Spring is around the corner, and love is in the air. With pandemic restrictions beginning to ease and two years of suppressed demand, the wedding industry is on the verge of a massive comeback. While this is absolutely a reason to celebrate, many couples are feeling frustrated. Venues and vendors are significantly harder to secure right now. This has resulted in a highly competitive market for weddings and wedding services. 

It's not difficult to see how the current marketplace is a source of stress for couples looking to tie the knot. Weddings are major life moments, and it's only natural to want the very best. As the wedding industry works to regain its full capacity, couples now have to assess the realities of the market and weigh them against their expectations. These are some of the options they are considering. 

Practice Patience 

While the anticipation of a wedding ceremony is a powerful force, waiting until the right time can be a huge advantage. Since weddings can be pricey and full of moving parts, it's a good idea to be fully prepared before embarking on the journey. The current environment makes this more true than ever. 

For example, a good rule of thumb for booking venues and vendors was to hire them nine to 14 months in advance. In the wake of the global pandemic, many couples were forced to delay their celebrations involuntarily. Instead, they looked to the future and booked 18 to 24 months in advance. This dynamic means that the industry cannot accommodate couples who have only recently decided to move forward with their plans. 

While this is not an ideal situation, it does have its benefits. Delaying a wedding for a date in 2023 allows for more planning and preparation, and increases the likelihood of more favorable market conditions. Opting for a later date can be a great strategy for achieving one's full vision for a wedding celebration. 

Smaller Celebrations 

Micro-weddings are gaining more and more traction. They're becoming an attractive option because of their intimacy and affordability. Additionally, pandemic restrictions have made them a necessity in some cases. In the competitive wedding marketplace of today, they are also attractive because of their simplicity. 

The ongoing venue shortage, paired with the supply chain's impact on caterers and florists, means that large weddings are hard to pull off. Micro-weddings are simply easier from a logistical perspective because they have fewer moving parts. As such, they are a very attractive option for couples looking to move forward with their weddings sooner rather than later. 

Do It Yourself

Wedding celebrations can sometimes involve a dozen independent vendors. Professionals like bakers, musicians, and videographers are all stretched thin and can be hard to get ahold of right now. Some couples are countering this by digging into their personal networks. 

For example, if hiring a catering service appears to be out of the question, a couple may be able to share culinary duties collectively. This same ethos can be applied to any of the functions that are common at weddings, like entertainment and decorating. While it is unlikely that every task can be outsourced to a friend or family member, cutting down on the need for even one or two vendors can make planning a wedding significantly easier. Additionally, bringing loved ones into the process can make for a far more meaningful experience for all. 

Be Creative 

Ultimately, the joy of marriage extends far beyond the ceremony itself. As the world makes its way out of the pandemic, the current conditions on the wedding landscape have allowed couples everywhere to expand their understanding of what is possible when it comes to planning and executing their visions.