding

Figure 33: Reasons for selecting a destination wedding, by topline and gender, April 2007

Figure 34: Reasons for selecting a destination wedding, by age, April 2007

Figure 35: Reasons for selecting a destination wedding, by household income, April 2007

Figure 36: Reasons for selecting a destination wedding, by presence of children, April 2007

Figure 37: Reasons for selecting a destination wedding, already had vs. planning to have, April 2007

How much spent/to be spent on destination weddings

Figure 38: How much spent/to be spent on destination weddings, by topline and gender, April 2007

Figure 39: How much spent/to be spent on destination weddings, by age, April 2007

Figure 40: How much spent/to be spent on destination weddings, by household income, April 2007

Figure 41: How much spent/to be spent on destination weddings, by presence of children, April 2007

Amount paid by parents

Figure 42: Amount of destination wedding paid by parents of bride or groom, by selected demographics,

Number of guests

Figure 43: Number of guests at destination wedding, by age and presence of children, April 2007

Use of a hotel wedding coordinator

Figure 44: Use of a hotel wedding coordinator for destination weddings, april 2007

Media and other influences impacting destination decision

Figure 45: Media and other factors influencing destination decision, by topline and gender, April 2007

Figure 46: Media and other factors influencing destination decision, by age, April 2007

Figure 47: Media and other factors influencing destination decision, by household income, April 2007

Figure 48: Factors influencing destination decision, by presence of children, April 2007

Attitudes towards destination wedding amenities

Figure 49: Attitudes towards destination wedding amenities, by age, April 2007

Figure 50: Attitudes towards destination wedding amenities, by household income, April 2007

Figure 51: Attitudes towards destination wedding amenities, by presence of children, April 2007

Importance of destination wedding components

Figure 52: Importance of destination wedding components, April 2007

Future and Forecast

Future trends

Key points

Destination weddings become larger, more mainstream

Figure 53: Wedding cost, number of guests and parental share of cost, by already had vs planning to

Echo Boomers drive the coming decade

Figure 54: Generations, 2002-12

Hispanic market to boom

Figure 55: Population by race and Hispanic origin, 2002-12

Niche weddings: vow renewals and gay weddings and commitment ceremonies

Figure 56: Amount spent on travel and travel accessories by gay men and lesbians,

More adventurous weddings

Figure 57: Number of sports and adventure trips taken within the U.S. during the last two years,

Market forecast

Destination wedding market

Figure 58: Forecast of total U.S. destination wedding spending, at current and constant prices, 2006-11

Figure 59: Forecast of destination wedding spending, at current and constant prices, 2006-11

Forecast factors

Appendix: Trade Associations