David's Bridal 'What's on Brides' Minds' Survey Unveils New Traditions of Today's Bride

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To mark the New Year's arrival, many follow the adage "out with the old and in with the new," and brides-to-be are no exception to this tradition. Following the flurry of engagements from Thanksgiving to New Year's, the fifth annual "What's on Brides' Minds" survey by David's Bridal - the nation's leading and most trusted bridal authority - reveals that there are some new twists changing up the tried-and-true wedding rituals.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110113/NY29491 )

Additionally, smaller budgets continue to be the norm, and brides-to-be are feeling more financially secure despite the economic climate. Today, more than half of brides (54%) have decreased their bottom-line wedding expenditure due to the economy, which is an improvement from the 68% who tightened their budgets last year. In fact, 45% of respondents plan to spend less than $10,000 on their nuptials. Regardless of the effects of a still unstable economy, the outlook for 2011 weddings is positive, as brides adjust to changes in both their budgets and trends.

"Today's bride may still be budget-conscious, but that's not stopping her from revamping past traditions to create the one-of-a-kind wedding she's always dreamt about," said Brian Beitler, Chief Marketing Officer for David's Bridal. "As the nation's leading retailer dressing one out of every three brides, David's Bridal continues to help her look her absolute best with new and affordable designs that are always high quality and fashion-forward for that unforgettable day."

Vows Go Viral

A paperless wedding invitation isn't the only way weddings are saturating the digital world, as couples look to showcase their weddings online.  

• Facebook Official: Nearly half (48%) of brides-to-be update their Facebook with new name or relationship status within a day of taking their vows.
• YouTube Sensation: 2 in 5 (44%) brides are interested in doing whatever it takes to get their fifteen minutes of YouTube fame, like a choreographed dance down the aisle or first dance.

The New Bridal Elopement

Over-the-top weddings are becoming a thing of the past, and brides are now opting for more intimate affairs that will allow them to save for the ever after.

• Less is More: Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) brides have considered having a small wedding, with 80% saying their reason for considering the smaller ceremony is to save money.
• How Small is Small?: 80% of brides-to-be believe a small wedding is 50 guests or less and almost half (44%) define it as a wedding with 30 or fewer guests.
• Nuptial Necessities: Of those who had to reduce their budgets, 61% said the wedding planner was the first to go, followed by decor (59%) and venue (57%). Brides identified alcohol as the least likely to be affected by budget cuts.
• Saving for the Future: 32% of couples agree that their top economic priority, aside from the wedding, is saving money to go towards a down payment on a house, compared with 24% of couples in 2010.

Non-Traditional Nuptials

Some customs of previous generations are losing their luster and brides are looking for updated ways to say "I do."

• Starting a New Tradition: Borrowed traditions are quickly becoming a thing of the past, as nearly 4 in 5 (79%) brides reveal they have a wedding tradition they wish they could do away with.
• Alternative Aisles: 2 in 5 (40%) respondents would marry outside a church or synagogue in a non-religious setting, and two-thirds (66%) have considered having a family member or friend deliver their vows.
• Eliminating Expectations: Additional traditions brides-to-be would likely do away with, include wedding speeches (37%), wearing white (25%) and choosing something old, new, borrowed and blue (22%).
• Reality Check: While watching wedding reality shows may be a guilty pleasure of brides, 69% said they'd never let their wedding be featured on a controversial reality show in order to save money and get five minutes of fame.

Green Still Looks Gorgeous

Environmentally-friendly continues to stay fashionable, as brides find ways to make green the new white.

• Eco-Chic: 78% of respondents would take steps to make their weddings more environmentally-conscious.
• Shades of Green: 37% of brides donate leftover food from the reception, and 35% plan to serve locally sourced dishes and/or decorate with locally sourced flowers.

Budget-Savvy Shopping

With an unmatched selection of beautiful bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses and picture-perfect accessories, David's Bridal is the stylish and smart resource to help make brides' wedding dreams a reality. Renowned for providing exceptional value, service and quality, David's Bridal helps women prepare for life's most special events at over 300 stores nationwide and at davidsbridal.com. Offering a vast array of trend-savvy gowns – dresses range from $299-$1,250 for such designer collections as Oleg Cassini, Galina Signature and Galina – and head-to-toe finishing touches, David's Bridal has something to suit every bride's style, personality and budget. And don't forget about the rest of the wedding weekend and beyond – David's Bridal offers gorgeous special occasion dresses and accessories, so everybody can stylishly stand-out without breaking the bank.

Methodology

The David's Bridal Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.WakefieldResearch.com) between November 15th and November 29th, 2010. For this research, 501 interviews were fielded among women ages 18 and older, who are either engaged to be married or were married within the past two months, using an email invitation and an online survey. For the interviews conducted, the changes are 95 in 100 that an overall survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 4.38 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About David's Bridal

With more than 50 years of experience dressing women of all ages for life's special occasions, David's Bridal understands the importance of providing brides-to-be with a vast selection of exquisitely crafted bridal gowns and bridal party dresses. Known for outstanding value, fashionable designs and the ease of one-stop shopping, nearly 50% of all brides in the US choose to shop at one of David's over 300 stores located across the US and in Puerto Rico. Working with a knowledgeable bridal consultant, a customer can enjoy trying on a wide selection of gowns and dresses in her size with the added convenience that most styles are available to take home the same day. To learn more about David's Bridal, visit www.davidsbridal.com.

Copyright © 2011 David's Bridal, Inc. All rights reserved

SOURCE David's Bridal