BC: The Wedding Industry Has Recovered $63 millions in 2021 - But Still Far From 2019 Levels

$ 63,011,850

...is the estimated financial gain for the wedding industry in B.C. in 2021 in comparison with 2020, thanks to better sanitary conditions. However, this is still $95.6 millions less than in 2019.

B.C.'s wedding industry recovering in 2021: the annual turnover increases by 10.1% in comparison with 2020

The wedding industry recovered part of its turnover during the year 2021 in comparison with 2020, thanks to less government restrictions disturbing wedding celebrations in BC.

With an estimated turnover of about $544.3 millions in BC in 2020, the wedding industry revenues have reached $607.3 millions in 2021, representing a 10% increase in one year. However, there are still $95 millions missing in comparison with 2019 (the last pre-Covid-19 year), when the wedding industry's revenues had reached $702.9 millions.

A + 16.2% increase in weddings celebrated across BC between April and September 2021

The turnover regained by the wedding industry in 2021 is highly related to the fact that there were globally more weddings celebrated across the province, thanks to less restrictions this year than in 2020 related to the Covid-19 pandemic. As the line chart below shows :

• The trend is particularly significant between April and September - months that traditionally register the highest volume of ceremonies, with a 16.2% increase in wedding celebrations in 2021 in comparison with 2020.
• The highest increase was registered in July 2021, with a 27.7% jump in wedding celebrations in comparison with July 2020.
• On the contrary, it is logical to see the number of weddings celebrated fall by 59.4% in February 2021 - for most Covid-19 restrictions were only taken from March 2020 on.

Number of weddings per month in 2019 and 2020 in B.C. (Source: B.C.'s government)

A 2022 perspective : + 10% weddings celebrated in BC during Q1 in comparison with Q1 2021

Is 2022 finally going to be a year of full recovery for the wedding industry in BC? The first trend we can observe for Q1 2022 tend to say "yes", with 2 922 celebrated across the province. This is still 380 celebrations less than during Q1 2020, but this number almost reaches the Q1 2019 level (3 017 weddings celebrated).

If this trend confirms all over 2022, BC's annual wedding industry turnover could well reach again the $700 million limit - back to pre-covid levels.

+ 28.2% in wedding celebrations in Kelowna during Q1 2022, + 10.9% in Vancouver

When a closer look to weddings number per city, it appears that all the main BC cities register an increase in wedding celebrations between Q1 2022 and Q1 2021. The trend looks particularly significant for cities like :

• Kelowna: + 28.2%
• Langley: + 22.2%
• Victoria: + 15.8%.

As BC city where most wedding celebrations occur, Vancouver registers a 10.9% growth in ceremonies during the same period of time.

Our methodology

To establish this study , we based our information on data published by the official website of the government of British Columbia. The data collected is from 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

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