Weddings and the Yellow Pages

Do you know how many upcoming weddings there are in your home town?  Probably more than you think.

According to the CDC (isn’t it interesting that the government branch that tracks weddings is the Center for Disease Control?) there are 8 weddings for every 1,000 people. So, a little town of 5,000 people will have an average of 40 weddings per year.

Since many weddings involve two people, that means that 16 people per thousand are ensnared in wedded bliss each year.

Weddings are infrequent.  After you hire an organist for your wedding, it may be months or years before you hire one again.

Weddings are expensive.  Not as expensive as divorces, but they’re right up there.  According to TheKnot.com, the average wedding costs $27,800.

Many businesses serving weddings are below the radar.  Being missed and not selected is much more expensive than advertising in a community guide such as the HomePages and gaining a customer.

Advertising directly to prospective brides is prohibitively expensive.  Bridal shows and wedding magazines reach a tiny fraction of the couples who will be wed.

Military deployments and pregnancies sometimes require that weddings take place rather quickly.  In these cases, the convenience of a local guide is invaluable.

Local weddings often involve decision makers from out of town.  Having a selection of local vendors makes the process easier.

Many brides want their day to be unique.  This works against anyone who relies on word of mouth advertising, because the bride specifically doesn’t want the same vendor that her best friend had.

Remember to cross sell wedding vendors into multiple books and to include pointers under various categories.  People often travel to neighboring communities to handle weddings.

Some vendors involved in weddings:

Attorneys (Prenuptial)

Bachelor(ette) Parties

Bagpipers

Bands

Banquet Rooms

Beauty Salons

Bridal Fashions

Bridal Shops

Bridal Shows

Calligraphy

Carriages

Caterers

Ceremony Musicians

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic Surgery

Dance Lessons

Dancing Instruction

Disc Jockeys

DJ’s & Musicians

Dress makers

Favors

Financial Planners

Florists

Formal Wear

Gifts & Registries

Gown Cleaning & Preservation

Guest Accommodations

Invitations

Jewelers

License offices

Lighting & Decor

Limousines

Liquor Stores & Supply

Officiants & Ministers

Organists

Party Rentals & Service Staff

Photographers

Premarital Counseling

Rehearsal Dinners & Bridal Showers

Singers and Soloists

Rings and Jewelry

Tanning

Tattoo removal

Transportation/Valet

Travel & Honeymoons

Tuxes & Men’s Attire

Videographers

Wedding Cakes & Desserts

Wedding Chapels

Wedding Coordinators

Wedding Planners

Wedding Venues

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