Niche in the wedding industry?

Question

any ideas for an untapped niche market in the wedding industry that you think is needed?

Answer 1

I'm thinking of going into "Wedding Day Directing". It's similar to wedding planning, except that your services are needed only for the rehearsal, ceremony & reception. I could have used that for my wedding. I didn't need a wedding planner or coordinator, but could have used someone who was focused on getting things done on the day.  For example, the person who was operating the CD player was Missing In Action for the recessional, so my mother had to start a hymn and then everyone joined in.  We were just standing there for about 2 minutes waiting for the song.  A wedding day director would ensure everything is in place and runs smoothly.  

Wedding planners/consultants offer the service but I wouldn't want to do the rest of it (working with the bride, starting the planning months or years in advance, because my attention span is short), just the stuff needed "on the day".  I think I just convinced myself a little more.

Answer 2

I just discovered one that is VERY successful!  Check out "The Toronto Wedding Chapel" online.  It's a "chapel" space that is very neutral and beautifully decorated.  It is very small (holds max 20 people) and is like a venue for ceremonies that is right in between a courthouse and a typical wedding venue.

My sister just got married there on Thursday evening, it was gorgeous and just what they wanted for their low-key g*y wedding.  It doesn't specialize in g*y unions, but because so many couples come from the US, the majority of the ones they do are g*y unions.

After the ceremony they served cake and Champaign.  They also have referrals services for photography and the officiant (which my sister used both they referred).  

It was a gorgeous location that hosts about 40 weddings per month.  The owner said the location used to be a shoe store that wasn't doing well, so she had the idea renovate it and turn it into this "chapel" space to help people have low-key weddings.  She said that so many of her friends didn't want a wedding, but didn't want to go to the courthouse, so they just didn't get married because there was no in-between.  It was profitable within a month of opening because it really is an untapped niche (especially being in Toronto though because US same-s*x couples go to TO to get married a lot).

I suggest you check out the site and see how nice (not cheesy in anyway) it is.  My sister really wanted low-key and classy for her ceremony and this was PERFECT.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

More affordable attire. I mean, I feel horrible asking my friends and family who are on budgets just as I am, to pay $150 for a dress or tux they will only wear once. And paying that much for my son and daughter(ages 2 and 3) to dress up too knowing that they will never fit in those clothes again. I mean, why does it cost so much to have a semi-formal wedding? It doesn't seem fair.  

Answer 4

I'm not sure where you live, but here there are about 10 major reception venues.   Of course, they are all priced either super cheap (and super tacky inside) or super expensive.  There seems to be a lack of truly affordable, elegant, sophisticated and modern reception facilities.   It seems like the lower in price you go, the the less sophisticated or modern the venue becomes.  And that's just not fair, most places around where I live charge $100 a per person (in the Northeast).   That $100 is just pushing it for me.  But, the places are so lovely.

Why can't someone open an equally elegant venue, but with cheaper prices.  Why can't I have a similar wedding for even $75 dollars per person.  Why do the $75 per person places look like they haven't been updated since 1992?  

I also think the industry needs to revamp it's approach to wedding favors, centerpieces and decor.  It's so difficult to find truly elegant and affordable centerpieces.  Sure, anyone can slap a pillar candle into fishbowl, but that's gets old fast.

Why not some affordable and creative centerpiece websites.  Place where you can buy more extravagant candles, vases, bowls, tea lights, hanging crystals for cheap.   So, that people can step up their weddings, but still keep it affordable.