Brides' 2020 Wedding Study Reveals New Post-Pandemic Perspectives on Marriage
Oct 06, 2020, 09:31 ET
NEW YORK, Oct. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Brides (www.brides.com) released findings from its 2020 American Wedding Study. What began as a holistic look at what weddings mean to couples in 2020, quickly transformed into a study about how a world-altering event—with ramifications for health, finance, culture, and relationships— impacted those ideals.
Brides surveyed over 1,400 American newlyweds in a range of demographics including age, race, income, geographic location, and sexual orientation. The results shed light on how the pandemic impacts attitudes toward weddings and marriage, and the result is an in-depth exploration of what motivates Americans to get married and have weddings today, and shows how couples have responded to a time of upheaval and uncertainty.
"Couples have pivoted their planning—and gotten creative with microweddings and virtual ceremonies—to celebrate with their families in a safe way," said Roberta Correia, Editorial Director, Brides. "If anything, the pandemic has made weddings, and particularly partnerships, more meaningful."
The survey is Brides' latest installment of its annual survey of newlyweds across the country, revealing key insights on cultural shifts, trends, behaviors, and spending related to weddings in America. Some key takeaways:
The Impact of COVID-19 on Marriage
- 81% of respondents said the pandemic has changed their expectations for their wedding, and four in five couples (82%) said that living through the pandemic has made them want to marry their significant other more
- Two in three couples (66%) had to postpone their wedding due to COVID-19, yet 36% still decided to have a wedding during the pandemic
- While nearly half (47%) of couples are planning to downsize their guest list, 1 in 4 (26%) couples plan to spend more on a wedding after the pandemic, and 23% are still planning to host a destination wedding
Key Marriage Trends
Same-Gender Couples Behaviors and Traditions:
- 74% of same-gender newlyweds see marriage as necessary for a fulfilling life—almost 10% more than different-gender newlyweds
- "Buddymoons" are significantly more popular with same-gender couples. 42% of same-gender newlyweds took a "buddymoon," compared to 23% of different-gender newlyweds
- Nearly one in four (23%) of same-gender newlyweds said that they never wanted to marry prior to meeting their partner, compared with just 9% of different-gender newlyweds
Men Dream About Weddings, Too:
- Straight men are more likely than straight women to say their single most important reason for having a wedding is that they 'dreamed about it' for much of their lives, with 32% of men deeming the big day a lifelong dream compared to 27% of women
- 40% of grooms assert the importance of making the wedding celebration 'grammable', as compared to just 27% of brides
- 44% of men strongly believe that being married will make them more of an adult, compared to just 30% of women
Millennials Believe in Love, and Other Things:
- 69% of newlyweds—particularly millennials and those who saw lasting commitment in their parents' marriages—said they've always wanted to get married, with 89% believing that marriage will take their relationship to the next level
- One in five (23%) newlyweds cited financial security and benefits as a factor in their "I do" decision, and 20% said they wanted the legal protections marriage can offer
To learn more about the study please visit here.
About Brides
Brides inspires and guides over three million monthly users as they make decisions from pre-engagement through the honeymoon. Brides is committed to bringing readers an inclusive look at the world of weddings, with every type of couple, every type of wedding and every type of celebration.
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