If plans for your dream wedding came to a screeching halt, your're not the only one. In fact, according to Belief Wedding Creators, more than 45 percent of SA weddings have been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
To understand the effects of coronavirus on the wedding market, the international platform and community for wedding planners, conducted research with more than 1 000 wedding vendors from 47 countries.
The results showed that 30.26 percent of the weddings were postponed for later 2020 and 15.64 percent for 2021. The cancellation rate around the world was 6.29 percent.
The worldwide average cost for weddings was $49.709, according to the wedding planners interviewed. That equates to more than R900 000 for South African weddings.
“With borders closed until no further notice, it's important to have a “plan B” for weddings and travels before September 2020. Our recommendation is to postpone instead of cancelling, in order to not lose time or money," said Giovana Duailibe, CEO of Belief Wedding Creators.
"Everything that has been done and negotiated justifies much more rescheduling than canceling. Suppliers are very flexible on this point, no doubt that rescheduling the wedding is a better alternative."
Italy, one of the most affected countries around the world, had an average of 41.4 percent weddings postponed for later 2020.
In South Africa, professionals claimed to have an average of 17.4 weddings per vendor for 2020. About 30 percent of the weddings were postponed for 2020 and 16.8 percent were rescheduled for 2021. 5.2 percent of the weddings were cancelled - which is lower than the worldwide average.