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Published on August 11, 2007

Citing its survey last year with 400 respondents, marketing and sales director Waraporn Siriboonma said the main reason was that couples were younger than before. Sixty-nine per cent of couples are aged from 25 to 30, followed by those aged 30-35 at 27 per cent and 35 and up at 4 per cent. The figure was a big change from the past, when 70 per cent of couples were between 30 and 35.

One main reason for the change is that parents worry that modern youngsters who have been lovers for a long time will ignore wedding arrangements and simply live together. But parents expect them to marry as soon as possible.

Waraporn said young couples strove for new ideas for their weddings. Many refuse traditional ceremonies and prefer weddings outdoors in gardens and on beaches and in a more entertaining style, such as a rock-'n'-roll party. Styles of wedding gowns and suits are also turning from traditional romantic to hip or casual.

From the survey, Burda, publisher of four fashion magazines, sees an opportunity for its first wedding fair with a new concept. At the same time, it will adjust the content in Wedding.

Waraporn said Burda had joined hands with Siam Paragon shopping complex to hold a Wedding 101 Showcase fair from next Friday to August 26.

She said it would not focus on hard-selling but showcase modern, trendy styles of all products and services related to the wedding ceremony. It will devote 800 square metres from a total 2,000 square metres for a showcase area and the rest for companies to sell their products and services.

She said the showcase area would display wedding gowns and suits as well as the wedding cards of Thai celebrities. Exhibitors will show chic, modern, casual, contemporary and traditional styles of gowns and suits; beauty services; various styles of wedding cake; wedding cards; souvenirs; medical check-up services; flowers and gifts; and photography.

Burda expects 40 exhibitors in the two parts of the event, 8,000 couples and a Bt60-million cash flow.

Waraporn said the current economic uncertainty might delay the wedding plans of those with little money to spare but not the rich, who are the fair's and Wedding magazine's target group.

Average spending on weddings is about the same as before: from Bt300,000 to Bt500,000 for 300-500 guests for 80 per cent of the respondents, and from Bt500,000 to Bt1 million for 300-800 guests for the remainder.

Waraporn estimated the total market value of wedding products and services as worth over Bt30 billion annually, with some 150,000 weddings from a total of 400,000 couples.

Nitida Asawanipont

The Nation