Marriage Matters

What brides are thinking about in 2011

How is getting married in 2011 so different from before? David’s Bridal, the national dress retailer, checks in with brides each year for its annual “What’s On Brides’ Minds” survey. Here is what the company fifth annual survey had to say:

Viral Vows

• Nearly half (48 percent) of brides update their Facebook with their new name or relationship status with a day of taking their vows.

•2 in 5 (44 percent) brides are interested in doing whatever it takes to get their 15 minutes of YouTube fame, such as a choreographed dance.

The New Ceremony

•Nearly 9 in 10 (89 percent) brides have considered having a small wedding, with 80 percent saying their reason for doing so is to save money.

• 80 percent of brides believe 50 guests or less constitutes a small wedding.

• Of those who had to reduce their budgets, 61 percent said the planner was the first to go, followed by décor (59 percent) and venue (57 percent).

New Ideas

• Nearly 4 in 5 (79 percent) brides have a tradition they wish they could do away with, among them speeches (37 percent), wearing white (25 percent) and choosing something old/new/borrow/blue (22 percent).

• 2 in 5 (40 percent) respondents would marry in a non-religious ceremony, and two-thirds (66 percent) have considered having a friend or family member do the vows.

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